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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she participated in a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in different industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and employment the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were readily available to answer working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, employment deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, employment 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 job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what type of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, employment transition 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, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, employment Gentz stated.

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

Among the job fair’s goals was to help people discover career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered opportunities and employment choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We want them to make an educated choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, employment budgets and “constructing 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 someday,” he stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe said.

“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the road,” he said.

That prep work includes preparing for task fairs.

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

He described that participants must determine the companies they want to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 and talked with some employers. A senior info innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.