JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, horizonsmaroc.com Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a few weeks away, and she’s getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she attended a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career 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 needs to use, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in different markets, 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 companies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were readily available to address working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for rhea-recrutement.com the TAP.

Informational tables 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 .

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what type of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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 jobs.kwintech.co.ke pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to help individuals find out about profession chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of attending a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn 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 basically every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, budget plans and “building a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later down the road,” he stated.

That prep work consists of getting ready 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 stated.

He described that guests must identify the companies they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.