Aligned Organizations

So...the purpose of this blog is to connect veterans to resources which can help them get through difficulties they encounter when looking for employment, or simply trying to navigate the uncertainties of post deployment and post military service life.  My original intent was to offer fresh perspectives and topics often, and try to raise awareness of the resources that exist to help with those transitions.

Of course, as Robert Burns so colloquially put it, "The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray."  The purpose for the blog hasn't changed, but my ability to offer fresh content as often as I would have liked has been summarily high-jacked by my multiple jobs, and a general inability to find enough time to stare blankly at the wall for five seconds, let alone offer original and engaging content here.  That being said, I did want to offer some links (and serve as a clearing house if you will) to connect veterans with some of the resources I haven't previously championed.  I hope these organizations are helpful!

Hero 2 Hired - www.H2H.jobs

Military Spouse Employment Partnership - https://msepjobs.militaryonesource.mil/video/military-spouse-employment-partnership

Military Family Foundation - http://www.minnesotamilitaryfamilyfoundation.org/

SBA Patriot Loans - http://www.sba.gov/content/express-pilot-programs

Homers for Heroes - http://www.homesforheroes.com/taxonomy/term/23

Operation Homefront - http://www.operationhomefront.net/

The Mission Continues - http://missioncontinues.org/

Defenders of Freedom - http://www.defendersoffreedom.us/

Social Media Etiquette

I recently had a conversation with one of my soldiers about LinkedIn and the benefits of having an updated profile not only when searching for a job, but also for networking and making great contacts in the business
space.  You never know when you might be in a position to find a new opportunity, or help someone in your network as well.  Then it occurred to me…what my readers might find useful would be a quick overview of social media etiquette, and an advisory message on what NOT to do.  So….here goes...

DO

1.  Keep your contact information and profile current.  This goes for LinkedIn and other professional job board sites.  It doesn’t matter that you might not be currently looking for a job.  My advice would be to keep up on your currency.  This is a must have on LinkedIn specifically.

2.  Seek out best practices, obtain several examples of other profiles, and tailor your submission to match your personality and objectives.  Nothing says “pass!” to a potential recruiter like having to read an awful profile.

3.  Continually update your network.  This doesn’t mean you should randomly reach out to everyone in your current company to be a contact or in your network, but it does mean that you should periodically revisit your contacts to update who you know.  You meet people every now and then….add them to your network!

4.  Post some specific career field articles that interest you.  If you are in finance, post something about that field.  You never know when it might generate valuable discussion and insights which turn into opportunities.

DON’T

1.  Post pictures of your latest Friday night activities, which might include your dubious attire or something not directly related to you keeping your job.  Seriously people….it’s not like you haven’t seen this advice before.  Think before you hit the “post” button.

2.  Overshare.  You all know what I am talking about.  Everyone doesn’t need to know that you stopped off at the local Pump n Munch for a $1.49 Slim Jim 30 seconds after you told them you were leaving your cousin Jimmy's house.  Unless you are trying to establish an alibi (which is a completely different conversation), stop with the constant updates!

3.  Be cryptic with your posts.  For everyone who posts something on social media to the effect of, “I am sad L” it is obvious that you are reaching out and wanting attention.  Companies look for people who are emotionally mature and socially well adjusted.  Ensure that your posts are thoughtful and serve a purpose.  I like to say, if it doesn’t have the 5 W’s, it probably isn’t a value added post.

4.  Post or Tweet when you are emotional or intoxicated.  The rules might change subtly depending on the social media site you are using, but make no mistake; once you share something, you can’t take it back.  True, you might be able to delete your post, or tweet, or blog, etc.  But somewhere, somehow, someone has a copy.  Be absolutely sure that you want your audience to see what it is you are tweeting.

As a general rule, if it is not something you would blurt out face to face in a conversation, don’t do it on the interweb! 

Networking is the key to finding your next position.  Get out there and do it in an intelligent and responsible fashion!

Resume Customization and the "Shotgun" Approach

I know what you're thinking....you read the title of this post, and thought to yourself, "I don't do that!"  But you do.  We all do.  Accepting that fact is the first step toward fixing the problem.

We've all been on the job hunt.  We've all been guilty of distributing our resume by using the "shotgun" method, where we simply shoot our resume out across the job boards in a desperate attempt to get something....ANYTHING!  But it's killing your employability...and here's why:

1.  Recruiters hate it.  Nothing drives them more batty than having a candidate send in their resume when they are obviously not even remotely suited for the position.  it just wastes their time.
2.  It wastes your time.  The time you spend shotgunning your resume out to all those positions that you have almost ZERO chance of getting a call back for could be better spent on networking or gaining critical skills necessary to succeed.
3.  It dampens your spirits.  None of us like to get rejected.  Doesn't matter what it is: job; partner; life in general.  Rejection sucks regardless of the topic/area of life in which it occurs.  When it happens to you while you're looking for a job, it can kill your optimism and perseverance.  Once that happens, it's a spiral effect on your ego and your chances of finding a new job.

