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

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

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in different markets, made it different 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, recruiters from state firms were available to address 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, 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 opportunity to discover out what sort 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 event 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 said.

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

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

Education is a key benefit of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed decision about their profession.”

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

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering their working with practices, referall.us Handoe said.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He explained that attendees should pinpoint the companies they wish to speak to and research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her role.