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 seekers, she attended a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career 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 has to use, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of work in various markets, made it different 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 addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to respond to hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, job deputy shift services manager for job the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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, job the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition 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, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s objectives was to assist people discover career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of participating in a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an educated decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, job including credit reports, budget plans and “developing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

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

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

That prep work includes getting ready for job fairs.

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

He discussed that guests should identify the business they want to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with recruiters.

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