This article on the MBA Highway website gives you some ideas on how you can turn this around.  Give it a look!  Even if you don't have an MBA, it is a goldmine because of the time they spend on coaching and counseling job seekers.  Click on the link below.  You'll be glad you did!

MBA Highway Article

Veteran's Career Fair

On Tuesday afternoon, the 16th of July, 2013, I had an opportunity to accompany 5 of my coworkers to a career fair at the Earl Brown
Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.

Our mission was to offer assistance to veterans who were at the fair and preparing to separate and transition into the civilian sector.  Most needed help with their resumes, or to brush up on their interviewing skills, and generally get help on their road to new employment.

I was honored to be a part of this group, and offer assistance to our veterans here in the state of Minnesota, and I was especially honored that General Mills would trust me to represent their brand at an event of this size.  (The author began working at GMI in June of 2013).

All of the Veterans I worked with were in the same boat.  They had a great story and a solid history of service excellence to their nation.  What they needed some help with was translation.

Most veterans don't think twice about how they list their experience.  They faithfully enter the information on their resume and expect that every prospective employer will be impressed with their accomplishments.  And you know what?  If they could speak Military, they would be!  The problem is, most civilian employers, especially here in the upper midwest, simply don't speak that language.

Some common problems were using acronyms.  We have a LOT of acronyms in the service.  Civilians don't know them.  Always spell them out, and more often than not, you will need to explain them as well. Additionally, most service members have a wealth of experience that is spread out across a broad range of different areas.  The key to obtaining that new job as a "business analyst" is to focus on those experiences which will highlight the SM's aptitude for that particular position.

Last but not least, you absolutely HAVE to change your cover letter and tailor it specifically to each position for which you are applying.  Additionally, unless you are only applying to one specific job within a career field, you should probably tailor the experience on your resume to the position you are applying for as well.  Think about it like this:  If you are applying for a job as a finance specialist in a business analyst field, they are probably not going to give two hoots about your experiences driving a truck.  The key is to tailor your resume and focus on those experiences which will accentuate your level of knowledge within the career field.  And don't be afraid to list your course focus from the college you might be attending!  Letting a potential employer know that you are currently enrolled and focused on learning the specific career field you are interested in lets them know that you are actively working toward your goal.

I am excited for all our veterans who attended this event, and I am hopeful for their chances at obtaining their dream job.  I can't wait to hear back from the folks I worked with about their search!

American Corporate Partners

It's been a while since I last posted, and what can I say....life is crazy sometimes.  Most of the time you just have to go with the flow and let it carry you onward until you reach a place where you can stop and take stock of your surroundings...and that's where I find myself today.

Over the past year, I have been blessed to take some strides forward in my civilian career, which has placed me in a very good position to give back to my veteran community at large.  Through my association with General Mills, I have learned about the American Corporate Partners group.

ACP AdvisorNet is an online network of volunteer advisors who commit to sharing their business expertise and advice with military veterans and their immediate family.  Veterans can post questions related to the following areas:

• Employment
• Career Development
• Small Business

Here is the website:  http://www.acp-usa.org/ACP_Program/acp-advisornet

Taken from their website:

Mentoring Program

About ACP's Nationwide Mentoring Program

ACP’s Veteran Mentoring Program connects Veteran Protégés with Corporate Mentors for a yearlong mentorship. Paired based on their career objectives and professional experience, Mentors and Protégés define the goals of their mentorship together. 

Over the course of the year, all matched pairs should have at least 12 significant discussions regarding the Protégé’s career objectives. These discussions can focus on topics ranging from résumé building and interview skills to networking and small business development. Mentors may participate in all of the discussions personally or arrange for colleagues to meet with their Protégé.

ACP has developed two program options in order to offer mentorships to veterans across the country:

National

ACP's National Program supports remote mentorships between participants who share similar career interests, but do not live within local proximity. We ask Mentors and Protégés to be flexible regarding the location of their mentorship. Participants in long-distance mentorships communicate by phone, e-mail, and/or videoconference. 

Local

ACP's Local Programs operate in cities with high densities of participants. Because we aim to connect you with someone whose career objectives and professional experience aligns with yours, we may not always have an ideal candidate in your area. If your location lends itself to a local mentorship, we will do our best to pair you with a participant nearby. 

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Participant Eligibility

Protégés

Veterans who have served on active duty in any branch of service since 2001, and spouses of those wounded or killed in action, are eligible to apply for Protégé openings. Preference is given to those with service-connected disabilities.

Mentors

Only individuals associated with our Participating Institutions are eligible to apply to be ACP Mentors. The ideal Mentor will have at least eight years of professional experience and is at least 35 years old. If you are not eligible to be a Mentor in ACP's Mentoring Program, please sign up to be an Advisor+ on ACP AdvisorNet.

I sincerely hope that this helps some of you out there who might otherwise not know of this available resource.  Fantastic opportunity to better transition yourself from military to civilian life!