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 preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she participated in a working with reasonable 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 has 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 various industries, made it different 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 addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were offered to answer hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager 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 Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor employment for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task 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 aiming to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to assist people find out about profession chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial benefit of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that basically every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an educated decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “developing a nest egg 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 someday,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He explained that guests ought to determine the business they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit for educated discussions with .

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and consulted with some employers. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.