Overview
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Founded Date May 8, 1952
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Specializations UX / interfaces
Company Description
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 getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she participated in a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I simply try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.
The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in numerous markets, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to address hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, referall.us deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.
Informational tables represented companies including VERG, 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 job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what type of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” said 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 get ready 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 wanting to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the job fair’s goals was to help individuals learn more about profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.
Education is a key advantage of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.
“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We want them to make an informed choice about their career.”
Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “developing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.
“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”
Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and learning more about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.
“You must be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later down the roadway,” he said.
That preparation work consists of preparing for task fairs.
“You need to go into a working with fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.
He described that guests ought to determine the companies they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with employers.
Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and consulted with some employers. A senior information technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.