Dimarecruitment

JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a couple of weeks away, and she’s getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she attended an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply try to take advantage of 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 job fair on state employment, instead of employment in various markets, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and employment the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were offered to respond to working with concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

represented companies including VERG, employment 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 task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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 “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to help individuals discover career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential benefit of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering about finances, including credit reports, spending plans and “building a savings 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 at some point,” 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 people in the outside world are looking for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work includes getting ready for task fairs.

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

He discussed that participants should determine the companies they want to speak to and research them ahead of time, to permit for informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.