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 applicants, she participated in an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances 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 needs to offer, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in different industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, and job the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to answer hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor 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 Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager 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 introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals learn more about profession opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential advantage of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the available 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 more about financial resources, including credit reports, budgets and “constructing 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 sooner or later,” he said, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

“You need to go into a working with reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe said.

He explained that participants must identify the business they desire to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to allow for educated conversations with recruiters.

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