Rebranding yourself as a professional…
We’ve seen it, we’ve heard it, but what does it mean?  “Branding.” It’s not just for big name companies.  You have a brand!  It just so happens that your brand is camouflage and a rifle. You and hundreds of thousands more.  So what makes you different?

Think about what you love; what is your passion?  Learn your craft, embrace the attitude, get positive, and seek out your opportunity! 

The Success Equation
Remember when your commanding officer used to tell you, “Keep it simple, stupid?”  Same rule applies to the civilian world.   There are three basic components, when combined create the formula for success:

TALENT  x  EFFORT  x  OPPORTUNITY

Is something missing? (I doubt it, but make sure to leave a comment below if you think otherwise.)

Some of us may not be as talented as others, that just means you need greater effort or to find more opportunity.  Some may naturally have less opportunity, but if you excel in your craft and work harder than anyone else, it won’t be a problem.   See how that works?

The Opportunity…
My challenge to you? Find the opportunities around you, ask for help if you need it, then put in some sweat equity. Your first opportunity? Career Expos. Military.com has released their 2012 Career Fair Calendar; I suggest you shine your shoes and go.

Special note:
If you are in the Phoenix area, and would like some one-on-one coaching, we will have a pre-fair networking/strategy event on February 8th. Contact drew@boots-to-suits.com for details. The Phoenix Career Expo is on February 9th from 10am-2am at 552 North 40th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008. Be sure to look for a Boots to Suits transition liaison.

Good luck, and happy hunting!

“I’m excited and apprehensive about transitioning out of the military. I’m still working, planning to move, and finishing up my degree. I’ve never done a job search before. And if I had the time to do a proper job search, I wouldn’t know where to start.”

Whether you’re an E-4, E-7, or O-6, you will face the same issues with transitioning. Getting a job is about leveraging three components: education, experience, and professional development. Most people do very well with education and experience; it’s the formalized professional development that often goes ignored.

There are so many emotions tied up in separating from the Service, mainly because the demands on your time can be overwhelming with your military job, getting your degree, and moving. It’s no wonder that many Service members have problems getting a job. They just didn’t have the time or knowledge of how to do an effective job search. Every service member needs an effective job search strategy. One way you can increase your odds of transitioning well out of the Service is to work on your professional development long before you plan to separate. Give yourself a buffer; let potential employers know that while you’re not available now, but you will be within a certain timeframe.

Don’t worry. Corporate America loves Veterans. As the military has shrunk in size, they have invested more dollars of training into every service member. Thankfully, Corporate America realizes and appreciates that. Your military training and talent usually puts you at the top of the list for hiring. In fact, there are job fairs all over America designed specifically for Veterans.

A good career center will tell you that you need a resume and that you need to post it. Also, you need to search the jobs that are listed. A really well written resume is usually responded to with an equally well written rejection letter. Everyone has a resume. Everyone needs one. They all look the same. They’re all thrown in the same stack when faxed/emailed. In the end, a resume is just an advertisement that might get you an interview. The secret is that there are a lot of jobs which are unlisted and this is where good networking skills can find these jobs. The goal is to get to the decision makers.

There is a way to quickly, easily, and cheaply land your dream job: network within professional national associations. National associations have a lot in common. They usually have searchable websites, industry journals, conferences, and local chapters. They also offer industry knowledge and networking opportunities. New members are always welcome, especially from the military. National associations are organizations which have been created for the betterment of their industry or function and as a result, they are an objective third-party source for networking and knowledge. Memberships usually cost less than $100 per year.

Advances in electronics and today’s business climate have caused the traditional social networks to become smaller; however, the trend for professional national associations has been exploding. By searching on the internet for “national associations” you will find thousands of career-based and industry-based national associations. National associations usually have local chapters all over America, which makes membership extremely portable. It’s easier to find a job if people know that you’re looking for a job.

Every association has a website which usually hosts copies of current and archived industry journals. These journals have articles which are written by industry professionals, most of the time their email is included in the article. This is where your initiative can be used as a Band-Aid for a perceived lack of experience or non-relevant experience.

