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 opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of employment in numerous industries, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, employment who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were readily available to answer working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor 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 employment Health Services, 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 manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

To get ready for employment 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 task fair’s objectives was to help people discover profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of attending a job fair, 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 decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is discovering about financial resources, including credit reports, spending 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 sooner or later,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

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

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for task fairs.

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

He discussed that guests must identify the business they want to speak with and research them ahead of time, to permit for educated conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and employment spoke with some employers. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.