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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 few weeks away, and she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she attended a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk .

« I simply try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible, » she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment 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 concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were readily available to respond to employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, WorkSource and employment 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 task fair is « a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover out what kind of opportunities exist here outside 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 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 aiming to do, » Handoe said, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to help individuals learn about profession chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re « not all set to make that dive yet, » or they have actually seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

« We see that essentially every year, » he said. « We desire them to make an educated decision about their profession. »

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and « developing 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 sooner or later, » he said, « but while you’re 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 outside world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

« You ought 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 consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He discussed that participants ought to pinpoint the companies they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with recruiters.

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