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 employment the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she went to a working with 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 needs to offer, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in different industries, 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 companies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were offered to respond to employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor 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 occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition 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 prepare 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 stated, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the objectives was to help people find out about career chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key advantage of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or employment they have seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

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

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He explained that guests should pinpoint the companies they desire to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked to some employers. A senior information innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.