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 getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she attended a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances 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 needs to offer, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,“ she said.
The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in different markets, made it different 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were readily available to answer employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift 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, Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
A quarterly occasion, the task fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what type of chances exist here outside your back door,“ said Christopher Gentz, shift 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 prepare for them, „dress 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 aiming to do,“ Handoe said, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the job fair’s goals was to help individuals learn more about profession opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.
Education is an essential advantage of participating in a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re „not prepared to make that dive yet,“ or they have seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.
„We see that basically every year,“ he said. „We desire them to make an educated decision about their profession.“
Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, employment budget plans and „developing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,“ Handoe stated.
„Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,“ he stated, „however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?“
Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and learning about their working with practices, Handoe said.
„You must be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the road,“ he said.
That prep work consists of preparing for job fairs.
„You require to enter into a working with reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,“ Handoe stated.
He described that participants should identify the business they want to talk with and research them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with employers.
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and consulted with some recruiters. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.
