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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, employment she attended an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in different industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, employment WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were available to respond to hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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 event, the task fair is « a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back door, » said 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 employment pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a « fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do, » Handoe said, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s objectives was to assist people discover career chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential advantage of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re « not ready to make that dive yet, » or employment they have seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

« We see that generally every year, » he stated. « We want them to make an educated choice about their profession. »

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, spending plans and « constructing a nest egg 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 one day, » he stated, « however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out? »

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering about their hiring practices, employment Handoe said.

« You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later on down the road, » he stated.

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

« You need to go into a working with fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around, » Handoe said.

He discussed that must identify the business they wish to talk to and research them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and consulted with some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.