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Founded Date April 16, 1992
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JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities
LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a few weeks away, and she’s preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she went to an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I simply try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than employment in different industries, 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 companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were available to respond to employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for 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 job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” 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, “dress 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 seeking to do,” Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist people find out about profession chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.
Education is a key benefit of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.
“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We want them to make an educated decision about their career.”
Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, spending plans and “constructing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.
“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,” he said, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”
Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are searching for – including certifications, accreditations and education – and learning more about their hiring practices, referall.us Handoe said.
“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the road,” he stated.
That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.
“You need to enter into a hiring fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.
He described that guests ought to pinpoint the business they wish to speak to and research them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with recruiters.
Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke to some recruiters. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.