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 studentvolunteers.us she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she attended a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career 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 provide, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of work in various markets, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were readily available to address hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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, Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what type of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said 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 prepare for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator hornyofficebabes.com/pics-gay/ pitch is a “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals discover career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and “constructing a savings 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 someday,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and [empty] education – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for job 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 discussed that attendees need to determine the companies they wish to talk to and research them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some employers. A senior information innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.