JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, referall.us Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika exit date is a couple of weeks away, and she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just attempt to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has 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 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were available to respond to working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift 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 event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what sort of chances exist here outside your back door,” stated 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 them, “dress 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 looking to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals discover career opportunities and how their skills line up 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 prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, budget plans and “developing a nest egg 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 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 individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are searching for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe said.

“You must be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the road,” he said.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

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

He discussed that attendees must identify the companies they wish to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with recruiters.

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