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 job applicants, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in various industries, made it various 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 firms, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were readily available to to hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and employment Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and employment 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, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor 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 pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to help people find out about profession opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and employment schooling – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for job fairs.

“You need to enter into a working with fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe said.

He explained that participants ought to determine the companies they desire to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.