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 she’s getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she attended a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in various industries, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, employment it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were available to address employing concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of 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 learn what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition 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 prepare for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe said, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist people learn about career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, spending plans and “constructing a savings 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 remain in, are you doing everything 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 – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work includes getting ready for job fairs.

“You need 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 participants need to pinpoint the business they want to talk with and employment research them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.