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

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she attended an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of in various industries, made it various 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were available to answer hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager 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 chance to learn what type of chances exist here outside your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, employment 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 pitch, Gentz stated.

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

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals find out about profession opportunities and how their align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, employment budgets and “building a nest egg 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 stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their employing practices, employment Handoe stated.

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

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He explained that participants need to determine the companies they desire to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some recruiters. A senior information innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.