December 2014 |
Transition-e-news Volume 3 Issue 101 |
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5 Reasons for a Holiday Career Re-Boot
by Barbara Adams, CPRW, CEIP, MFRW, MMRW, MFCA-T
It's the end of the year and things are winding down. You're full from Thanksgiving and there are more holidays to come. Perhaps your mind is on football, or family, or food, or shopping. You're transitioning out of the military next year, but the job search can wait a bit. Besides, companies aren't hiring in December, right? Wrong. Actually, the hiring numbers over the last few years haven't been bad. Since 2011, Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows December hiring at about 75% of average monthly hiring for the year, but the number of jobs filled still exceeds 3 million. That's a lot of open slots to ignore for a month.
If you're going to be moving from the military to a civilian job or a federal position next year, December is a really good time to work on the career move. Sure, there are plenty of excuses, but there are more good reasons to press on with your job search through the end of the year. Here are just a few: 5 Good Reasons
Counterintuitive Perhaps the best reason to move ahead with your job search in December is that everyone else tends to slack off. It's seems counterintuitive at first, but bucking the trend by working on your career during the holidays actually makes really good sense. You'll keep up the momentum and may have a better chance of getting the attention of decision makers who'll appreciate your diligence and discipline. If you're transitioning from the military into a private sector or federal job, these are traits that you'll want to emphasize. December can also be a great time to work on your resume and your interviewing skills. Whether you're looking for a federal job or a private sector position, remember that the master resume writers at militaryresumewriters.com can provide valuable help when you need it. We can also assist with some extra training - if you'd like to sharpen up your interview skills, contact one of our Master Federal Career Coaches for assistance. Finally, we do hope you'll take some time to enjoy the holidays! Best wishes for a Wonderful Season from all of us at CareerPro Global! Barbara Adams, President and CEO of CareerPro Global (CPG), the parent company of www.careerproplus.com and www.militaryresumewriters.com, has been a member of the careers community for the past 20 years. Ms. Adams holds four prestigious industry certifications. CareerPro Global is the only ISO 9001-2008 Certified Career Service in the industry, as well as one of the fastest-growing Military, Federal, and Civilian Resume-Writing and Careers-Coaching companies. The team of Certified Professional Federal and Military Resume Writers at CPG assist thousands of clients in applying for and gaining employment each year. We can help you land your military to civilian job. |
Bill would let 'Grow the Army' officers retire with full pension
by By Travis J. Tritten WASHINGTON - Some Army officers would not be forced to retire at their previous enlisted rank under a House bill introduced in the final days of the congressional session. The bill, sponsored by Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Tim Walz, D-Minn., allows soldiers who built most of their careers in the enlisted ranks to retire with commissioned officer pay and benefits after serving just four years as an officer, instead of the standard eight years. The Army is shrinking after quickly expanding its ranks in 2007 to deal with Iraq and Afghanistan. Noncommissioned officers who ascended during that time are facing forced retirements at their enlisted rank, cutting deeply into pensions. "Soldiers deserve to retire with the rank they have earned and corresponding benefits they’ve been promised, and anything less devalues the sacrifices they have made for our country," Thompson said in a released statement. The "Grow the Army" program increased the number of active-duty soldiers to 570,000 in 2010; many NCOs stepped forward for commissions as Army officers. The Obama administration has proposed reducing that to 450,000, which could force the retirement of up to 30 percent of its commissioned officers, according to Thompson and Walz. Their bill, called the Proudly Restoring Officers of Prior Enlistment Retirement Act, protects soldiers who have put in 20 years of service and at least four years as an officer from losing a "large cut in their retirement," the congressmen said. It might be a hit idea with soldiers, but the bill has very little chance of becoming law for now. The 113th Congress is set to end this week and legislation not forced through for last-minute votes will die. Lawmakers were focused on passing critical budget bills Thursday. Thompson and Walz could reintroduce the bill next year. Both were re-elected in November. tritten.travis@stripes.com Twitter: @Travis_Tritten |
For Career Success, Pick Your Employer Carefully© Copyright, 2014, Susan P. Joyce. All rights reserved. As anyone who has had a job knows, where you work — the environment, the people, the "rules," the compensation, etc. — has a very big impact on you and even your personal life. In a job search, however, we often focus only on the job itself — the job title, duties and responsibilities, hours, and salary — paying little attention to the other important issues that impact us when we have that job. That's a big mistake. Why the Employer Is Key to Your Job (and Career!) Success When you work in a good environment, you enjoy your job more than when the environment is not good. And, when you enjoy your job, you do it much better than when you hate it. So, where you work is very important to both your personal satisfaction and your performance in your job. A 2010 study by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania showed that companies with high rates of employee satisfaction financially out-performed companies with lower employee satisfaction. Really, not very surprising, and something both job seekers and employers pay little attention to when engaged in the hiring process. NOTE: That's employee satisfaction, not customer satisfaction, which resulted in higher financial performance! The connection with customer satisfaction is obvious — presumably, happy employees translate into happy customers. Otherwise the financial performance would not be influenced. Some employers do "get" that connection between happy employees and happy customers. So What? How does knowing this help a job seeker to prepare for career success? To perform at their best, job seekers need to be satisfied with their workplace and colleagues, regardless of the job. Performing at their best usually, although not always, helps insure longevity with that employer, acceptable pay, and good health. Interviews Are the Proverbial "Two-Way Street" A total focus on impressing and pleasing the potential employer in an interview is only part of the equation that leads the job seeker to become a "satisfied" employee. Job interviews are two-way streets. Job seekers need to ask the questions that will help them evaluate whether or not they will be happy in the job, if they get it. Each "side" should be evaluating the other regarding this potential long-term relationship. Employers are trying to evaluate whether or not the interviewee has the right skills and attitude to do the job, they are also trying to evaluate the job seeker's "fit" with the employer. Job seekers need to have a similar mind set — will they feel comfortable working for the employer? Is the employer a good fit for them? Preparing for Success When in job search mode, job seekers are often focused only on "making the sale" (landing the job). I know because I've made that mistake myself, and I hear that same comment made countless times by other job seekers. So, smart job seekers are in observation and evaluation, as well as sales, mode when they go out for an interview. The location and environment:
