JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

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

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she went to a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state work, employment rather than employment in various industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employment recruiters from state agencies were readily available to address employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations 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, employment Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back door,“ 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 Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, „gown for success,“ bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

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

Among the objectives was to assist people learn more about profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of attending a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re „not prepared to make that dive yet,“ or they have seen the offered chances and employment choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and „constructing a savings 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 one day,“ he said, „but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?“

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – including accreditations, accreditations and employment education – and learning about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He discussed that attendees must identify the business they wish to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior info technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.