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 getting ready for employment the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she went to a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in numerous markets, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employment recruiters from state companies were offered to respond to hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift 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 occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” said 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 “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals find out about career chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential benefit of attending a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that basically every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an educated decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, budgets and “building a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he said, “however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He explained that guests should identify the business they wish to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with recruiters.

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