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 getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she went to a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in various markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, employment WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were offered to answer hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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, Community Services Division; and employment Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover out what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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 “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to help individuals find out about career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “building a nest egg 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 said, “but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, employment accreditations and education – and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He described that guests ought to pinpoint the business they want to talk to and research them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked with some employers. A senior details innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.