JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities
JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a couple of weeks away, and she’s getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she went to a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I just attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in different industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, www.opad.biz who shared their experiences and horizonsmaroc.com answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were offered to address working with concerns, [Redirect-302] said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for 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 Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.
To get ready for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.
An elevator pitch is a “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the task fair’s goals was to discover profession chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.
Education is a key advantage of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.
“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We want them to make an educated choice about their career.”
Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and “developing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.
“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,” he stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”
Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe stated.
“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the roadway,” he said.
That preparation work consists of preparing for job fairs.
“You require to enter into a hiring fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.
He described that attendees should pinpoint the business they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with employers.
Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke to some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.