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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she participated in an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

„I simply try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in different markets, made it different 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 companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were available to answer working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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 job fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what type of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager 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 aiming to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to help individuals learn more about career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re „not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and dessinateurs-projeteurs.com decide to continue serving, redefineworksllc.com Gentz stated.

„We see that generally every year,” he said. „We desire them to make an informed decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, spending plans and „constructing a nest egg 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 someday,” he said, „but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and [empty] learning more 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 said.

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

„You need to enter into a hiring fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.

He described that participants need to determine the companies they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and consulted with some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.