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 task hunters, she participated in an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
« I just try to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible, » she said.
The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in different markets, 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were offered to answer employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, employment deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.
represented organizations 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 learn what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back door, » stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager 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 employment them, « gown for success, » bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, employment Gentz said.
An elevator pitch is a « fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do, » Handoe said, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals discover career chances and employment how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.
Education is a key benefit of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re « not ready to make that dive yet, » or employment 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 informed choice about their career. »
Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, employment budgets and « building a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out, » Handoe said.
« Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday, » he said, « however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out? »
Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe stated.
« You must be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do in the future down the roadway, » he stated.
That preparation work consists of preparing for job fairs.
« You require to go into an employing fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around, » Handoe stated.
He explained that participants must determine the business they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to enable for educated conversations with recruiters.
Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke with some employers. A senior information technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.
