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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she attended a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM's Hawk Career Center.

"I just attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, simply to make sure I'm as prepared as possible," she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in different industries, made it different 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 companies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were available to address hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including 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 USSD financial Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the job fair is "a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what type of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance," said Christopher Gentz, 24-Hour Loan shift services supervisor 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 get ready for them, "gown for success," bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a "fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you're aiming to do," Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair's goals was to help individuals learn more about career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they're "not prepared to make that dive yet," or they have actually seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

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

"Everybody's going to get out of the Army at some point," he said, "however while you're in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?"

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for - consisting of certifications, accreditations and education - and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He explained that participants need to determine the business they wish to talk to and research them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and consulted with some employers. A senior info technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.