JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a couple of weeks away, and she’s preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she attended a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

« I just try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible, » she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than employment in numerous markets, made it different than others on the setup. 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 concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were readily available to to hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift 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 employment 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 opportunity to discover out what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance, » said Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job 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 « quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do, » Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals find out about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of attending a task reasonable, employment as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re « not all set to make that dive yet, » or employment they have seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

« We see that essentially every year, » he stated. « We want them to make an informed decision about their profession. »

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, budget plans and « developing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out, » Handoe stated.

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

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

« You must be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later on down the road, » he said.

That preparation work includes preparing for job fairs.

« You need to enter into a working with fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around, » Handoe said.

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

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke with some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.