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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she participated in a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just attempt to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in various markets, 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were offered to respond to employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and employment Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what sort of chances exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for employment the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, employment July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

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

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals learn about career opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial benefit of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and employment choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, including credit reports, employment spending plans and “constructing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

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

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work consists of preparing for employment 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 described that participants ought to determine the companies they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit for educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and consulted with some recruiters. A senior employment info technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.