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 attended an employing reasonable 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 has to use, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than work in numerous markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were readily available to answer working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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 introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals discover about profession opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of attending a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go 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 everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – including accreditations, job accreditations and education – and job learning more about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

“You require to enter into a working with fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe said.

He explained that participants must identify the companies they desire to consult with and research them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke to some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, job she has actually found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.