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 getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in various markets, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource 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 agencies were readily available to address hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor employment for the TAP.

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

A quarterly event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what kind of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor 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 said.

An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,” Handoe said, employment mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals discover about profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial benefit of participating in a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

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

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He discussed that participants must identify the companies they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and consulted with some recruiters. A senior info technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, employment she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.