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

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she went to an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the on state employment, instead of work in various markets, made it various 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 firms, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were offered to answer hiring concerns, stated 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 occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, referall.us shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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 seeking to do,” Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals learn more about profession chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

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

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

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

He explained that attendees ought to pinpoint the companies they wish to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.