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 getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she participated in a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in various markets, employment 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 agencies, employment who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were readily available to respond to 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, employment the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task 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 said.

An elevator pitch is a “quick 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 task fair’s goals was to assist people find out about career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of attending a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or employment they have actually seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an informed decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is discovering about financial resources, employment consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “building 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 sooner or later,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, employment seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for task fairs.

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

He described that guests need to determine the companies they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to allow for employment educated conversations with recruiters.

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