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JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, employment Wash. - Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan's military exit date is a few weeks away, and she's preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM's Hawk Career Center.

"I simply try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, simply to make sure I'm as prepared as possible," she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in numerous markets, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, employment 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 companies were offered to address working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor 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, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is "a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what type of chances exist here outdoors your back door," stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor 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 looking to do," Handoe said, that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair's objectives was to help individuals find out about profession chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial benefit of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they're "not ready to make that jump yet," or they have actually seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

"We see that basically every year," he stated. "We desire them to make an informed decision about their profession."

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, employment spending 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 one day," he stated, "however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?"

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

"You must be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the road," he said.

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

"You require to go into an employing reasonable with a plan of what you're going to do and not simply meander around," Handoe stated.

He described that attendees need to pinpoint the business they wish to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and employment spoke to some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.