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 task candidates, she participated in a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of employment in different industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, employment it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were readily available to address working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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 Families; Department of Social and employment Health Services, Community Services Division; and employment Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what type of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of .

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

To get ready 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, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to help people learn about career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, employment Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We want them to make an educated decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, spending plans and “building a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe stated.

“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the road,” he stated.

That preparation work includes getting ready for task fairs.

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

He discussed that participants must pinpoint the companies they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked to some employers. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.