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 getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she went to an employing reasonable 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 has to use, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of employment in various industries, made it different 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 companies, employment who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were readily available to address hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and employment VA Apprenticeship Program; of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what sort of chances exist here outside your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor employment 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, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

One of the task fair’s goals was to help people find out about career chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key 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 dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an educated choice about their career.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, budgets and “developing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

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

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe stated.

“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later down the roadway,” he stated.

That preparation work includes preparing for employment task fairs.

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

He discussed that guests ought to determine the companies they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and consulted with some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.