JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, employment 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 applicants, she went to an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

« I simply attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible, » she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in various markets, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, employment it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, employment who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employment employers from state agencies were readily available to answer working with questions, stated 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 chance to discover what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back door, » said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager 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 get ready for them, « gown for success, » bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a « quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do, » Handoe stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to help individuals find out about profession opportunities and employment how their skills align with them, employment Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a task fair, 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 stated.

« We see that essentially every year, » he stated. « We desire them to make an educated choice about their profession. »

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, budgets and « constructing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out, » Handoe stated.

« Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later, » he said, « but 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 looking for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and learning about their employing practices, .

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

That prep work includes getting ready for job fairs.

« You require to go into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around, » Handoe stated.

He discussed that attendees should determine the companies they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some employers. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.