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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 getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she attended a hiring 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 needs to offer, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible, » she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in different markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were available to answer hiring concerns, stated 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 Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is « a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what sort of chances 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 get ready for employment them, « gown 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 aiming to do, » Handoe stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to help individuals find out about profession chances and how their skills line up with them, employment Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re « not prepared to make that dive yet, » or they have actually seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and « building a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out, » Handoe stated.

« Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point, » he stated, « however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out? »

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

« You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the road, » he stated.

That prep work includes preparing for task fairs.

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

He explained that attendees ought to pinpoint the business they desire to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and employment talked to some employers. A senior info innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.