JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

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

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

"I just attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, simply to make certain I'm as prepared as possible," she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in various industries, referall.us 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 companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were offered to address employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager 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 job fair is "a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover out what type of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance," stated Christopher Gentz, transition 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 prepare for them, "dress for success," bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a "quick introduction 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 objectives was to help people discover career chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they're "not ready to make that jump yet," or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and decide 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 learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and "developing a nest egg so you have something to work 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 remain 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 outdoors world are searching for - consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling - and discovering their working with practices, Handoe said.

"You must be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later down the road," he stated.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

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

He discussed that guests need to pinpoint the companies they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked to some employers. A senior info technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her role.