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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she participated in an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt 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 stated.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of employment in various 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were available to address hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations 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 event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what type of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for 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 referall.us them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

Among the task fair’s goals was to assist individuals discover about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

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

“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 financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and “building a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He explained that participants must identify the companies they desire to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.