JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, employment Wash. - Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan's military exit date is a few weeks away, and she's preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM's Hawk Career Center.

"I simply try to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, simply to make sure I'm as prepared as possible," she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were readily available to answer hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift 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 chance to discover what kind 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, "gown for success," bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

One of the task fair's goals was to help individuals discover profession opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key advantage of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they're "not ready to make that dive yet," or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, spending plans and "developing 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 sooner or later," he stated, "however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?"

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find - including accreditations, accreditations and schooling - and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe said.

"You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the roadway," he stated.

That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He explained that participants need to pinpoint the companies they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.