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 getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she went to a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of employment in different industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, referall.us it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were readily available to address working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables 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 out what type of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift 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 get ready for them, “gown 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 seeking to do,” Handoe said, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to assist people discover about profession chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key advantage of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “constructing 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 at some point,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

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

He described that guests should determine the companies they want to speak with and research them ahead of time, to enable for informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke to some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.