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

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she went to a working with . 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than employment in different industries, made it various 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 firms, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to address hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager 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 employment Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is « a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what kind of chances 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 employment 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 introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do, » Handoe stated, employment mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

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

Education is a key benefit of attending a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re « not prepared to make that jump yet, » or they have actually seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is learning about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and « developing 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 said, « however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out? »

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and employment schooling – and employment discovering their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

« You must be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the roadway, » he said.

That preparation work includes getting ready for job fairs.

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

He discussed that attendees should pinpoint the companies they wish to talk to and employment research them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and consulted with some employers. A senior details technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.