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 seekers, she went to a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in numerous industries, made it various than others on the setup. 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, recruiters from state firms were readily available to address employing concerns, said 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 quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover out what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift 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 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 aiming to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s objectives was to help individuals find out about career chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential advantage of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, referall.us budgets and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work consists of preparing for task fairs.

“You require to enter into a hiring fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.

He explained that attendees need to pinpoint the companies they wish to talk to and research them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke to some recruiters. A senior information technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.