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 job seekers, she went to an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM's Hawk Career Center.

"I just try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, just to make certain I'm as prepared as possible," she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in various industries, 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were readily available to answer employing questions, employment said Frank Handoe, employment 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 occasion, the job fair is "a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance," said 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 employment Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, "dress for success," bring your resume and employment practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An pitch is a "quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you're wanting to do," Handoe stated, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair's objectives was to help individuals learn more about profession chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they're "not prepared to make that dive yet," or they have actually seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

"We see that generally every year," he said. "We desire them to make an educated decision about their profession."

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and "constructing 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 stated, "but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?"

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are searching for - consisting of accreditations, employment accreditations and schooling - and discovering their employing practices, Handoe said.

"You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the roadway," he stated.

That preparation work includes getting ready for task fairs.

"You need to go into an employing fair with a plan of what you're going to do and not just meander around," Handoe said.

He explained that participants need to identify the business they want to talk to and research them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke to some recruiters. A senior information technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.