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

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she participated in a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in different markets, made it various 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 companies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were readily available to answer employing concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor employment for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, employment WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of 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, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job 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 said.

An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,” Handoe said, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s objectives was to help people find out about profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances 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 profession.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “developing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,” he said, “however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

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

“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the road,” he said.

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He explained that attendees should identify the business they want to speak to and research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke with some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.