JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, teachersconsultancy.com 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 hunters, she attended a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply try to take benefit of 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, rather than employment in various industries, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their and answered questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to answer hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and Small Amount Loan Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, remotejobscape.com the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, sports betting shift 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 prepare for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

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

Education is a key benefit of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an informed decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “building a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are searching for – including certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

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

He discussed that attendees must identify the companies they want to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with employers.

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