JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant military exit date is a few weeks away, and she’s getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she participated in a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in different markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and employment 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 companies were readily available to address 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, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor 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, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe said, discussing that the ability 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 abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of attending a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “developing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he said, “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 looking for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work includes getting ready for job fairs.

“You require to go into a hiring reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

He discussed that attendees ought to determine the business they want to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked with some recruiters. A senior details technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.