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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she went to a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than work in numerous industries, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to respond to employing concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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 occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what type of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, referall.us 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 “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe said, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to help people learn more about career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and learning more about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He described that participants should identify the business they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked to some employers. A senior details technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.