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 getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she went to a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in different industries, 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 companies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to respond to working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor 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 event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

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

An elevator referall.us pitch is a “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to help people find out about career chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, consisting of credit reports, spending plans 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 someday,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

“You require to go into a working with reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.

He discussed that guests need to identify the business they desire to speak to and research them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with employers.

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