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 candidates, she went to a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in numerous 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were offered to address working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA 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 find out what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 event 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 aiming to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals discover career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit 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 seen the offered chances and referall.us decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, budgets and “constructing a nest egg 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 stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

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

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

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 just meander around,” Handoe said.

He discussed that guests ought to pinpoint the companies they want to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit for educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and consulted with some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.