JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a few weeks away, and she’s preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she attended an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, simply to ensure 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 setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were readily available to respond to employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and employment 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 is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what type of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition 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 employment practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe said, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist people learn more about career opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of going to a task reasonable, employment as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and employment decide to continue serving, employment Gentz said.

“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 finding out about financial resources, employment consisting of credit reports, budgets and “building 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 someday,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – including certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work consists of preparing for job fairs.

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

He discussed that participants must pinpoint the companies they wish to speak to and research them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked to some employers. A senior details innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.