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

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she participated in a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just 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, rather than work in various industries, made it different 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 addressed concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were readily available to respond to working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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 discover what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for referall.us the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

To prepare for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist people learn more about profession opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential advantage of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the available opportunities and choose to serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and “building 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 at some point,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are searching for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

“You must be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do in the future down the roadway,” he said.

That preparation work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He described that participants must determine the companies they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to allow for informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and consulted with some recruiters. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.