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  • Founded Date October 20, 1985
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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 couple of weeks away, and she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she participated in a hiring reasonable 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 provide, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in different industries, job made it various 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were available to address working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what type of chances exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 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 stated.

An elevator pitch is a “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to help people learn more about career chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an informed choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and “building 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 one day,” he stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready 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 said.

He discussed that guests must identify the business they wish to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to allow for educated discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked to some employers. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.

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