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 getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she participated in a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at Career Center.

“I simply try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

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

Informational tables represented companies consisting of VERG, WorkSource and employment Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, employment Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, employment Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager 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 prepare for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to help people find out about career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering about finances, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “building 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 sooner or later,” he said, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are searching for – including accreditations, accreditations and employment education – and learning more about their employing practices, employment Handoe said.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

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

He explained that attendees need to identify the business they want to speak with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke with some recruiters. A senior employment infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.