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.

Twitter.  The buzz word of the media industry.  The name alone makes some shudder with fear or disgust; others light up with elation at the mention of it.  Where do you stand?  You may have heard stories about how Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn can help you find a job.  Increasingly more often, commonplace employers are utilizing these networks not only for posting employment opportunities, but also cross-referencing potential candidates for social network activity.  Some people have been using these for a while, but are they a new concept to you?  Perhaps you utilized Facebook and Myspace to communicate with loved ones back home during a recent deployment, but do you know the true power these networks possess, and the gains you can realize from each?

There’s no rush.  The integration of each of these can be taken on a step-by-step basis, which will eventually culminate into an awesome force that you can navigate with ease. Not only will this enhance your job search experience, but contribute to the ongoing growth of your career with improved access to connections, client relations and available opportunities.

How to get started:

A professional-sounding email address: Using a free web-based service is perfectly appropriate for your initial step.  If you have a current work email, don’t use that, many companies have access to and periodically review employee email activity.  Choose a name that provides an effective representation of who you are, more specifically, USE YOUR NAME!  Too many times have I seen the likes of iluvyourmom@mailserver.com and weeder420@mailserver.com appear on a “serious” job searcher’s resume that crosses the desk.  Why did HR even bother to pass this on?  Is this how you want your potential employer to perceive you?

Format your email address like this:

FIRSTNAMELASTNAME@mailserver.com
FIRSTNAME.LASTNAME@mailserver.com

Have a common name?

FIRSTNAME.MI.LASTNAME@mailserver.com

Have a lengthy name?

FI.LASTNAME@mailserver.com should do the trick.

Utilize the free services of Yahoo or Gmail; these are both very easy to use and aren’t in danger of extinction any time soon so you can rest easy knowing your email address and inbox won’t become obsolete at the end of the week.  This is the email you will use for signing up for each of your social media accounts.

Smile for the Camera

Take a quality, professional-looking photo:  Use the ideology that this photo portrays who you want to be, and how you want others to see and treat you.  A casual shot is OK, but do you want the first image employers to see before they meet you to be a prank you pulled on your buddy in the barracks with a can of shaving cream?  That person isn’t likely to get an immediate phone call for an interview.  This is the photo you are going to use for each of your default pages; consistency is also key, so hold on to it.  Keep in mind Twitter only allows a very small, square image, so you want one that is thumbnail-friendly.

SIDE NOTE: If you haven’t updated your resume yet, do so now; current, relevant information is going to be crucial for the next steps.

Sign Up, Soldier!

So, it’s not quite like signing your name on the dotted line for enlistment but your commitment to the social media sites you choose is fully expected if you want to see the best return on your investment.

First, sign up for LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a platform that allows you to not only expand on the information found on your resume, but demonstrate your expertise, benefit from the expertise of others, and help connect with those who share similar interests or background.  Your summary should not be a canned job description of your past positions.  Potential employers know the basics of nearly any position, your task is to explain what specific accomplishments make you different and what has contributed to your success in your particular field of expertise.  Paint a vivid picture that is appealing and intriguing, but make sure it’s honest.  Think about any activities you do outside of your specialty that relate.  Did/do you have a group that discusses issues or assists others in any way?  Do you contribute to the advancement of training?

Once your profile is completely filled out, start recruiting connections.  Use the people search to find people you already know, or browse the various groups and companies you have joined to find others that share similar interests that you would like to connect with.  More connections = more opportunity, but make sure to take the extra few seconds to personalize the stock email LinkedIn defaults to.  Comment on common interests you have found with someone you would like to know, or for the friends you already have, make sure to mention something positive you noticed, they’ll be sure to appreciate it!

Second, your Facebook page.  As this platform becomes ever more popular by the day, with a user population greater than that of many countries, many of you may already have one.  Start with cleaning up your photo albums, and use the default picture we already established for your profile photo.  Fill out enough information to give a clear picture of who you are, but don’t overdo it; make sure you only information you are comfortable with publishing to everyone is made public.

Facebook is about communication; most use it as a source for “lifestreaming.”  This means that as some may be wondering why everyone wants to know what you had for breakfast, others are sharing knowledge and experiences with each other through photographs and events.  Similar to LinkedIn, groups are where you can participate in a private community sharing thoughts and ideas.  These functions are where the most amount of networking outside your established friends will take place.

Twitter is the final platform to help tie all this together. Twitter is only intimidating to those that don’t know how to use it efficiently.  As we speak, business partnerships are being formed, collaborations created, resources shared, and jobs found.  Twitter can be very well explained by this short video by Commoncraft, Twitter in Plain English.  Described as the “virtual water cooler,” Twitter is a hub for sharing valuable information and engaging in thought-provoking dialogue.  Twitter is simple to use.  Twitter is an easy place to make new connections, and quickly.  Twitter is fun.  Twitter is your easy access to the decision-makers, if you know how to find them.

Sign up for twitter, and get your feet wet.  Use the default picture, and make your bio personal, but short and fun.  It takes some time after acquiring a certain number of followers and people following you to start understanding the value.  People who follow me can expect to read anything from job search and personal branding tips to social media and veteran’s news.  Participation in the conversation is the best way to develop relationships.  Sit back and listen, then jump in when you’re ready.  Don’t beg for followers; when others see you are both interested and interesting, the followers will come.

This triad of social media, when integrated correctly, will be the key to accessing the people that can change your career, and your life.

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

Contact Me

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

Contact Me