JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff 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 job seekers, she participated in a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession 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 offer, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in different markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to address employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor employment for employment 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 job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what sort of chances 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 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

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

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

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist people find out about career chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the offered chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We want them to make an educated decision about their career.”

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

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are searching for – including certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He described that guests need to identify the companies they desire to speak with and employment research study them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.