JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika military exit date is a couple of weeks away, and she’s preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she went to a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

„I just attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, just 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 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 firms, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were available to respond to hiring questions, said 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 task fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what type of chances exist here outdoors your back door,“ stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager 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 stated.

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

One of the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals find out about career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re „not ready to make that jump yet,“ or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and „developing a nest egg 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 said, „but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?“

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering about their working with practices, referall.us Handoe said.

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

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

„You need to enter into a hiring fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,“ Handoe said.

He discussed that guests must identify the companies they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke to some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.