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, employment and she’s preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, employment she went to a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in different industries, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, employment who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to respond to employing concerns, employment said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event 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 “quick introduction 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 task fair’s goals was to help people find out about profession opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, spending plans and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

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

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

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

That preparation work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He discussed that attendees must determine the business they want to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked with some employers. A senior information technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.