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

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she went to a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in various industries, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and employment the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were offered to address employing concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations 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 task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what sort of chances exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor 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, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, employment Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s objectives was to help people learn more about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, employment Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a task fair, employment as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and choose to serving, employment Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “building a savings 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 sooner or later,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He discussed that participants must determine the companies they wish to speak with and research them ahead of time, employment to permit informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.