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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she attended a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in numerous industries, made it different 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 companies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employment recruiters from state companies were readily available to respond to working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift 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 employment Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of .

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

To get ready for employment them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and employment practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

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

One of the task fair’s goals was to assist people discover profession chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

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

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “constructing 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 one day,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

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

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

That prep work includes preparing for employment task fairs.

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

He explained that attendees must pinpoint the business they desire to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to permit for educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked with some employers. A senior info innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.