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 seekers, she attended a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, employment rather than employment in various industries, 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, employers from state firms were readily available to answer employing questions, employment stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor 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 job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor 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 said, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to assist people learn more about career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or employment they have seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “constructing a nest egg 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 one day,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the world are looking for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of preparing 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 stated.

He discussed that guests must determine the business they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and consulted with some recruiters. A senior information innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her role.