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 job seekers, she participated in an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

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

Informational tables represented companies 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 .

A quarterly event, employment the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors 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 prepare 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 skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to assist individuals find out about career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of attending a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the offered chances and employment choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an informed decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “developing 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 one day,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their working with practices, employment Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He discussed that guests ought to pinpoint the business they wish to talk to and employment research them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, employment she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.