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 preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she went to an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just attempt to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in numerous markets, 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were available to respond to employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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 occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” said 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, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator employment pitch, Gentz stated.

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

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals discover profession chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential advantage of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, spending plans and “constructing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he stated, “however while you’re 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 outside world are looking for of accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes preparing for job 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 explained that participants ought to identify the companies they want to speak to and employment research study them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke to some employers. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.