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JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a couple of weeks away, and she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she participated in a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career 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 has to use, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than employment in various markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, employment WorkSource and employment the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and employment responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to address hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager 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 Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what kind of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, employment July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for employment them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and employment 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, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to assist individuals learn about profession chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key advantage of participating in a job reasonable, employment as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We want them to make an educated choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, and “developing a savings 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 one day,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the roadway,” he said.

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He explained that attendees should identify the companies they want to speak to and research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with employers.

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