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 preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities 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 needs to offer, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,“ she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of work in different markets, 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 companies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to address working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies consisting of 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 learn what type of chances exist here outside your back door,“ said 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 prepare for them, „gown 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 wanting to do,“ Handoe said, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals find out about career opportunities and referall.us how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re „not all set to make that jump yet,“ or they have seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

„We see that essentially every year,“ he said. „We desire them to make an informed decision about their career.“

Part of the education piece is learning about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets 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 someday,“ he stated, „however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?“

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

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

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

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

He explained that guests must determine the business they want to speak to and research them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some employers. A senior info innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.