The whole idea behind these associations is to use their resources to help you increase your odds of landing your dream job. Here’s what to do:

1. Join an association and attend the local monthly meetings here. (2 hrs./mo)
2. Email the author of an article and try to co-opt the author to become part of your own personal network. (10 mins)
3. Write an article. These industry journals are always looking for new and different material. There are a lot of military jobs which have similarities with their “real world” counterpart.

For a monthly investment of just over 2 hours and a one-time article, you will have gone a long way in differentiating yourself to land your dream job.

Emailing an author of an industry article is something everyone can do, but few people choose to do. These authors are not professional writers, they’re industry professionals. And if you email them with kind remarks, you may be surprised how responsive these people can be when it comes to promoting your goals.

Writing an article for an industry journal is like fishing, you don’t know what you’re gonna catch. At the very least, if your article is published, you can use it as a reference for future job opportunities.   The beauty of writing an article for an industry journal is that it tends to make you look like an industry professional.

Your career is up to you. The Career Center is nice but, at the end of the day, you are responsible for your own life.

Get the career you deserve.

Rick Martin is an Enrollment Counselor in the Military Division at University of Phoenix who specializes in guiding veterans and service members in utilizing their benefits to obtain higher education and the careers they want. If you are interested in maximizing your potential by earning a degree, you can get in touch with Rick at (602) 332-5965.

This week, watch the great discussion we are creating over at PBS.org  for Regarding War.  Fellow millitary bloggers and journalists will be creating a dynamic conversation for a web project based on the award-winning showcase POV.  Contributors will be sharing their own stories, offering insights on the challenges facing returning veterans, and providing tips and resources on the kinds of support that families, friends and communities can offer veterans.

Please join us! 

Job Search Action

Job search got you down? What were you doing five minutes prior to reading this? What will you be doing five minutes after leaving your comment at the bottom? Do you have a thoughtful plan of action? When in doubt, engage in a concrete activity related to your sequence of job search steps. Conduct research on communities, companies, positions, and salaries using social media job search methods; survey job vacancy announcements; write resumes and cover letters; contact three employers each day.

Now, developing a plan of action and actually maximizing its potential is much easier said than done. If done properly, your job search will become an extremely time consuming activity. Sometimes it competes with other personal and professional priorities. This is why you need to make some initial decisions as to how and when you will perform job search activities.

Time Management

Ask yourself, “How valuable is my time in relation to finding a job or changing my career?” The amount of time you can devote to your job search will depend on your personal situation. I understand that until you actually separate, you are employed by the U.S. Government and have a job to do. However, I doubt you work 24 hours a day. Concentrate on your job search sooner rather than later and make maximum use of your available time. The advantage of seeking a new job while still employed affords you benefits such as health coverage and a more attractive appearance to prospective employers.

Try making a “to do” list for each day. These can be very effective, especially if they are created the night before. Develop a pattern for a guideline and start each day ready to take action. Making your list the night before gives you less opportunity for procrastination. Prioritize which activities are most important, include a particular goal at the top to complete each day. You will find it much easier to accomplish more in less time, and with better results.

Plan…To Take Action!

Planning makes sense; it focuses attention and directs action toward specific goals. It requires you to set goals and develop strategies to achieve them, but avoid excessive planning, it should not be all consuming. Too much planning can blind you to unforeseen opportunities. Sometimes you get lucky, the more you get yourself out there, the more likely it is to happen. Luck, although not to be relied on, can play an important role in the job search. I want you to do just enough planning so you will be in a position to take advantage of unexpected occurrences and opportunities that arise from the execution of your planned activities. Be flexible enough to capitalize on new opportunities and the luck that just might come your way.

Develop a Timeline

Just like any military operation, it is important to establish a time line and be disciplined in the execution of activities. Your mission is to obtain employment. When do you need to start? Which activities can be done concurrently? Prioritize and place activities on a time line, execute and follow-up. A solid but flexible search plan is critical to a successful employment campaign. Depending on your situation, you may want to incorporate a specific sequence of job search activities. This sequence of course, should be consistent with the seven job search steps.

