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 preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she went to an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM's Hawk Career Center.

"I simply attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, just to make certain I'm as prepared as possible," she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state work, celest-interim.fr instead of employment in numerous industries, 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 companies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were readily available to address working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, WorkSource and Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and trustemployement.com 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 learn what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance," said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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, [empty] Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a "quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you're seeking to do," Handoe stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair's goals was to help individuals find out about career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial advantage of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they're "not ready to make that jump yet," or linked web site they have seen the readily available 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 about financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and "building 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 said, "however while you're 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 searching for - consisting of certifications, accreditations and education - and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He discussed that guests must identify the companies they desire to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to allow for informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.