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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work 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 responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to respond to hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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 event, the job fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,“ stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

fairs like the Jan. 30 event 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 intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,“ Handoe stated, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to assist people discover profession opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of going to a task fair, referall.us as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re „not all set to make that jump yet,“ or they have actually seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

„We see that generally every year,“ he stated. „We want them to make an educated decision about their profession.“

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and „constructing 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 one day,“ he said, „however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?“

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

„You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later down the roadway,“ he said.

That prep work includes getting ready for job fairs.

„You need to enter into a working with reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,“ Handoe said.

He discussed that attendees must identify the companies they want to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked to some employers. A senior info technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.