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 an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in various markets, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, employment who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were offered to respond to working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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 occasion, employment the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what type of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for employment the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To get ready for them, “dress 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 said, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to help people find out about career chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that basically every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an educated decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, budget plans and “building a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later down the road,” he stated.

That prep work consists of preparing for employment task fairs.

“You require to enter into a hiring fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.

He described that attendees should determine the they wish to speak to and research them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and consulted with some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, employment she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.