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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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she attended a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I simply try to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than employment in various industries, 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 firms, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were available to answer employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for employment 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, employment the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor employment 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 employment them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.
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 ability is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the job fair’s goals was to help people find out about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.
Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.
“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an informed decision about their career.”
Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “developing a nest egg 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 sooner or later,” he stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”
likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – including accreditations, employment accreditations and education – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe stated.
“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do in the future down the roadway,” he stated.
That prep work includes preparing for task fairs.
“You require to go into a working with reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe said.
He described that guests need to pinpoint the business they want to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with recruiters.
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke to some recruiters. A senior information technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.