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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she attended a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, referall.us rather than work in various 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 from state companies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were offered to respond to hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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 job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” stated 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 get ready for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

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

Education is an essential advantage of attending a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an educated decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “developing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he stated, “but 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 people in the outside world are looking for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

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

He explained that guests should identify the business they desire to speak with and research them ahead of time, to allow for informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and consulted with some employers. A senior info innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.