JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities
JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a few weeks away, and she’s preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she attended a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I just try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of in different industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to answer employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for employment the TAP.
Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and employment Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
A quarterly occasion, employment the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what type of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and employment Sept. 11.
To prepare for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.
An elevator pitch is a “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals find out about career chances and how their abilities align with them, employment Gentz stated.
Education is a key benefit of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.
“We see that basically every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an educated choice about their career.”
Part of the education piece is learning about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “developing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.
“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he said, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”
Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.
“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do in the future down the roadway,” he said.
That prep work includes preparing for task fairs.
“You need to enter into a working with reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.
He described that attendees must identify the companies they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with recruiters.
Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked to some employers. A senior details innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.