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, employment and she’s preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she participated in a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in numerous industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were readily available to address employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, employment Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what type of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition 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 prepare for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator employment pitch, Gentz said.

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

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals learn more about profession opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of participating in a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or employment they have actually seen the offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that basically every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an educated choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is discovering about finances, employment including credit reports, budget plans and “constructing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, employment seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the road,” he stated.

That preparation work consists of preparing for job fairs.

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

He described that guests should pinpoint the business they desire to speak to and research them ahead of time, employment to permit for informed discussions with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked with some employers. A senior information technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.