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 job hunters, she attended a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in various markets, made it various 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 firms, employment who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were offered to address working with concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, employment 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 task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, employment transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

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

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

Among the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals find out about career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that basically every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an informed decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, budgets and “constructing a nest egg 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 sooner or later,” he said, “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 individuals in the outside world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for task fairs.

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

He explained that guests ought to pinpoint the companies they wish to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke to some recruiters. A senior info innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.