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

„I just try to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,“ she said.

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in different industries, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and employment the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were available to answer working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager 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 outdoors your back entrance,“ stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager 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, „gown for success,“ bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

One of the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals discover about career chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential advantage of attending a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re „not ready to make that dive yet,“ or they have seen the readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, employment Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, budgets and „constructing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,“ Handoe stated.

„Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,“ he stated, „but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?“

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of accreditations, and education – and employment finding out about their employing practices, Handoe said.

„You should be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the roadway,“ he stated.

That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.

„You require to go into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,“ Handoe said.

He discussed that attendees ought to determine the business they desire to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and consulted with some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.