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 task applicants, she attended a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

«I just try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,» she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in different 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 responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were readily available to address employing concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor 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, Community Services Division; and employment Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the job fair is «a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,» stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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 «quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,» Handoe stated, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to assist people discover career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of going to a task fair, 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 offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, budgets and «building a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go 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 help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find — consisting of certifications, accreditations and education — and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe said.

«You must be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later on down the roadway,» he said.

That prep work consists of preparing for job fairs.

«You need to enter into an employing reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,» Handoe said.

He explained that participants ought to pinpoint the companies they desire to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit for informed conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke to some employers. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.