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, remotejobscape.com and she’s preparing for [empty] the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she participated in a working with 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, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in different industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to answer hiring concerns, hornyofficebabes.com/archive/indian-office-porn/ said Frank Handoe, [empty] deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations 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 event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what kind of chances exist here outdoors 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 get ready for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

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

One of the task fair’s goals was to help individuals learn more about career opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key advantage of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, budget plans and “building 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 at some point,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.

“You need to go into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.

He explained that guests ought to identify the they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to enable for educated conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke to some employers. A senior linked web site infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.