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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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

« I simply attempt to take advantage 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 employment, instead of work in various markets, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were offered to respond to hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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 referall.us Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the is « a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance, » said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

To prepare for them, « gown for success, » bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

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

Among the task fair’s objectives was to help people find out about career chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of attending a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re « not all set to make that jump yet, » or they have seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

« We see that generally every year, » he said. « We desire them to make an informed decision about their career. »

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and « constructing 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, « however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out? »

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

« You require to enter into a working with fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around, » Handoe stated.

He discussed that attendees ought to determine the companies they want to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and consulted with some employers. A senior information innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.