Something About Company

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 preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

“I simply attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in numerous industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and employment the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and employment answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were readily available to answer 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 task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, employment shift services supervisor employment for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job 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 employment practice your pitch, Gentz stated.

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

Among the task fair’s objectives was to help people discover profession opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of attending 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 chances 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 discovering about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “building a savings 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 one day,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

“You need to 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 employment job fairs.

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

He explained that participants must determine the business they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked to some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.