JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

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

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, job she attended a working with 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 needs to use, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in different industries, made it different 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 answered questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to answer hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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, Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition 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 get ready for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, job Gentz stated.

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

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist people discover about profession chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential benefit of participating in a task reasonable, job as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, job budgets and “developing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

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

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for task fairs.

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

He described that participants must determine the companies they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with recruiters.

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