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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she participated in an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply try to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in different industries, made it various 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, employers from state companies were readily available to answer employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift 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 event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift 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 stated.

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

Among the job fair’s objectives was to assist people learn more about career chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We want them to make an educated choice about their career.”

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “developing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he stated, “but 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 people in the outdoors world are for – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe said.

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do in the future down the roadway,” he stated.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

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

He explained that attendees need to determine the companies they desire to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to enable for employment educated conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked with some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.