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 for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she participated in a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM's Hawk Career Center.

"I just try to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, simply to ensure I'm as prepared as possible," she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in different markets, made it various than others on the installation. 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 responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were readily available to answer 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 occasion, the task fair is "a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what type of opportunities exist here outside your back door," stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task 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 referall.us pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a "quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you're seeking to do," Handoe stated, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair's goals was to help individuals find out about profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential benefit of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they're "not prepared to make that jump yet," or they have seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

"We see that generally every year," he stated. "We want them to make an informed decision about their profession."

Part of the education piece is discovering about finances, including credit reports, budgets and "building a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it's time to get out," Handoe stated.

"Everybody's going to get out of the Army someday," he stated, "however while you're in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?"

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for - consisting of certifications, accreditations and education - and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

"You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the roadway," he said.

That prep work includes getting ready for task fairs.

"You need to go into a working with reasonable with a strategy of what you're going to do and not just meander around," Handoe stated.

He discussed that participants should pinpoint the business they desire to speak to and research them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in 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.