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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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she participated in a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in different industries, made it various 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 answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were available to answer employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, 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, Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the .

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, employment 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 prepare for them, “gown 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, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals learn more about career opportunities and employment how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of attending a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that basically every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an educated choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning about financial resources, employment consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “developing a savings 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 one day,” he said, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

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

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

That prep work includes getting ready for job fairs.

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

He discussed that guests should determine the companies they wish to speak with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, employment she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.