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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she participated in a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply try to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in different 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 companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were offered to answer working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager 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 job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task 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, Gentz stated.

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

One of the task fair’s goals was to help people discover profession chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of going to a task fair, 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 decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning about finances, including credit reports, budgets and “building a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,” he said, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

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

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

That prep work includes getting ready for job fairs.

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

He described that participants need to identify the business they want to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with employers.

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