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 task candidates, jobteck.com she went to an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM's Hawk Career Center.

"I just try to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, just to ensure I'm as prepared as possible," she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in various markets, made it different 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 addressed concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to answer employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State's Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and studentvolunteers.us Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is "a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door," stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and careers.ebas.co.ke Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, "dress for success," bring your resume and practice your elevator 64.227.136.170 pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a "fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you're wanting to do," Handoe said, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair's objectives was to assist people discover profession chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they're "not prepared to make that dive yet," or they have actually seen the offered chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

"We see that essentially every year," he said. "We want them to make an educated choice about their career."

Part of the education piece is learning about finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and "developing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it's time to go out," Handoe stated.

"Everybody's going to get out of the Army one day," he said, "however while you're in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?"

Job fairs also exist to help with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for - consisting of certifications, accreditations and education - and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

"You require to go into a hiring reasonable with a strategy of what you're going to do and not simply meander around," Handoe said.

He described that attendees should pinpoint the companies they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, www.elitistpro.com to enable educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.