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 task hunters, she participated in an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of employment in numerous industries, made it various 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 companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were readily available to answer hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services 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 Families; Department of Social and Health Services, employment Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what type of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” said 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 get ready 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 stated, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

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

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

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and “constructing 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 one day,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

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

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

That prep work includes getting ready for employment job fairs.

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

He explained that participants need to determine the business they want to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to enable for employment educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked to some recruiters. A senior info innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.