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 the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she went to an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than employment in different industries, 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, recruiters from state agencies were offered to answer employing concerns, 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what type of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To get ready for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

Among the job fair’s goals was to help individuals discover profession chances and how their abilities line up with them, job Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial advantage of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “constructing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

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

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He discussed that attendees ought to identify the companies they desire to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior details technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.