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 preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she attended a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in different 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 firms, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were available to respond to hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of 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, employment Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what type of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job 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 pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, employment discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to assist people find out about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and “building a nest egg so you have something to work 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 whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering their working with practices, employment Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for task fairs.

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

He described that attendees must identify the business they want to talk with and research them ahead of time, to allow for educated discussions with employers.

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