Homejobs
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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she participated in a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I simply attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in numerous industries, job made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and job answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were readily available to address employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what type of chances exist here outside your back door,” 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 job them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.
An elevator pitch is a “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the job fair’s goals was to help people find out about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.
Education is a key advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.
“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed choice about their career.”
Part of the education piece is discovering finances, reports, job budget plans 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 sooner or later,” he said, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”
Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning about their employing practices, Handoe stated.
“You must be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later down the roadway,” he said.
That prep work consists of preparing for job fairs.
“You need to go into a hiring reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.
He explained that participants must determine the business they want to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to permit for educated conversations with recruiters.
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke to some employers. A senior job infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.
