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 preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she went to a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, just to make sure 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 various than others on the installation. 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 addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were available to answer working with 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, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, employment shift 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 employment them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe said, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to help individuals find out about profession chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the available opportunities and employment decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that basically every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an educated decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, employment budget plans 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 everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe stated.

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later on down the roadway,” he said.

That preparation work includes getting ready for task fairs.

“You need to enter into a hiring fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe said.

He discussed that participants must identify the companies they wish to speak to and employment research study them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke to some recruiters. A senior info technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.