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 task seekers, she went to a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in numerous industries, made it different than others on the setup. by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were readily available to respond to employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor 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, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what type of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

One of the job fair’s objectives was to help individuals discover about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

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

“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “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 deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he said, “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 people in the outdoors world are trying to find – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe said.

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later down the roadway,” he said.

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He explained that guests must pinpoint the business they wish to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior info innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.