Your time line should incorporate activities over a six month period. The first four steps should be accomplished in the initial month, and the final three steps continue in the subsequent months. If you plan, prepare and persist the pay-off will be job interviews and offers.

Job hunting requires time and hard work-perhaps the hardest work you will ever do-but if done properly, it pays off with a job that is right for you.

Organize your job search

You are one in a million. Actually, you are closer to one in 20 million. That is how many people who find themselves unemployed. Each year. Not to mention the millions of others who attempt to advance their careers by looking for alternative jobs and careers. How are you going to compete with this? You were in the military, strategy of course is what gives you the inherent advantage. Finding a job in a systematic and well-planned manner will be hard, but it will also be rewarding. The current job market is not making anything easier for you right now. It may seem put-together but it is in fact relatively disorganized. If you are looking for consolidated, thorough and timely job information in one place, the job market will frustrate you. You may find many services ready to help you, but even these services produce fragmented and disappointing overall results. Why do many unemployed stay unemployed? Their job search methods are ineffective.

There is no system organized to give you a job. At best is a culmination of newspaper listings, trade publications, employment offices, temp agencies, and computerized job databases. These are solely designed to link potential candidates with available positions. This is why many people try to sell you job information, and job search services. They create the apparent notion of a “competitive advantage.” Ultimately, there are few systems that help you land a job closely related to your skills and interests.

Understand. Organize. Strategize.

Finding a job is more than just a task; it encompasses facts, skills and principles which can be learned, but must be adapted to suit individual situations. Learning how to find a job is as important to your career as knowing how to perform a job. Actually, the skills associated with job-finding are often more important to your success than job performance. The key elements of a successful job search relate your past, present and future.

Research Stages:

Step 1: Identify your motivation, skills and abilities.

Step 2: Specify a career objective.

Step 3: Research jobs, communities and individuals.

Writing Stage:

Step 4: Produce resumes and cover letters.

Contact Stages:

Step 5: Conduct informational interviews.

Step 6: Manage job interviews.

Step 7: Negotiate salaries and benefits.

You should be comfortable conducting your job search. This is why we integrate your past into the process, it should allow you to represent the best of what you are in terms of how your past and present accomplishments relate to your future goals. The idea here is to communicate your best self to employers while focusing on strengths as they are portrayed during your job search, and how this translates to success on the job. To learn more about your strengths and motivations toward work, take the FREE MAPP Assessment.

Questions?  Comments?  I’d love to hear them!
Email: drew@boots-to-suits(dot)com

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Civilians leave their jobs to pursue bigger, better opportunities. Civilians give two-week notices. Civilians promote human resource initiatives that improve job quality, better wages, better benefits, and advancement opportunity. Does this sound stressful or intimidating? Contrary to the military career, there are no two-week notices, no uncomfortable feeling when you explain why you are moving on, and no feelings of betrayal. No emotions or fear in the way, holding you back from bigger or better opportunities. Advantage: YOU. Now, what do you need to know to capitalize on these opportunities?

1. How to Network

This is about developing legitimate, commonality-based connections with people of value.  Every day, there is more and more reason to become an expert at developing relationships with other people.  Networking is no longer just a handshake and a business card.  The online world has revolutionized the way we communicate with each other.  Professional networking sites such as LinkedIn have become the best way to meet colleagues, learn more about potential employers and get info about job opportunities.  There are countless social networking sites, many tailored to an exact industry.  Some sites even offer offline forums to allow you to talk shop, put faces to names and really develop deeper connections.

