Jobassembly

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 employment the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, employment she attended a hiring 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 use, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in different industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to respond to employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for employment the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies consisting of 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 task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

To prepare for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

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

One of the task fair’s goals was to assist individuals find out about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of attending a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the readily available opportunities and employment choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, and “developing 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 one day,” he stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning about their hiring 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 includes preparing for task fairs.

“You require to go into a working with fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe said.

He described that attendees need to identify the business they desire to speak to and research them ahead of time, to permit for educated conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked to 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.