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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she participated in an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I simply attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in numerous industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were readily available to respond to working with concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.
Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s 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, internship.af the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover out what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift 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 prepare for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.
An elevator pitch is a “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the job fair’s goals was to assist people find out about career opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.
Education is a crucial benefit of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.
“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an informed decision about their profession.”
Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “building a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.
“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”
Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and education – 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 later on down the road,” he stated.
That prep work includes getting ready for task fairs.
“You need to enter into a working with reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.
He discussed that participants should identify the business they want to talk to and research study them ahead of time, [empty] to permit educated conversations with recruiters.
Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked with some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.
