June 2016 |
Transition-e-news Volume 3 Issue 119 |
|
|
Sponsored By: |
Transition Insight
"The best way to predict the future is to create it".
|
 |
|
|
||||
|
|||||
Click here for a complete list and description of organizations of TAOnline.com growing Partners! |
 |
|
USA Today Veterans Affairs - Special Edition Magazine
Corporate Gray/reStart Security-Cleared Job Fair * June 24, 2016 * Linthicum Heights, MD Meet with companies seeking security-cleared candidates on Friday, June 24 at the BWI Westin Hotel in Linthicum Heights, Maryland. Job fair hours are 10 am to 3 pm with a keynote speaker at 9 am and networking reception from 3 to 4 pm. Meet with Raytheon, National Geospacial-Intelligence Agency, Artech Information Systems, Preferred Systems Solutions, DCCA, and more. This event is free and exclusively for security-cleared military veterans and technical professionals. Pre-register at www.corporategray.com/jobfairs/380.
|
How to Interview for a Job
by Barbara Adams, CPRW, CEIP, MFRW, MMRW, MFCA-T How to Interview for a Job Being in this particular business, I get a lot of questions . . . Things like— "How long should a resume be?" "How do you make a resume irresistible to an employer?" "Can you give me some tips on how to write my resume?" But they aren't all in my specific wheelhouse (I write resumes). When folks hear the word resume, they assume I know everything there is to know about their career search. And they wouldn't be too far off, actually. But there are those times when I get surprised by a question. Like this one— "How do you interview for a job?" It's great question, actually, but I think the real question should be "How do you SUCCESSFULLY interview for a job." Anyone can sit down and answer a few questions in an interview. But to turn that into a job offer is an entirely different scenario. I've had some train wreck interviews in my career. There were times when I wasn't prepared. I didn't do my research. Sometimes I didn't even take it seriously. In one case, I was in the military and the position was being restructured so I had to reapply; bottom line, I wasn't prepared and I didn't do well. I had to learn form this bad experience and vowed never to repeat the same mistakes. You can use mistakes to your advantage for opportunities down the road. You can ace the interview next time because you're more prepared. Focus on eliminating the mistakes and build on your strengths. So, how do you interview for a job? First, you want to make a great first impression by dressing for success. I'm sure we've all heard the saying "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have." That's great advice. In this case, when you go for the interview dress like you're a serious candidate. A nice shirt and tie at a minimum and a jacket. A nice blouse with a professional suit or blazer for women is ideal. The goal is to be on an equal level with the interviewer. This will give you instant credibility. Research. This goes without saying—or at least it should. Take the time to get to know the company. The Internet gives you access to the world. Google the company and look at their website. Find out what they do. The products they sell. What is their target market? What is their next big project? What is their history? Who are the leaders in the company? This information, even a small fraction of it, will come in handy at some point in the conversation. This also builds your credibility. Always speak with confidence. You want to sound like you know what you're talking about. If you've prepared properly then you will. As the saying goes, "Anything said with confidence is believable." Not that you're trying to fake your way through the interview, but the knowledge you've gained through research, said with confidence, can go a long way to impress. And once again, your credibility will soar. Answer the questions but NEVER ask them if that's the answer they were looking for. Can you imagine after every question you answer, you say "Is that what you were looking for?" or "Is that what you meant?" If you don't know what they mean, ask for clarification. Never attempt to answer a question you don't understand. That's a red flag to them that you either have a short attention span or you don't care enough to clarify. Never let this happen to you. Ask your own questions—and make them relevant. An interview goes both ways. Take the time to develop your own standard set of questions and tailor them to each individual interview. You've answered the tough questions, now it's your turn to ask them. Don't hesitate, and ask with confidence like you know what you're talking about. Remember the research you did? Use that to ask smart questions. Be ready to talk about your resume. This is important. Does your resume pass the smell test? If you had it prepared professionally, then you'll want to take the time to review it and make sure it's appropriate to your experience and skills—and no "fluff." Some organizations focus exclusively on a predetermined set of questions and they never veer from them. But some will want to talk specifically about your experience. Be prepared, especially if you had the resume written for you. CareerPro Global (CPG) gives you 14 days to review your resume and make necessary changes—free of charge. It's a great deal! If you do these things, it should go well. We could go on about things you should and shouldn't do in an interview, but I'm limited by the number of words I can use today. As long as you don't do anything unprofessional, you have a good shot at landing the job. If you'd like more tips on your career search, including resume writing, career advice, and even interview coaching, visit CPG TODAY! 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. |
