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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 attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at Career Center.

« I just attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible, » she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than work in various markets, 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 firms, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to respond to working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor 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, referall.us 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 opportunity to find out what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back door, » said Christopher Gentz, transition 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 prepare for them, « dress for success, » bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a « quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do, » Handoe stated, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals find out about profession chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re « not prepared to make that jump yet, » or they have actually seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

« We see that essentially every year, » he stated. « We desire them to make an informed choice about their career. »

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, budget plans and « developing a nest egg 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 likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe said.

« You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the roadway, » he said.

That prep work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

« You need to go into a working with reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around, » Handoe stated.

He discussed that guests must pinpoint the business they want to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked to some employers. A senior info technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.