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 job applicants, she went to a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, employment instead of employment in various industries, employment made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were offered to answer working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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 Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for 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, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

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

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

Education is a crucial benefit of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“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 finances, including credit reports, budgets and “building 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 stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

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

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

That prep work consists of preparing for job fairs.

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

He explained that attendees need to identify the companies they desire to talk to and employment research them ahead of time, to enable for educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and consulted with some employers. A senior info technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, employment she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.