Hurdling Job Barriers: The Power of Portable Careers For Military Spousesby Drexel University Online - Used with permission. While today’s job market is certainly more competitive for everyone, military spouses face their own special challenges when it comes to career advancement. A 2014 study found that 90% of the military wives surveyed reported being underemployed or overqualified for the positions they held – even though census data shows that they have higher levels of education than their civilian counterparts. On top of that, military spouses overall not only earn 38% less, but are also 30% more likely to be unemployed than their civilian colleagues. So what’s behind this staggering disparity? Frequent Moves and Endless Responsibilities For starters, frequent moves (every 2.9 years on average) and limited employment opportunities at most duty stations (especially those abroad) make it difficult to build a credible and consistent resume, or keep up with state-specific professional licensures and certifications. And employers are not always eager to hire someone they know won’t be around for long. Add to that the many responsibilities these spouses must assume outside of the workplace. They are often left to run the household singlehandedly, given the military’s erratic schedules and extended deployments. Likewise, a fair number of them end up devoting long hours of volunteer time to on-base family readiness programs. The Portable Career Solution In overcoming these challenges, military spouses are increasingly harnessing the wonders of technology to create so-called “portable careers” that can be pursued entirely online. If self-employment is a good fit, you might consider freelancing as a way to keep your career on track and moving around with you. In fact, with the right skills and training, there are any number of financially rewarding, freelance options – from market/Internet research, web design, writing, and fundraising; to accounting, medical billing and coding, technical support, and programming. On the other hand, if you’re looking for more structure and steadier pay, there are plenty of companies and organizations that hire remote workers. For example, teaching online – at any level – is fast becoming a popular and portable career choice for military spouses with the right credentials. The same goes for talented sales experts, who are being recruited in growing numbers to work on virtual sales teams. Taking the Leap While having a portable career may be just the right ticket, you will need to do some advance preparation before you take the leap – beginning with a thorough assessment of your marketable skills and relevant training with respect to industry standards and demand. If you come up short, you may want to sharpen your competitive edge, by enrolling in a degree or certificate program that meets your needs – particularly if you can find a reputable online option. As a military spouse, you will have access to a variety of educational benefits, including Post 9/11 GI Bill Transferability, which enables career service members to share remaining GI Bill benefits with their immediate family. There’s also the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program, which provides up to $4,000 of financial assistance for military spouses who are pursuing advanced training in portable career fields. Find out how easy (or difficult) it will be to transfer licenses or certificates you must have to work in your field, as you move from one location to another. Some states grant temporary licenses, while others will expedite the process of issuing a new one. You will also need to research the rules around conducting business on-base or in military housing. And last but not least, be sure to check out our wealth of tried and true tips for teleworking and freelancing success. |
Successful Job Search: Today's Top 10 Dos and Don'ts© Copyright, 2016, Susan P. Joyce. All rights reserved. Effective job search methods have changed substantially, particularly in the last few years. What worked in the past (even two years ago) doesn’t necessarily work now. The Top 5 Job Search Don’ts —We’ll start with the do-not statements because making these very common mistakes causes loss of confidence and wastes time: 1. Do NOT hunt for your new job in isolation.Job search often takes much longer now than it did in the past, usually because people don’t understand that the traditional process no longer works. A solitary job search — just you and your computer — is a very tough job search. Meeting with other job seekers helps you see that you aren’t the only smart, capable person who is struggling with job search today. “Job clubs” and “buddy groups” can be effective in helping you understand what works and what doesn’t work in the current job market, expanding your network of contacts and giving you experienced sets of eyes to look over your LinkedIn Profile and other job search documents. Find a local job club by checking with your local public library, town hall, senior center (regardless of your age), or other public venue near you. Also check out Meetup.com to see if any meetings are regularly scheduled or to schedule your own. 2. Do NOT assume that employers’ favorite way to fill a job is to post their job online.Research shows an average of 250 people apply for every job posted online — making that method the toughest, most competitive method to connect with a new job. The majority of employers prefer employee referrals to fill their job openings. While the referred candidate may not be the best-qualified, employers know they are most likely to be successful because they already have support inside the organization. [Read To Be Hired, Be Referred and How to Make Employee Referral Programs Work for You for more information on how referrals work.] 3. Do NOT be invisible online.Many think that they are protecting their privacy by avoiding all online visibility. However, research shows the majority of recruiters Google job applicants. Typically, they are looking for a LinkedIn Profile that will confirm the job applicant really has the qualifications claimed on the resume or job application. Finding nothing about you is a very bad sign — the “invisible” person is assumed to be out-of-date or hiding something. 4. Do NOT let your desperation show.No matter how desperately you want a new job, do your best to keep your desperation hidden from potential employers and networking contacts. Do NOT say “I’ll take ANYTHING” Successful job search today requires that you focus your job search on what you want and have your elevator speech ready when anyone asks what you are looking for. Privately do Dr. Amy Cuddy’s “power poses” before your next networking meeting or job interview to build your confidence and lift your spirits. They work. 5. Do NOT focus your job search efforts on creating the perfect resume.Yes, your resume is important, but I see too many job seekers spending an enormous amount of time at home (hiding?), carefully crafting a “perfect” resume. Resumes are not as important as they were in the past. What is more important is having a good idea of what you want next and presenting that clearly both online (LinkedIn) and in person. Think of a resume as a sales flyer in an era when marketing is becoming more important and effective. Personal marketing (via a LinkedIn Profile) is essential for a successful job search today. The Top 5 Job Search Dos —Now, for the DO statements for successful job search today. 