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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she participated in an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

«I simply attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,» she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in various markets, made it various than others on the setup. 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 concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were offered to respond to employing concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies consisting of VERG, Small Amount Loan 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 out what type of chances exist here outdoors your back door,» said Christopher Gentz, thematragroup.in transition 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 prepare for them, «gown 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 wanting to do,» Handoe said, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist people find out about profession chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key advantage of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re «not all set to make that jump yet,» or they have seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

«We see that basically every year,» he said. «We want them to make an informed choice about their profession.»

Part of the education piece is learning about financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and «constructing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,» Handoe said.

«Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,» he said, «but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?»

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe said.

«You must be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later on down the road,» he said.

That prep work includes preparing for sowjobs.com job fairs.

«You require to go into a working with fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,» Handoe stated.

He discussed that guests should pinpoint the business they wish to talk to and research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked with some employers. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.