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 candidates, she went to a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

„I simply try to benefit from 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 job fair on state work, instead of work 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 responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to address working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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 occasion, the task fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover out what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,“ stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

To get ready for them, „dress for success,“ bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a „fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,“ Handoe stated, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals discover profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re „not prepared to make that jump yet,“ or they have seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is about financial resources, including credit reports, budgets and „developing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,“ Handoe stated.

„Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,“ he stated, „but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?“

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and learning more about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work includes getting ready for task fairs.

„You require to enter into a working with reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,“ Handoe stated.

He explained that guests should pinpoint the companies they wish to speak with and research them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and consulted with some employers. A senior information technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, referall.us she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.