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 employment she’s getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in numerous 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 firms, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were available to respond to hiring questions, employment said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for employment 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, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what type of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift 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 them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals discover profession chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “developing a savings 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 everything you can to prepare to go out?”

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

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He explained that participants should pinpoint the business they want to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to permit for educated conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke to some recruiters. A senior details innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.