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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she attended a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM's Hawk Career Center.
"I just attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, just to ensure I'm as prepared as possible," she said.
The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in numerous markets, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were readily available to address employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, 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, Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
A quarterly event, [empty] the job fair is "a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what kind of chances exist here outside your back entrance," stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for Loan for Housewives 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, "gown for success," bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.
An elevator pitch is a "quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you're looking to do," Handoe stated, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the task fair's objectives was to help people find out about career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.
Education is a key advantage of attending a task reasonable, teba.timbaktuu.com 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 offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.
"We see that generally every year," he stated. "We want them to make an educated decision about their profession."
Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, spending plans 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 someday," he stated, "however while you're in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?"
Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are searching for - including accreditations, accreditations and education - and employment.bz discovering their working with practices, Handoe stated.
"You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the road," he stated.
That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.
"You need to enter into an employing fair with a strategy of what you're going to do and not simply meander around," Handoe said.
He described that guests ought to pinpoint the business they desire to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to allow for educated conversations with employers.
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke to some employers. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.
