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

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she attended a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

« I simply attempt to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible, » she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than work in numerous 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were readily available to answer hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for referall.us 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; of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is « a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what type of chances exist here outside your back entrance, » 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 get ready for them, « gown for success, » bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a « quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do, » Handoe stated, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

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

Education is an essential benefit of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re « not prepared to make that jump yet, » or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

« We see that basically every year, » he said. « We want them to make an informed choice about their profession. »

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, spending plans and « developing a savings so you have something to work 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 remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out? »

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe said.

« You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later on down the road, » he said.

That preparation work includes 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 stated.

He explained that attendees need to identify the business they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and somalibidders.com spoke to some recruiters. A senior information innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.