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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she participated in a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, 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 different 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, who shared their experiences and answered . Following the panel, employment recruiters from state agencies were readily available to respond to hiring concerns, 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; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, employment Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, employment transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task 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 said.

An elevator pitch is a “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to help individuals find out about career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, budgets and “developing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,” he stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later down the roadway,” he said.

That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He discussed that attendees should identify the business they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke to some recruiters. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.