JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, 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 job seekers, she participated in a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities 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 offer, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than employment in different industries, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were readily available to respond to employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

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

An elevator pitch is a “fast intro 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 task fair’s objectives was to help individuals find out about profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, consisting of credit reports, and “developing a savings 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 someday,” he said, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe said.

“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the roadway,” he said.

That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He discussed that participants need to pinpoint the companies they desire to speak to and research them ahead of time, to allow for educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some employers. A senior info technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.