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 the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she went to a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances 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 use, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,» she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in various markets, 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were available to answer working with concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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; 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 opportunity to discover what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back door,» stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event 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 said.

An elevator pitch is a «quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,» Handoe said, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals find out about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential benefit of participating in a job 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 available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

«We see that generally every year,» he stated. «We want them to make an educated decision about their career.»

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of 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 said, «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, referall.us seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

«You must be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later on down the road,» he said.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

«You need to enter into a working with reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,» Handoe stated.

He described that guests ought to identify the business they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit for educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and consulted with some recruiters. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.