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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she attended a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career 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 needs to offer, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than work in different 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 companies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were offered to answer hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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 job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for referall.us the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

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

An elevator pitch is a “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe said, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to help individuals learn more about career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial advantage of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an informed choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “developing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

“You must be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the roadway,” he stated.

That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He explained that guests must pinpoint the business they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked with some recruiters. A senior details technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her role.