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 task applicants, she went to a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

« I just try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible, » she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in various industries, made it different 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 answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were readily available to respond to hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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 occasion, the job fair is « a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover out what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back door, » stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager 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 get ready 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, referall.us pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to assist individuals find out about profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re « not prepared to make that jump yet, » or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

« We see that essentially every year, » he stated. « We desire them to make an educated decision about their profession. »

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and « constructing 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 one day, » he said, « but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out? »

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and and discovering their working with practices, Handoe stated.

« You should be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later down the road, » he stated.

That preparation work includes preparing for job fairs.

« You need to go into a hiring reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around, » Handoe stated.

He discussed that participants ought to determine the business they desire to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and consulted with some employers. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.