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, [empty] she attended a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in different 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 companies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to address employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables 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, jobs.constructionproject360.com the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what type of chances exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager 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 prepare for them, “gown 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 looking to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals discover profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, [empty] Gentz stated.

“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an informed choice about their career.”

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “developing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

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

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for job fairs.

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

He discussed that guests should determine the companies they want to talk with and research them ahead of time, to enable for educated discussions with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke to some employers. A senior information innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.