JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

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 job candidates, she went to an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task 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 companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to address working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for horizonsmaroc.com 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, Community Services Division; and https://sowjobs.com Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out 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 Sept. 11.

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

An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe said, https://horizonsmaroc.com/ discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to assist individuals learn more about profession chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of attending a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is discovering about financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and “building 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 at some point,” he stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

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

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the roadway,” he stated.

That prep work includes preparing for [empty] task fairs.

“You need to enter into an employing fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe said.

He discussed that guests must identify the business they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked with some recruiters. A senior info innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, matchboyz.nl she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.