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 employment the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she attended a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in numerous industries, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, employment WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were readily available to respond to employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, 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 sort of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift 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, “gown for success,” bring your resume and employment practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe said, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals learn more about career chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential benefit of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or employment they have seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and “developing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

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

He discussed that guests should pinpoint the business they want to talk to and research them ahead of time, to permit for informed discussions with recruiters.

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