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 preparing for referall.us the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she participated in a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in various 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 addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were available to respond to hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager 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 occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor 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 introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

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

Education is an essential advantage of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an educated choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “building a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

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

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

That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He explained that guests must determine the companies they want to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with recruiters.

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