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 getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she went to an employing fair 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 has to offer, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible, » she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in different markets, employment made it different than others on the setup. 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 employment responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were offered to answer working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of 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, employment the task fair is « a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover out what kind of chances exist here outside your back entrance, » 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 prepare for them, « dress for success, » bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a « fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do, » Handoe said, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to help individuals discover profession chances and how their abilities line up with them, employment Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of attending a task reasonable, employment as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re « not ready to make that jump yet, » or they have seen the offered opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

« We see that basically every year, » he stated. « We want them to make an educated decision about their profession. »

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and « constructing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out, » Handoe stated.

« Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday, » he stated, « but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out? »

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

« You must be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later down the road, » he said.

That preparation work includes getting ready for task fairs.

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

He described that attendees ought to identify the companies they desire to talk with and research study them ahead of time, employment to permit informed conversations with .

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked with some recruiters. A senior details technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.