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 seekers, she attended a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

„I just try to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in numerous markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were readily available to respond to working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, employment 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, employment Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and employment Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift 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 prepare 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, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to help people learn more about profession chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

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

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

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, credit reports, spending plans and „building 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 one day,” he said, „however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, employment accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for employment task fairs.

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

He described that attendees should determine the companies they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to enable for educated discussions with recruiters.

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