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 task applicants, she attended a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in numerous markets, made it different 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to address hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager 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 occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor 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 prepare for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to assist individuals find out about career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

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

“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an informed choice about their career.”

Part of the education piece is learning about finances, including credit reports, budgets and “building a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,” he stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – including certifications, referall.us accreditations and education – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

“You require to go into a hiring reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.

He explained that attendees should identify the companies they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some employers. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.