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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 preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she went to a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in numerous markets, 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, employers from state firms were readily available to answer working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, employment deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” said 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, Gentz stated.

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

Among the job fair’s goals was to assist people learn more about and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that basically every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an educated decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, budget plans and “developing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.

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

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He discussed that guests should pinpoint the companies they want to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and employment consulted with some recruiters. A senior info innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.