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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 reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances 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 has to offer, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in various industries, made it different 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 companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to answer employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor 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 get ready for them, “dress 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 wanting to do,” Handoe stated, referall.us mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

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

Education is a key benefit of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “building 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 at some point,” he stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He discussed that attendees should pinpoint the companies they desire to talk to and research them ahead of time, to permit for informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.