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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 job applicants, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to benefit from 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 stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than work in numerous markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, job WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and job addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were available to answer working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and job 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 chance to find out what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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 “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

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

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

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

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 one day,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, job seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work includes getting ready for task fairs.

“You require to enter into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.

He explained that participants ought to pinpoint the business they want to speak to and research them ahead of time, job to permit educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and talked with some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.