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

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she went to a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM's Hawk Career Center.

"I simply attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, simply to make sure I'm as prepared as possible," she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in different markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were readily available to respond to hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor job 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 task fair is "a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what type of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance," stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

To get ready for job them, "dress for success," bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator job pitch is a "fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you're seeking to do," Handoe said, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair's goals was to help individuals learn more about profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, job Gentz said.

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

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, including credit reports, job budget plans and "building a savings 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 stated, "but while you're in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?"

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are searching for - including certifications, accreditations and schooling - and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

"You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later down the road," he stated.

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

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

He discussed that guests must pinpoint the companies they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to allow for informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke to some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.