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 attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in different markets, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, employment it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, employment who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were available to respond to employing concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, employment 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 task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor 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, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

One of the job fair’s objectives was to help people learn about career opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “building a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,” he said, “however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and employment education – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He described that guests ought to pinpoint the business they desire to talk with and research them ahead of time, to enable for educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke to some recruiters. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.