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 task seekers, she went to a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career 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 offer, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in different markets, 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were offered to respond to working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor 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; 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 opportunity to discover what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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 “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

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

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

“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an educated choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “developing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.

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

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He described that guests need to identify the companies they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked with some recruiters. 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.