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 applicants, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career 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, just to make certain I'm as prepared as possible," she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in various 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were available to respond to working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and kenpoguy.com 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, forum.batman.gainedge.org the task fair is "a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back door," stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, m1bar.com 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 stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair's objectives was to help individuals learn about profession chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they're "not ready to make that jump yet," or they have actually seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

"We see that generally every year," he said. "We desire them to make an educated decision about their profession."

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, budgets and "building a nest egg 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 at some point," he stated, "however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?"

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for - consisting of accreditations, wiki.vst.hs-furtwangen.de accreditations and education - and scientific-programs.science finding out about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

"You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the roadway," he said.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

"You need to enter into a hiring reasonable with a plan of what you're going to do and not simply meander around," Handoe said.

He discussed that guests must determine the companies they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and talked with some recruiters. A senior details innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.