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 getting ready for 24-Hour Loan the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she attended a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in various markets, made it various 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 addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were offered to respond to hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for grainfather.eu the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, decreases 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what type of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor 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 prepare for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, MATURE OFFICE PORN & SEX PICTURES 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 ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s objectives was to help individuals discover profession chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential advantage of a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, including credit reports, hireblitz.com budget plans and “developing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later on down the roadway,” he stated.

That preparation work includes getting ready for job fairs.

“You require to enter into an employing reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

He explained that attendees must pinpoint the companies they desire to speak with and research them ahead of time, [Redirect-302] to permit educated discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke to some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.