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 task seekers, she went to an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

„I just try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,“ she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, referall.us instead of employment in different industries, made it different 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to answer employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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 event, the job fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what sort of chances exist here outside your back door,“ said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job 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 stated.

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

One of the task fair’s objectives was to help individuals discover profession chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial advantage of going to a task 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 available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

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

„Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,“ he said, „however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?“

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe said.

„You must be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later down the road,“ he said.

That preparation work includes getting ready for task fairs.

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

He explained that participants must determine the business they wish to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to allow for educated discussions with employers.

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