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 getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

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

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in different industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were offered to address employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, WorkSource and employment 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 find out what type of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition 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 employment practice your elevator employment pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to help people discover profession chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of attending a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and employment choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that basically every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an informed choice about their career.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “building a nest egg so you have something to deal 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 people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe said.

“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later on down the road,” he stated.

That preparation work consists of preparing for .

“You require to go into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

He explained that guests must determine the companies they wish to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and employment spoke to some recruiters. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.