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 job she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she participated in an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, job rather than work in different industries, 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were available to answer working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, job 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 job Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what kind of chances 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, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To get ready 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 wanting to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to help individuals learn more about profession chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “building 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 said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for job fairs.

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

He explained that participants need to pinpoint the business they desire to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior info innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.