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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

“I simply try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in different industries, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were available to address working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, [empty] 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, [empty] the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” 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 seeking to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to help people find out about career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that basically every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an educated decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “building 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 at some point,” he stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, akinsemployment.ca seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and learning more about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work consists of preparing for job fairs.

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

He explained that guests must identify the business they want to consult with and research them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and consulted with some employers. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.