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 task candidates, she went to a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than work in various industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to answer hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and [empty] 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 find out what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To get ready for them, “gown 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 aiming to do,” Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to help individuals learn more about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key advantage of attending 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 available chances and choose to continue serving, .

“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an educated choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “developing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“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 also exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of preparing for job fairs.

“You need to go into a working with fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.

He discussed that participants need to determine the business they desire to consult with and hornyofficebabes.com/archive/indian-office-porn/ research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked with some employers. A senior [empty] infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.