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JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities
LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a couple of weeks away, and she’s getting ready for employment the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, employment she went to a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I just attempt to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.
The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in various markets, made it various than others on the setup. 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 responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were readily available to address employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, employment deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.
Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, employment Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what type of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for employment the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional job 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 employment pitch, Gentz said.
An elevator pitch is a “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,” Handoe said, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the task fair’s objectives was to help individuals discover about career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.
Education is a crucial advantage of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or employment they have actually seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.
“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed choice about their profession.”
Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, spending plans and “developing 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 sooner or later,” he stated, “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 outside world are searching for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe stated.
“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later down the road,” he said.
That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.
“You need to go into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.
He described that attendees ought to determine the business they desire to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with employers.
Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked with some employers. A senior details innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.