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

“I simply try to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in numerous industries, made it various than others on the setup. 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 employment addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were available to respond to employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

represented companies including 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 employment Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover out what kind of chances exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition 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 get ready for employment 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, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to help people discover profession opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

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

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, budgets and “building 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 someday,” he stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and education – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation 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 said.

He explained that guests need to pinpoint the companies they want to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to permit for informed discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and employment spoke with some recruiters. A senior information innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.