JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, employment Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a couple of weeks away, and she’s preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

“I simply attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job 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 started with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were readily available to answer employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor employment 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 discover what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, employment shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task 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 employment 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 said, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the goals was to assist people find out about career chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the available opportunities and decide to continue serving, employment Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, budgets and “building a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, employment seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and education – and learning about their employing practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work includes getting ready for task fairs.

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

He described that guests must pinpoint the companies they desire to talk to and research them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke to some employers. A senior info technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.