JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, employment Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a few weeks away, and she’s preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she went to a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than work 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, employment 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, employment Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, employment shift services manager 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 get ready for them, “dress 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 looking to do,” Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist people discover career chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that basically every year,” he said. “We want them to make an educated choice about their career.”

Part of the education piece is discovering about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “constructing 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 someday,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their working with practices, employment Handoe said.

“You must be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do in the future down the road,” he stated.

That prep work includes preparing for task fairs.

“You require to enter into a working with reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe said.

He described that participants must pinpoint the business they desire to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and employment spoke to some recruiters. A senior info technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.