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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she participated in a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than employment in numerous industries, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, employment WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employment recruiters from state firms were offered to respond to working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and employment Families; Department of Social and Health Services, employment Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task 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 pitch is a “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals learn more about career chances and how their abilities line up with them, employment Gentz said.

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

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he said, “however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for job fairs.

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

He described that attendees ought to determine the companies they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, employment to enable informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.