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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she attended a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than work in various industries, employment made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were readily available to answer hiring 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; 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 task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover out what type of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “dress 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 wanting to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

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

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

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, including credit reports, budgets and “building a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

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

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

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for task fairs.

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

He discussed that guests need to identify the companies they want to talk to and research them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior info innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.