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 employment she's getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she went to a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM's Hawk Career Center.

"I simply try to take benefit 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 employment, instead of employment in various markets, 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 firms, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were readily available to address working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor 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, employment Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the job fair is "a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back door," stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

fairs like the Jan. 30 event 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 stated.

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

One of the job fair's goals was to assist people discover about profession chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of attending a task fair, employment as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they're "not ready to make that dive yet," or they have actually seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is learning about finances, including credit reports, budget plans and "constructing a savings so you have something to work with when it's time to go out," Handoe stated.

"Everybody's going to get out of the Army one day," he said, "but while you're in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?"

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for - including accreditations, accreditations and education - and discovering their employing practices, Handoe stated.

"You ought 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 includes preparing for task fairs.

"You require to enter into an employing reasonable with a strategy of what you're going to do and not simply meander around," Handoe stated.

He explained that guests need to pinpoint the business they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to permit for informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior info technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.