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 .

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to take advantage 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 task fair on state employment, rather than employment in numerous markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, https://teachersconsultancy.com/employer/147817/tayseerconsultants it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were readily available to respond to employing concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor teachersconsultancy.com 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 learn what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To get ready 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 aiming to do,” Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to help people find out about career opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the offered chances and [empty] choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an educated decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is discovering about finances, including credit reports, budget plans and “building a nest egg 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 someday,” he stated, “however while you’re 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 – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work consists of preparing for task 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 said.

He described that guests should identify the companies they want to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke to some employers. A senior information innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.