2.  How to Improve Your Visibility

No, this does not mean stand on the street corner with a neon sign that says “Look at me!”  At least not literally.  This is about who your potential employer sees (or doesn’t see) when they type your name into Google.  Have you done this about yourself yet?  If not, you should.  What comes up?  Nothing?  Pictures of you from high school holding a beer bong on Facebook?  Recent studies show that 45% of employers investigate online presence of potential employees. The goal here is not to erase your existence; the idea is to provide supplemental, professional information to your employer they cannot gather from a one page resume. Make sure you are Google-able, but bear in mind how you want to be seen.  Verify your information for accuracy and consistency.

3.  How to Target Opportunities

The information age allows us to access details, narrow searches and hone in on exactly what we are looking for.  This applies to your job search as well.  Are you qualified for a job that pays over $100K annual salary?  Find your opportunity at The Ladders.  Google and Twitter are powerful tools that allow you advanced search options, which can provide an opportunity for you to narrow your search to specific positions in a given geographic area.

4.  How to Maximize Resources

Are you spending all of your time in the “Help Wanted” section of the local newspaper?  Are you checking in every day at your local temp agency?  If you answered yes, your time is not being well spent.  As these may be mediocre resources, the maximum amount of overall time you should be spending with them is 20%.  Advertised positions compose only a small portion of the actual openings in the U.S.  Your time should be spent connecting with decision-makers, finding a way to connect with those who can influence the decision-makers and positioning yourself to meet decision-makers.

5.  How to Continue Learning

Professional learning, conference attendance and continuing education not only help you stay on top of the changes occurring in your particular field but can also provide an opportunity to enchance your network.  Reading and researching enriches your professional and personal growth, can help you maintain a positive attitude while staying current in your field and expanding your base of knowledge.  Employers look for this trait in potential employees; not only will it improve the way you are viewed but also give you topics to discuss with others in your field.

Beginning the job search process can be strenuous and frustrating, but there are ways to simplify the process; embrace your passion and soon you will be on your way to landing your dream job in the civilian world!

Want to learn more about using these tools?
Email me: drew@boots-to-suits(dot)com

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Military life is behind you, but it is most certainly not forgotten.  You possess a unique skill set that only a small portion of the workforce shares with you.  Many of the non-veteran careerists out there have grown accustomed to a routine, become comfortable, have stopped learning and therefore overlook the wealth of skills that have been accumulated over the years.  This may be your most valuable asset, as no one can devalue the skills and experience you possess.

Percent of the US population that are US Veterans: 13%

Percent of pre-retirement Veterans: 63%

TOTAL % of US population that are work-force veterans: 8%

Now, for some perspective, 28% of the US population (over the age of 25) have attained at least a bachelor’s degree.  The skills and experience you possess as a veteran puts you in a unique portion of the population, and therefore gives you an advantage.  The knowledge you have as a veteran is valuable.

Educational Experiences – Laying a Foundation

Depending on how long you have been in the military, there is likely a number of schools, classes, certification courses and camps that have contributed to your education.  Take some time to list every educational experience that you can think of.  Don’t leave anything out.  Now, look back at this list and ask yourself:  How many of these opportunities do you think a whole lot of people would give anything to know?

Skills – Defining Your Structure

Whether you be Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force or any other branch of the military, it is inevitable your specialty required a unique set of skills.  List all the skills you have learned during your military career.  List any other skills in your life that contributed to your success.  You may feel some of these have been taken for granted.  Write them down.  As you think chronologically through places you have been, things you have done, and skills you have acquired, this should comprise quite a list.  Now, ask yourself: Would you enjoy teaching any of these if you had the opportunity?

Passion – What Holds It All Together

Is there something that you are passionate about?  This could be rooted in your childhood from an artistic endeavor, maybe an interest in coping with difficult situations and helping others, or a particular talent.  Are you proficient in technology or engineering?  Do you have a business mind, with interests in marketing, finance or even an entrepreneurial spirit?  No matter what your passion is, write it down.

After your lists are complete, go back through and take inventory of yourself.  How can you align the first two lists with the third?  Have you identified a niche, or a recurring theme?  You may think your specialty is too small for anyone in the civilian world to care.  Wrong!  These concepts and interests are relative to a civilian career path, and the more narrowly defined your niche is, the easier it will be to locate other people and businesses interested in the same thing.

