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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she attended a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than work in various 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 addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were available to answer working with questions, [empty] said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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, Community Services Division; and wamc1950.com Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor 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, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist people discover about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key advantage of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning about finances, including credit reports, budgets and “constructing 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 said, “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 looking for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and theboss.wesupportrajini.com discovering their working with practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He described that guests should identify the they wish to talk to and research them ahead of time, accountshunt.com to allow for educated discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some employers. A senior details technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.