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 preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply try to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of employment in numerous 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 companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were offered to answer working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and employment Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of chances exist here outside your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, employment Gentz stated.

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

One of the job fair’s goals was to help people discover profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of attending a task reasonable, 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 offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, employment Gentz said.

“We see that generally 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, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “developing 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 sooner or later,” he said, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are searching for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering about their working with practices, Handoe said.

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later down the roadway,” he stated.

That preparation work includes getting ready 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 explained that attendees need to pinpoint the business they wish to speak to and research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked to some employers. A senior info innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.