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 an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in various markets, 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 firms, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to answer employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including 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 occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what kind of chances exist here outside your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift 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 prepare for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, .

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

One of the task fair’s goals was to assist people learn about career chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key advantage of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “developing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he said, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

“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 job fairs.

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

He described that guests must determine the business they wish to speak to and research them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and employment talked with some employers. A senior information innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.