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 job she’s preparing for job the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she participated in a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances 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 provide, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in different industries, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, job WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, from state agencies were offered to address employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift 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 job Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover out what kind of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift 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 prepare for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a “fast intro 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.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to help people find out about profession chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial advantage of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the offered chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “constructing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he said, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

“You need to enter into an employing reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe said.

He explained that attendees ought to identify the business they want to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to enable for informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked to some recruiters. A senior details technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.