Questions?  Comments?  I’d love to hear them!
Email: Drew@Boots-to-Suits(dot)com

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You’ve been out of the civilian job market for some time now.  Things have changed.  There is a lot to learn about job searching, career opportunities and the best way to communicate your abilities to potential employers.  Understanding the job market is understanding the process.  Does it seem the job market is well structured?  Conducive to dispensing the information and assistance you need?  Soon, you will find out that it is in fact, not.

There is a great misunderstanding how military members relate to the job market.  Organizing and implementing key processes into your search is what will help you succeed.  The following myths and their corresponding realities translate into how you can break through the age-old excuse of “What more can I do?”

MYTH #1:  My former military job has little civilian compatibility.

TRUTH: You can maximize you service and experience for all it is worth, but communicate that you have moved on from the military.  If you are about to ETS, odds are you have leadership experience of some kind.  Few civilian employers care about how well you did in BNCOC, or that you have held a PT patch for 2 years in a row.  Use the knowledge that you have acquired to communicate in a relatable tone that you are enthusiastic, honest and intelligent.  Experience and qualifications rank below these traits among hiring criteria; why make them more confusing?  Stick to the basic, relative attributes.

MYTH #2: Whoever offers me the most money is who I should choose.

TRUTH: Although money is going to be a concern in which you should prepare for, this does not mean the job that pays the most money is what you will enjoy.  Is the amount of the paycheck enough to keep you happy 8 hours a day, 5 days a week?  Take the time to think about the advantages and disadvantages of each offer. Select the one that best fits your skills, interests and abilities. Odds are, if you choose a job that makes you miserable, you will repeat the process again after only a short period of time.

MYTH #3: There aren’t any jobs left for me with today’s competition.

TRUTH: This is only true if you completely lack any sort of marketable skill and rely on responding to classified ads or use temp agencies.  Yes, competition is high, particularly for jobs that take little-to-no skill.  Hidden job markets contain numerous opportunities with less competition.  Aim high, but realistically.  You will find the most competition as at the middle and low-level jobs.  If you have a specialized, advanced technical skill your opportunities are endless. If you are interested in a specific skill, talk to an educational counselor and identify the benefits you qualify for.

MYTH #4: Unless I get an education, I won’t get a good job.

TRUTH: A college degree may give you an advantage over the competition, but the door will most certainly not be closed to you.  Employers are always looking for motivated “go-getters” that work diligently and help them grow their business.  In reality, many employers prefer military personnel due to their reputation for dedication, responsibility and getting the job done.  Show how you have benefited from your experience, discipline and strong sense of ethics. I strongly encourage you to pursue a degree in the future; in fact, many employers partially fund the cost of their employees’ continuing education.

MYTH #5: Anyone can find a job if they know how.

TRUTH: As much as we wish this were true; the career counselors in our young age pumped us up with the ideals that positive attitudes, goal-setting, and dressing up meant success, right?  Wrong.  This may work in a low unemployment society where the demand for quality people is high, but not in today’s high-tech society that requires intelligence, concrete skills, willingness and something unique to offer the community to help advance growth. Knowing job search skills does not help these people.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Every time a company hires someone, they are taking a risk.  Often, they make bad hiring decisions.  You must convince your prospective employers that they will like you more than other “qualified” candidates.  Your task, is to prove to them that YOU are the reason they are going to avoid making a bad decision this time.

Questions?  Comments?  I’d love to hear them!
Email: Drew@Boots-to-Suits(dot)com

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The reality of military jobs and careers is that they eventually come to an end for everyone.  In today’s environment it seems they are coming to an end faster than before.  Everyone in the military must go through the career transition process.  Your time just happens to be now.  So let’s get that positive attitude flowing and find that civilian job that leads to renewed career success!

