JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a couple of weeks away, and she’s preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she attended an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in different industries, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to answer working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager 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 occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift 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 get ready for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

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

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist people find out about profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, 64.227.136.170 Gentz said.

Education is a crucial benefit of participating in a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, spending plans and “building 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 someday,” he stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He described that participants must determine the business they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit for educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and talked to some recruiters. A senior [empty] infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.