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 job seekers, she participated in a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in different 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 addressed concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to address 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 Insurance Commissioner.

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

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

Among the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals learn more about career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of participating in a task fair, referall.us 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 chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and « building a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out, » Handoe said.

« Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later, » he said, « however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out? »

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and education – and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

« You should be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do in the future down the road, » he stated.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

« You require to enter into an employing fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around, » Handoe said.

He discussed that attendees need to determine the companies they wish to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked with some employers. A senior details innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.