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 task hunters, she went to a hiring 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 needs to provide, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of work in numerous industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were readily available to respond to working with concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift 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 type of chances exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, referall.us 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, “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 aiming to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s objectives was to assist people find out about career chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that basically every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of 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 at some point,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of preparing for job fairs.

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

He discussed that attendees should determine the companies they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and consulted with some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.