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 task seekers, she participated in a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply 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 stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in different markets, made it various than others on the installation. 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 answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were available to respond to working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and employment 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 job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, employment 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 “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to assist individuals learn more about profession opportunities and employment how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

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

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, budgets and “developing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.

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

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are searching for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of preparing for .

“You require to go into an employing reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

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

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke to some recruiters. A senior info technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.