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 task candidates, she went to a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in numerous markets, 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 companies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to address working with concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor 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 Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what type of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition 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 prepare for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

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

Among the objectives was to help individuals find out about career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential benefit of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is learning about finances, referall.us including credit reports, budget plans and “developing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

“You must be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the roadway,” he said.

That preparation work consists of preparing for task fairs.

“You need to go into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.

He described that participants must pinpoint the business they wish to speak with and research them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.