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, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession 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 provide, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, employment instead of work in numerous industries, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, employment it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were offered 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, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, employment shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for employment them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and employment practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “quick intro 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.

One of the goals was to help individuals find out about profession chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, budget plans and “constructing 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 at some point,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work includes getting ready for job fairs.

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

He explained that participants need to identify the companies they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some employers. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.