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

“I simply try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, 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 veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, from state agencies were available to respond to working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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 employment Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, employment the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what type of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for employment the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job 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 intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to help individuals learn about profession chances and how their abilities line up with them, employment Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of going to a job reasonable, employment as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an educated choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning about finances, including credit reports, budgets and “developing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

“You require to enter into a hiring reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.

He discussed that guests must determine the companies they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and employment spoke with some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.