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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

“I simply attempt to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, simply to make certain 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 setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, https://horizonsmaroc.com/ WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were offered to answer working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, Car Loan WorkSource and Washington State’s 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 door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor 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 prepare for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

Among the job fair’s objectives was to help people discover career chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of attending 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 seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering about financial resources, [empty] consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “building a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

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

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He discussed that guests must determine the companies they wish to speak with and research them ahead of time, [empty] to enable educated conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke to some recruiters. A senior information innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, www.opad.biz she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.