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 job candidates, she went to a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in numerous 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 firms, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were available to answer working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including 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, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what type of chances exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event 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, employment Gentz stated.

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.

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist people learn more about profession chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

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

“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and “building 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, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and 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 road,” he said.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

“You require 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 described that attendees need to pinpoint the companies they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some employers. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.