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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 getting ready 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 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 has to use, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,“ she said.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than employment in various markets, 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 from state firms, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to respond to working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for employment 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 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 learn what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back door,“ stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for employment them, „gown for success,“ bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a „quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,“ Handoe said, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals find out about profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential advantage of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re „not all set to make that dive yet,“ or they have seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

„We see that essentially every year,“ he stated. „We want them to make an educated choice about their profession.“

Part of the education piece is discovering about finances, employment consisting of credit reports, budgets and „constructing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,“ Handoe stated.

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

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, employment seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and employment learning more about their employing practices, Handoe said.

„You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the road,“ he stated.

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

„You need to go into an employing fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,“ Handoe said.

He explained that attendees must determine the business they desire to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and employment consulted with some employers. A senior info innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.