JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military 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 job applicants, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

«I simply attempt to benefit from 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 said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in various industries, 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 companies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were readily available to answer employing concerns, stated 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 employment Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the job fair is «a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,» stated Christopher Gentz, employment shift 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 employment 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 stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to help individuals discover career opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, employment 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 all set to make that dive yet,» or they have seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, employment Gentz stated.

«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 discovering finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and «developing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,» Handoe said.

«Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,» he said, «but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?»

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are searching for employment – including accreditations, employment accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe said.

«You should be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later down the road,» he stated.

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He discussed that guests need to pinpoint the business they wish to talk to and research them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and with some employers. A senior details technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.