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, employment and she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she attended a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in numerous markets, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and employment the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were offered to respond to employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor 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 employment 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 discover out what sort of chances exist here outside your back entrance,“ 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 employment Sept. 11.

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

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

One of the task fair’s goals was to help individuals learn more about profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a task 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 opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

„We see that generally every year,“ he said. „We want them to make an educated decision about their career.“

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and „building 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 someday,“ he said, „however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?“

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

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

That prep work consists of preparing for job fairs.

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

He discussed that guests should determine the they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with recruiters.

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