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 Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she participated in a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM's Hawk Career Center.
"I just try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, just to make certain I'm as prepared as possible," she said.
The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in various markets, [empty] 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 firms, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were offered to respond to working with concerns, [Redirect-302] stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.
Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State's Department of Veterans Affairs and Car Loan 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 chance to find out what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance," stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor 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, "dress 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 seeking to do," Handoe stated, that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the task fair's objectives was to assist individuals learn more about profession opportunities and jobs.salaseloffshore.com how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.
Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they're "not ready to make that jump yet," or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.
"We see that generally every year," he said. "We want them to make an educated choice about their career."
Part of the education piece is learning about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and "building a nest egg so you have something to work with when it's time to get out," Handoe said.
"Everybody's going to get out of the Army one day," he said, "however while you're in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?"
Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for - including certifications, accreditations and education - and discovering their hiring practices, somalibidders.com Handoe said.
"You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the road," he said.
That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.
"You need to enter into a working with reasonable with a plan of what you're going to do and not just meander around," Handoe stated.
He explained that guests should determine the business they desire to talk to and research them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with recruiters.
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and consulted with some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.
