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 employment she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

„I just try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,“ she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in different markets, 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, recruiters from state companies were available to respond to working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor employment for the TAP.

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 out what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,“ said Christopher Gentz, transition services manager 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 prepare for employment them, „dress for success,“ bring your resume and employment practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a „quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,“ Handoe said, employment discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s objectives was to help individuals learn more about career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of participating in a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re „not all set to make that dive yet,“ or they have seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

„We see that generally every year,“ he stated. „We desire them to make an educated choice about their profession.“

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, budget plans and „building 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 whatever you can to prepare to go out?“

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

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

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

„You need to go into an employing reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,“ Handoe said.

He described that attendees must determine the companies they want to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke to some employers. A senior info technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.