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  • Founded Date July 17, 1952
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Company Description

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 task candidates, she went to a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in different markets, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, employment who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to respond to employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations 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 learn what kind of chances exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for employment 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 them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist people find out about profession chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an informed choice about their career.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and “developing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

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

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their working with practices, employment Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

“You require to enter into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

He discussed that guests must determine the business they wish to talk to and research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke with some recruiters. A senior information technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.