关于我们

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 employment she's preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she attended a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased State career opportunities at JBLM's Hawk Career Center.

"I just attempt to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, just to ensure I'm as prepared as possible," she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in various markets, 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 companies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were offered to answer working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for 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, employment 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 chance to discover out what kind of chances exist here outside your back door," said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for employment the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 event 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 pitch, employment Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a "fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you're seeking to do," Handoe said, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair's objectives was to help people discover career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial advantage of attending a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they're "not ready to make that jump yet," or they have seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

"We see that generally every year," he stated. "We want them to make an informed choice about their career."

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, budgets and "developing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it's time to get out," Handoe stated.

"Everybody's going to get out of the Army one day," he stated, "but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?"

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for - consisting of certifications, accreditations and education - and discovering about their working with practices, Handoe said.

"You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the road," he said.

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

"You need to enter into an employing reasonable with a plan of what you're going to do and not simply meander around," Handoe stated.

He discussed that guests ought to pinpoint the companies they desire to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to enable for educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior info innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.