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 job seekers, she participated in a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that 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 has to use, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of employment in various 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 addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were offered to address hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what kind of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job 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 said.

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

One of the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals learn more about career opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

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

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “constructing a savings 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, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and learning more about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later down the road,” he stated.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

“You need to enter into an employing reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.

He discussed that attendees should pinpoint the business they desire to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to permit for informed discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and consulted with some employers. A senior information technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, referall.us she has actually discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.