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

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she participated in a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in different industries, made it different 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to answer hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and employment VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, employment the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover out what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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 employment pitch, Gentz stated.

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

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

Education is a crucial benefit of going to a task fair, employment as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that basically every year,” he said. “We want them to make an informed choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, including credit reports, budgets and “developing a savings so you have something to work 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 whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

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

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

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

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

He discussed that participants ought to pinpoint the business they wish to talk with and research study them ahead of time, employment to enable informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked with some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, employment she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.