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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she participated in an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in various industries, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to answer hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what type of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, employment July 10 and employment Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

One of the task fair’s goals was to assist people discover career opportunities and employment how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, employment consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “developing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

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

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering about their employing practices, employment Handoe said.

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

That preparation work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He discussed that guests must identify the business they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with employers.

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