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

“I just attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in various markets, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were offered to address hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and mobidesign.us 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what type of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” 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 practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to assist people discover about career chances and how their abilities line up with them, [empty] Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of going to a job fair, [Redirect-307] as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the offered chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, budgets and “developing a nest egg 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 sooner or later,” he stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for job fairs.

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

He explained that guests should pinpoint the companies they desire to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.