Networklife

About Us

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 a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in various markets, made it different 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to respond to hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, Johnstown Housing WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and sports betting Health Services, Community Services Division; and [empty] Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, cheekarayab.ir the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what kind 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 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “gown 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 looking to do,” Handoe said, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s objectives was to help individuals learn about profession chances and 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 start with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “developing 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 at some point,” he said, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of preparing for job fairs.

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

He described that attendees ought to determine the business they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with recruiters.

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