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 preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she went to a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances 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 needs to use, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than work in various markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were readily available to answer hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables 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 occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover out what type of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor 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 pitch, Gentz said.

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

Among the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals discover profession chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key advantage of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and choose to continue serving, referall.us Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “building a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,” he stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

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

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

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

He described that attendees ought to determine the companies they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked to some employers. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.