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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she participated in a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities 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 make certain I’m as prepared as possible,» she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than work in various markets, job 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 firms, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were available to answer employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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, job Community Services Division; and job Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is «a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what type of chances exist here outside your back entrance,» stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job 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 «quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,» Handoe said, job pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

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

Education is a crucial benefit of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re «not ready to make that dive yet,» or they have seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

«We see that basically every year,» he stated. «We desire them to make an informed choice about their career.»

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and «constructing a savings 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 one day,» he stated, «but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?»

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for — including certifications, accreditations and education — and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

«You must be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the road,» he stated.

That prep work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

«You require to go into an employing fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,» Handoe stated.

He described that guests should determine the companies they want to talk to and research them ahead of time, to allow for informed conversations with recruiters.

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