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

“I simply try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than 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 companies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were available to answer hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and employment 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 opportunity to learn what kind of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job 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 your elevator employment pitch, Gentz said.

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

Among the task fair’s goals was to help individuals discover about profession chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of attending a task fair, employment as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, budgets and “developing a savings 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 stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

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

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for task fairs.

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

He discussed that guests must pinpoint the business they desire to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked with some recruiters. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.