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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, employment instead of employment in different markets, 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, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employment recruiters from state firms were offered to address hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies consisting of 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 occasion, employment the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what type of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” 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 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 wanting to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to help people learn more about career chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

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

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

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “building a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he said, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He explained that participants ought to identify the they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to enable for educated conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and 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 role.