JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, employment 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 job seekers, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of in numerous industries, made it various 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 companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were offered to answer hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor 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 task fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what type of opportunities exist here outdoors 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 said.

An elevator pitch is a „quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals find out about profession opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re „not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

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

„Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he stated, „but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He described that attendees ought to pinpoint the business they desire to talk to and research them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke to 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 role.