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 job hunters, she participated in a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in numerous markets, made it different 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 addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were readily available to answer working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, employment deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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 occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what type of chances exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for employment 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, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator employment pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to assist people learn about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key advantage of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, employment Gentz stated.

“We see that basically every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an educated choice about their career.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “developing 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’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the world are searching for – including certifications, accreditations and education – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes preparing for employment 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 discussed that participants must determine the business they desire to speak to and research them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and consulted with some employers. A senior information innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.