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 preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she attended a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

„I just try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than work in different industries, 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were available to respond to hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor 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 Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the job fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover out what type of opportunities exist here outside 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 get ready for them, „gown 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 aiming to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to help individuals find out about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial benefit of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re „not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and referall.us decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

„We see that basically every year,” he said. „We desire them to make an informed decision about their career.”

Part of the is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and „constructing a savings 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 at some point,” he said, „however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

„You must be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the road,” he stated.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

„You require to go into a hiring reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe said.

He explained that guests should pinpoint the companies they want to consult with and research them ahead of time, to enable for informed conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and consulted with some employers. A senior information innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.