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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 shift at Joint Base .

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

"I just attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, just to make certain I'm as prepared as possible," she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of work in various 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 responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to respond to employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Washington State's Department of Veterans Affairs and referall.us 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 opportunity to discover what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door," stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event 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 stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair's objectives was to assist people discover profession chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they're "not all set to make that dive yet," or they have seen the offered chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

"We see that essentially every year," he said. "We desire them to make an educated decision about their profession."

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and "constructing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it's time to go out," Handoe said.

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

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

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

That preparation work consists of preparing for job fairs.

"You require to go into a working with fair with a plan of what you're going to do and not simply meander around," Handoe stated.

He explained that guests must identify the companies they wish to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some recruiters. A senior info technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.