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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she attended a hiring reasonable 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 needs to use, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state work, employment instead of employment in various 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, recruiters from state agencies were available to address working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and employment 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 opportunity to discover what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and employment Sept. 11.

To get ready 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 said, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals learn more about career chances and employment how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, spending 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 one day,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, employment seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work includes preparing for task fairs.

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

He discussed that guests need to pinpoint the companies they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.