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 job hunters, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in numerous markets, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, job WorkSource and job the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to answer hiring questions, job said 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 event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what kind of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the 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 “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to help people find out about profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, job Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about 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 someday,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are searching for – including certifications, accreditations and education – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work consists of preparing for job fairs.

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

He described that guests ought to identify the business they desire to consult with and job research them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke to some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.