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 hunters, she went to a hiring 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 needs to provide, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than employment in different industries, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, employment WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were readily available to respond to working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for employment 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, employment 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 kind of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” 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 prepare for them, “gown 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 seeking to do,” Handoe said, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

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

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

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are searching for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering about their working with practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of preparing for job fairs.

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

He explained that attendees ought to determine the companies they wish to speak to and research them ahead of time, to permit for informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 and employment spoke to some recruiters. A senior information innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.