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 went to a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in various markets, 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 responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were readily available to address employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and referall.us 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 job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what type of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

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 assist individuals discover profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the offered opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “building 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 sooner or later,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He discussed that attendees must identify the business they want to speak with and research them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and consulted with some recruiters. A senior information innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.