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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she went to a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than work in numerous markets, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were readily available to respond to employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations 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 occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover out what sort of chances exist here outside your back door,” 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 “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s objectives was to help individuals find out about profession opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We want them to make an informed choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “building 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 at some point,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe said.

“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the road,” he said.

That prep work consists of preparing for referall.us job fairs.

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

He discussed that attendees must determine the companies they want to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with recruiters.

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