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 getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she attended a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk .

“I just attempt to make the most 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, instead of work in various industries, made it various 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 companies, referall.us who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were offered to address hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of 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 job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” stated 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 get ready for them, “dress 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 said, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals learn more about profession opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential benefit of going to a task fair, 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 readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

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

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he said, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

“You need to go into an employing reasonable 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 enable informed conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke to some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.