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 getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she participated in a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that 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 has to use, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in various markets, made it different 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 firms, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were readily available to answer working with concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and employment 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 learn what type of chances exist here outside your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager 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 get ready for employment them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, employment Gentz said.

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

Among the task fair’s objectives was to assist people learn more about profession chances and how their skills align with them, employment Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of participating in a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “developing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.

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

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

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

That prep work includes getting ready for job fairs.

“You require to enter into a hiring reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

He discussed that participants must identify the companies they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and talked with some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.