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 preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, Small Amount Loan she attended a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in different industries, made it various 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, 24-Hour Loan recruiters from state firms were available to answer working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Discover More Here 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what sort of chances exist here outside your back door,” said 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 [empty] Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to assist people discover profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of participating in 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 actually seen the readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an educated choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “building 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 sooner or later,” he stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for job fairs.

“You require to go into a hiring reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

He explained that participants must determine the companies they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to allow for informed discussions with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and consulted with some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, enitajobs.com she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.