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 getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she participated in an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I simply try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.
The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in different industries, 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 firms, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were available to respond to employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.
Informational tables represented organizations 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 Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
A quarterly event, job the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what sort of chances exist here outdoors 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 get ready 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 aiming to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the job fair’s goals was to help individuals learn about career chances and how their abilities line up with them, .
Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.
“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an informed decision about their career.”
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 go out,” Handoe said.
“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything 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 accreditations, accreditations and education – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe stated.
“You must be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later on down the roadway,” he said.
That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.
“You need to go into a hiring fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.
He explained that attendees must pinpoint the business they want to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with employers.
Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior information technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.