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 hunters, she went to a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
«I simply try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,» she stated.
The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in numerous 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 answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to respond to hiring questions, employment stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor 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 task fair is «a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what type of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,» said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event 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 «quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,» Handoe said, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the job fair’s objectives was to help people discover and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.
Education is a crucial advantage of attending a job fair, employment as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re «not ready to make that jump yet,» or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.
«We see that essentially every year,» he stated. «We desire them to make an educated choice about their career.»
Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, employment budgets and «constructing 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 stated, «however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?»
Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe said.
«You should be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later down the roadway,» he stated.
That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.
«You require to go into a hiring reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,» Handoe said.
He explained that participants ought to pinpoint the companies they wish to speak to and research them ahead of time, to permit for informed conversations with recruiters.
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and talked with some recruiters. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.