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, and she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

“I simply try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in different markets, 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 firms, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were offered to address hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables organizations 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 occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover out what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

Among the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals learn more about career chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover 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 choice about their career.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and “building a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

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

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe said.

“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later down the roadway,” he said.

That preparation work consists of preparing for task fairs.

“You need to enter into a hiring fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.

He described that guests need to pinpoint the companies they want to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to enable for educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke to some recruiters. A senior information innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, referall.us she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.