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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 preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she participated in an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just attempt to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in different industries, made it various 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 companies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were readily available to respond to hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor 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, 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 chance to discover out what kind of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To get ready for them, “gown 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 aiming to do,” Handoe said, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to help people learn about career opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is learning about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “building a nest egg 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 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 individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work includes getting ready for task fairs.

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

He described that participants must identify the business they wish to speak with and referall.us research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with recruiters.

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