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

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, 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 use, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than employment in numerous markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Group, employment WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to respond to employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, employment deputy shift services manager 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, employment 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 opportunity to discover out what type of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor 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 get ready for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and employment 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 stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals discover profession opportunities and employment how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

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 prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an educated choice about their career.”

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, budgets and “building a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.

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

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

“You need to enter into a hiring fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.

He discussed that attendees need to pinpoint the companies they wish to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke with some recruiters. A senior information technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.