At first glance, those may seem like meaningless things to consider. But, when you've been in the job for a while, they become more important, even critical to your satisfaction with the job and your performance. The answers to all of the questions above depend entirely on the job seeker's preferences and comfort level. The job: It's best to develop these questions in advance, based on thoughtful evaluation, rather than trying to punt after the interview has begun. But, be observant and tactfully ask about anything that is troubling or that you don't understand. For example: The hiring manager seems reasonable, capable, and accessible? Colleagues, if any, seem nice, capable, and friendly? The structure makes sense (some people do X, some people do Y, and that division is logical)? Success in the job is clearly defined, understood, and reasonable? Expectations for the person doing the job are understood and reasonable? New position or filling an existing position? After that first big mistake I made (when I was more interested in leaving the old job than what I was getting into with the new job), I always asked questions about the environment and paid attention to what I saw (only men in the window offices with the women in low-status cubicles, for example). Bottom Line: Job seekers need to evaluate every employer in every interview to see if the employer feels like a good fit. And, by asking questions relevant to that goal in the interview, the job seeker demonstrates awareness and interest in the opportunity as well. So, a big payoff is possible, in many ways. About the Author… Online job search expert Susan P. Joyce Online job search expert Susan P. Joyce has been observing the online job search world and teaching online job search skills since 1995. Susan is a two-time layoff “graduate” who has worked in human resources at Harvard University and in a compensation consulting firm. In 2011, NETability purchased WorkCoachCafe.com, and Susan has been editor and publisher of WorkCoach since then. Susan also edits and publishes Job-Hunt.org, is a Visiting Scholar at the MIT Sloan School of Management, and a columnist on HuffingtonPost. Follow Susan on Twitter at @jobhuntorg and on Google+ |
Dogs in need serving disabled veterans
by By Michelle Brooks - Jefferson City News-Tribune COLUMBIA, Mo. — Once a SWAT team commander, Mark Brummit returned to civilian life with a VA 100-percent disability, but a dedicated desire to continue serving others. He turned his familiarity with dog training into the not-for-profit Who Saved Who?, giving disabled veterans a canine companion, saved from area shelters. And then, he joined the ministry at Cavalry Baptist Church in Jefferson City, where he will be ordained next month, organizing food collections and a homeless ministry. "My heart goes out to veterans," Brummit told the Jefferson City News-Tribune. "I care about the welfare of veterans and of people in general." Although these good turns were fulfilling his need to serve, he still struggled to provide for his family the way he had in the military. Then, an unlikely program selected him for three months training in computer database systems. "I didn't expect a response; I sent in my application because of the reason for what they're doing for veterans, not what the training was about," Brummit said. "My last job was a SWAT team commander, I'm not a technology person." The NS2 Serves took more than 1,500 applications for its second, 11-week training session, interviewed about 600 and graduated only 20 recently. "It was the most intense, intellectual training I have ever received," Brummit said. The NS2 provided the skills and the connections to find a well-paying position in a high-demand field, he said. "Without this challenge, I would not be going into a field that will change my life," said Brummit, 32. He had been involved with security throughout his 13-year career with the U.S. Army, in anti-terrorism, intelligence and response teams. "I'm not able to do the jobs I was trained for" due to injuries, he said. Now, he will bring his leadership and security experience to a new employer. And that new employer will enable him to continue his desire to serve others while also providing for his family — wife, Sabra, and children Tia, 11, and Mark, 5. "I get emotional when I think of what I will be able to do for my family now," he said. "I will actually have a savings account with money in it." While a drill sergeant at Fort Leonard Wood from 2007-09, he started a German Shepherd breeding program and became a certified dog trainer. He had to sell that business when he was reassigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia. Then, he started training civilians and their dogs for defense or behavior. He met a wheelchair-confined veteran who wanted to train his dog as a service dog. Although that man's dog did not have the temperament to complete the training, the experience showed Brummit a need where he could help. The first soldier Brummit helped through Who's Serving Who? was a Mid-Missourian, who saw Brummit had a service dog at the Truman VA Hospital. "Within three months after I placed a dog with this veteran, who has severe PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), his entire mental issues were diminished significantly," Brummit said. "He had become a new person." With the help of training and job placement through the NS2 Serves, Brummit also is a new person. And he will be able to help match more veterans with dogs needing homes, with his future income as well as the widespread awareness that hopefully will yield future donations. "The NS2 is providing me the ability to do amazing things," Brummit said. NS2 Serves is an independent, nonprofit organization established by SAP National Security Services Inc. to give back to the people of the U.S. national security community by offering training and employment assistance to recent veterans of U.S. national security missions. Full-time, paid participants are trained in world-class software solutions that support U.S. national security, leading to certifications that are valuable in many career paths in the U.S. and worldwide. The program is geared toward veterans without college degrees, and in three months gives them enough IT and management skills for an average starting salary of $60,000 from the first class of 17 graduates. The post-9/11 veterans unemployment rate has been above the national average for the last five years, at 8.1 percent as of August. Applications for the March 2015 NS2 Serves training course are being taken now. Any post-9/11 U.S. military service veteran with a high school diploma or GED, who is within three years of his date of separation, is eligible to apply. |
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