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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, employment she participated in an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to respond to employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and employment Families; Department of Social and Health Services, employment Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager 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, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

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

Among the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals find out about profession opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential advantage of participating in a task fair, employment as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, employment budgets 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 at some point,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are trying to find – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and out about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work includes preparing for task fairs.

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

He discussed that participants need to pinpoint the companies they desire to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked with some employers. A senior details innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.