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 applicants, she participated in an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in various markets, made it different than others on the installation. 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 answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were readily available to address working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager 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 occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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 stated.

An elevator pitch is a “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

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

Education is an essential benefit of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

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

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

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He described that participants ought to determine the business they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to enable for referall.us educated discussions with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke to some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.