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 employment she’s preparing for employment the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she participated in a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

«I simply attempt to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,» she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in numerous markets, made it different 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were available to answer working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, employment Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, employment Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is «a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover out what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,» stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager 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 get ready for them, «gown 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 seeking to do,» Handoe said, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals learn more about and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential advantage of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re «not prepared to make that dive yet,» or employment they have seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

«We see that basically every year,» he stated. «We want them to make an informed decision about their profession.»

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and «building a nest egg 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 at some point,» he stated, «but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?»

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring 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 said.

That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He explained that attendees ought to pinpoint the companies they want to speak to and employment research study them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and consulted with some employers. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.