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 task applicants, she participated in a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at Career Center.

“I simply try to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of work in different industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, job WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were readily available to address hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor 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 Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services manager 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 get ready for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator job pitch is a “fast 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.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to help people discover profession opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of attending a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an educated decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans 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 someday,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, job seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He described that attendees need to identify the business they wish to speak with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with recruiters.

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