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 went to a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

„I simply attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,“ she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in different 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 firms, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were readily available to answer working with questions, referall.us said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations 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 task fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,“ said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 event 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 stated.

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

Among the task fair’s goals was to help people find out about career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re „not all set to make that jump yet,“ or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

„We see that essentially every year,“ he said. „We desire them to make an informed decision about their profession.“

Part of the education piece is learning about finances, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and „constructing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,“ Handoe said.

„Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,“ he stated, „however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?“

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

„You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later on down the roadway,“ he said.

That prep work consists of preparing for job fairs.

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

He described that guests should determine the they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior details technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.