1. Make a plan. Know your target job title(s) and employers.As Yogi Berra famously said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Choose what you want to do next and where you want to work. Have one or two job titles you want (hopefully different names for the same job) and at least ten employers where you think you would like to work. Being too flexible today is a mistake because the Internet has made millions of options visible to us. It’s hard to choose jobs and employers with so many options, but you need to focus — or you will fail. 2. Do networking for fun as well as to benefit your job search.Get back in touch with former bosses and colleagues, friends from college and your past lives (or last week). They are your best connections to a new job because they know you and understand your worth. Meet them for coffee on the weekend or for a drink after work. Get together for a group “reunion” lunch or dinner. Catch up on what’s been happening in their lives. See if there’s anything you can do for them, and then see if there is anything they can do for you. Notice that employers’ favorite way to fill a job is through employee referrals? That’s #4 above. Usually the employee who refers you is rewarded with $$ by the employer, often at least $500, so they benefit too. 3. Manage your online reputation.Employers Google job applicants. Often, employers are impressed by what they find. Of course, people are eliminated from consideration when demonstrating bad grammar and spelling; making nasty, mean, or inappropriate comments; and showing other negative behavior (trashing former employers, sharing confidential information, etc.). 4. Be easy for employers to find.Being well-qualified for a job doesn’t mean you will quickly land that job unless you can be found in an employer’s search. Whether they are confirming your resume or job application’s facts or searching Google and LinkedIn for qualified candidates for their jobs, including the “right” keywords for you in your resume/application and social profiles is essential today. Having a minimal LinkedIn Profile is almost as bad as no Profile. Without a robust Profile that contains the right keywords for your career and future job, your Profile won’t be found. In addition, a Profile that does not contain a headshot photo is usually ignored in LinkedIn search results. [Read To Be Hired, You Must Be Found Where Recruiters Look, 5 Reasons to Have a Headshot Photo in Your LinkedIn Profile, and To Be Hired, You Must Be Found: Your Best Keywords.] 5. Be well-prepared for job interviews.Too many job seekers seem to think they can cruise easily to a job offer once they have received an opportunity to interview for a job. Wrong! Your resume/application, professional online presence, and luck got you the job interview. The job interview is your opportunity to impress the employer enough to receive a job offer, or, at least, more consideration for the job. So, do your research before the job interview to know what the employer does, where and how they do it. If you have been referred by an employee, you do have an “inside track” but you still need to have done your homework before the job interview. Read The 5 Absolute MUST-ASK Questions in Your Next Job Interview for more information. More About Successful Job Search35 Ways Time Is Wasted in Job Search How to Answer the Top 10 Job Interview Questions Why Job Interviews May NOT Turn into Job Offers 5 Essential Components of a Successful LinkedIn Profile The LinkedIn Professional Headline Mistakes that Ruin Opportunities 3 Reasons You Are Not Getting Job Offers Build Your Confidence for Job Interviews in Less Than 5 Minutes 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+ |
Workshop helps female veterans transition into civilian careersReprinted with permission ©2016 Stars and Stripes FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (Tribune News Service) — In the coming months, these female soldiers at Fort Bragg will leave behind their uniforms to take on new jobs in the civilian world. "It's bittersweet," said Meghan Lyon, who has been a military police officer for the past seven years. "It's overwhelming and exciting." She was among about 50 women from Fort Bragg who participated Wednesday in Operation Reinvent, a nonprofit organization specializing in helping female veterans transition into civilian careers. The workshop helps women gain confidence, polish their resumes and learn to dress professionally. This year, the workshop was held over a webcast so a group from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, also could participate. Another workshop will be held at the Soldier Support Center on Fort Bragg today. The workshop connected the women directly to experts in human resources, workforce initiatives and job interviewing. Lyon, whose job is dominated by males, said she appreciated the workshop was targeted for women. "To be in a room full of women going through the same experience, it's awesome," she said. Lyon joined the military after she graduated from high school in Virginia. All she's ever known has been working as a military police officer, she said. The workshop eased her fears that she would be embarking on a career without vast experience. "Everyone starts somewhere," she said. "These women gave me a whole new outlook." Before Lyon jumps into a civilian law enforcement career, she said she wants to explore other fields. "There's so many opportunities," she said. "This is all I've done since I came out of high school. I want to have other experiences." Julie Lewit-Nirenberg, founder of Operation Reinvent, said the U.S. Department of Labor found female veterans have a higher unemployment rate than male veterans. The workshop helps women prepare as they transition out of the military, she said. "The transition process is fraught with uncertainty, elation, joy and scariness," Lewit-Nirenberg said. "So what we are providing is the tool box. It's up to the women to take the tools and use them." ———
©2016 The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.) |
|
TAO Privacy Statement | View Previous Issues | Military Job Fairs ©TAOnline.com 1996-2016, All rights reserved. |
