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 getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she attended a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities 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 task fair on state employment, rather than work in different markets, 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 companies, who shared their experiences and referall.us responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to respond to hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what type of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor 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 introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s objectives was to help people discover profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

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

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “developing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.

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

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

“You require to enter into an employing fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.

He discussed that participants need to pinpoint the business they wish to talk to and research them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior details innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.