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 getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, employment she participated in an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in various markets, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, employment it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, employment who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to respond to hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor 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, employment Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what kind of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager 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, “dress for success,” bring your resume and employment practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator employment pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to assist individuals find out about career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of participating in a task reasonable, 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 available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “developing a nest egg 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 sooner or later,” he stated, “however while you’re 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 outdoors world are trying to find – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe said.

“You must be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the road,” he stated.

That prep work includes getting ready for task fairs.

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

He discussed that attendees ought to identify the business they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke with some employers. A senior employment infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.