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 hunters, she attended a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career 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 offer, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in numerous markets, employment made it different 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 firms, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to address working with concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor 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 occasion, employment the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” 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 prepare for them, “dress 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 stated, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s objectives was to help people find out about career opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “constructing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and employment discovering their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of 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 just meander around,” Handoe said.

He described that guests need to pinpoint the companies they desire to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 and talked with some employers. A senior information innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.