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 preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she went to a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in various industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, job WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were available to answer questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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 discover out what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job 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 “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to help individuals learn about profession opportunities and job how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

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

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

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

“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the roadway,” he said.

That prep work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

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

He discussed that participants ought to pinpoint the companies they want to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to permit for informed discussions with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and job consulted with some employers. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, job she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.