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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 preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she participated in an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in various industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, somalibidders.com it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were available to address working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager 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 occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for 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 introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to assist people discover career opportunities and referall.us how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an educated decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and “developing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he said, “however while you remain 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 looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work includes getting ready for task fairs.

“You need to enter into an employing reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.

He discussed that attendees need to identify the companies they desire to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.