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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she participated in a working with reasonable 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 needs to use, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of work in various markets, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, referall.us who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were offered to respond to hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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 opportunity to discover what type of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job 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 stated.

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

Among the task fair’s objectives was to help individuals learn more about career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial benefit of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, budgets and “developing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he said, “however 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 individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of preparing for job fairs.

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

He discussed that attendees must determine the companies they wish to talk to and research them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke to some recruiters. A senior information innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.