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 employment she’s preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she attended an employing fair 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 needs to use, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of employment in various industries, made it various 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were offered to address hiring questions, employment said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and employment 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 discover out what type of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

To get ready for them, “gown 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 wanting to do,” Handoe said, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s objectives was to find out about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and “constructing a nest egg 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 one day,” he stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their employing practices, employment Handoe stated.

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

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He discussed that participants must pinpoint the companies they wish to speak to and employment research them ahead of time, to allow for informed conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and consulted with some employers. A senior information technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.