It is extremely important that you manage this transition responsibly; this should be your central focus.  Where have you been?  Where are you now?  Where do you want to go?  A clear sense of your past, present and future will help you focus.  Did you enjoy your military job(s)?  Chances are you will really love your civilian career too, but you must be diligent in selecting the right fit in the civilian world.  This isn’t going to happen overnight.  There are no magic pills to take.  This is going to happen because of your serious thinking and planning; it begins with these 3 simple steps:

1. Set Goals
2. Assess your skills
3. Chart a course of action

Involve other people in this process.  If you are married, consult your spouse.  We don’t want this career transition to be any more difficult than it should be!

Chances are you plan on doing something rewarding in your new worklife.  If you transition properly, it can lead to a rewarding career.  Some people haphazardly wander to inappropriate jobs, become unhappy job-hoppers  who communicate the wrong messages to potential employers.  Unfortunately, they repeat this pattern of disappointment endlessly.  This should not happen to you.

Military veterans have excellent skills and experience that are readily marketable in the civilian world.  What you need to know is how to present and market your skills and experience in today’s job market.  This is done by acquiring another set of skills – job search skills.

Do you know:

• how to write a job-winning resume?
• what networking is and how to use it?
• how to locate the best employers?
• how to get advice, information and referrals?
• how to negotiate a higher salary?

You will be able to clearly answer these questions once you develop or refine your job search skills; it’s time to start this thing off right!

Questions?  Comments?  I’d love to hear them!
Email: Drew@Boots-to-Suits(dot)com

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Some people find changes exhilarating; some people experience the uncertainty of transition as terrifying.  But the underlying question is when do you know it is time to change?  The end of one career may begin with feelings of uneasiness or frustration, even depression.  If you are like many, you’ve thought about what it might be like to have “something better.”

So you’ve had a successful career in the military, but now you are making a career transition that has major life-changing implications for you and those close to you..  This is probably unlike any transition you have ever experienced before and will you will likely never experience it again.  Your transition need not be turbulent or dramatic. If you are reading this blog, you have taken a step toward a future designed by wants, summoned by courage to embark on your dream.

Change can be scary.  Change can be stressful.  Your opposing needs are at war – one fighting for the security of the military life you know, and the other for the freedom to choose a career that might be better.  Life’s transitions begin with a series of questions, the answers to which help you develop a method to shaping your future:

• What do you want to do with the rest of your life?
• Are you leaving the military for greener pastures?
• How well prepared are you for the job market?
• Do you know how to communicate your qualifications to civilian employers?

Every person struggling with these questions is limited by fear or lack of information. Don’t worry, you share common and understandable fears with many others.  Ask yourself:

What are my three most pressing concerns about transitioning?

Write them down.  Your goal is to use the victories of your past to neutralize these fears and sculpt the triumphs of tomorrow.

Most people have the wrong idea when it comes to failure.  Do you know how many times a baby falls before she takes her first step?  Are her first attempts “failures”?  Of course not.  She certainly doesn’t think so; she gets up and tries again!

“I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.” – Thomas Edison

We can reframe the concept of failure into something more like a lesson, and succeed.  The fear of failure can be so constricting you lose confidence and the ability to take risks – you must possess both qualities to make a successful transition.  Using the concerns you identified above, ask questions relating to those fears.

• What is the worst that can happen?
• How likely is it the worst thing will happen?
• How would I solve that problem?
• What steps could I take to prevent that from happening?
• What is the best that can happen?
• How will I feel about myself if the best happens?
• What steps could I take to ensure that happens?
• If I look back on my life 10 years from now, I will be glad I…

Changes are about skill, timing, and the latest strategies.  Mental focus, passionate motivation and trust we never knew we had are key.  There may be temporary sacrifice followed by triumph.  What are successful risks you have already taken in your life?  What attitudes and emotions do they have in common?

Fear may be at your back door, but you don’t have to let it in.  You’ve conquered risks before.  You have what it takes to succeed.  What waits on the other side of apprehension and procrastination is the indescribable joy of being in the right place, doing the right job at the right time.

The time is now!

Questions?  Comments?  I’d love to hear them!
Email: Drew@Boots-to-Suits(dot)com

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