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 an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk .

“I just try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in numerous markets, made it different 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were readily available to respond to employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of 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 task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition 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 prepare for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

One of the job fair’s objectives was to help individuals find out about career chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

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

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

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, job consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “building a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he said, “but while you remain 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 outdoors world are looking for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

“You require to enter into a hiring reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.

He explained that participants should identify the companies they want to speak to and research them ahead of time, to enable for informed conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked with some employers. A senior information innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.