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 employment the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she participated in an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities 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 offer, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in numerous industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were readily available to respond to hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for employment the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and employment 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 discover what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and employment 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 seeking to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to assist people discover career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential benefit of attending a job fair, employment as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, employment consisting of credit reports, spending plans 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 sooner or later,” he said, “however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their employing practices, employment Handoe said.

“You ought to 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 job fairs.

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

He described that attendees must pinpoint the companies they wish to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked with some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.