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 preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she attended a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities 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 has to use, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of employment in numerous industries, 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 answered concerns. Following the panel, referall.us recruiters from state firms were available to address hiring concerns, 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 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 find out what type of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition 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 “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to assist people learn about profession chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “building a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he said, “however while you’re 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 outside world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and learning about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for task fairs.

“You need to go into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

He explained that participants should pinpoint the business they desire to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with employers.

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