January 2020 |
Transition-e-news Volume 3 Issue 162 |
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Transition Insight
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Military-Friendly Job Fair January 23, 2020 - San Diego, CAMeet with military-friendly companies at the January 23 Military-Friendly Job Fair being held at the Scottish Rite Center in San Diego, California. Interview with Leidos, Lockheed Martin, SAIC, California Correctional Health Care Services, Gryphon Technologies, Epsilon Systems Solutions, First Command Financial Services, and many more top employers who are seeking to hire military-experienced candidates! Job fair hours are 9 am to 12 noon, with an Employer Panel discussion for job seekers starting at 8 am. Pre-register now via corporategray.com/jobfairs/424. Be sure to upload your resume so that the participating companies will have early access to your credentials. While especially for transitioning service members and veterans, this job fair is free and open to all job seekers. Corporate Gray Military-Friendly Job Fair February 26, 2020 - Virginia BeachYou're invited to meet face-to-face with dozens of military-friendly companies at the February 26 Military-Friendly Job Fair at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Interview with Lockheed Martin, Newport News Shipbuilding, Booz Allen, Foley Cat, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and many more! Job fair hours are 9 am to 12 noon with two free employment seminars from 8 am to 9 am. To see the list of participating companies registered-to-date, and to ensure you receive the job fair Employer Directory in advance, pre-register at corporategray.com/jobfairs/417. Be sure to upload your resume so that the participating companies will have early access to your credentials. While especially for transitioning service members and veterans, this job fair is free and open to all job seekers. Corporate Gray Military-Friendly Job Fair March 27, 2020 - Arlington, VASave the date to meet face-to-face with top employers at the March 27 Military-Friendly Job Fair at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia. Interview with Lockheed Martin, Booz Allen, SAIC, Leidos, Prince William County Police, ARServices, Preferred Systems Solutions, LMI, and many more! Job fair hours are 9 am to 12 noon, with an Employer Panel discussion for job seekers starting at 8 am. To ensure you receive the job fair Employer Directory in advance, pre-register at corporategray.com/jobfairs/416. Be sure to upload your resume so that the participating companies will have early access to your credentials. While especially for transitioning service members and veterans, this job fair is free and open to all job seekers. FREE U.S. Veterans Magazine Subscription for TAOnline Members!U.S. Veterans Magazine (USVM) Is the premiere resource magazine for transitioning service members, service-disabled veterans, veteran business owners and their spouses and families. USVM is the link between the qualified students, career and business candidates from the ranks of our nation's veteran organizations, educational institutions, corporate America, and the federal government. Subscribe for FREE today! |
Plan Your Career With 2020 VisionBy Hannah Morgan - careersherpa.net - Reprinted with Permission As we wind up the year, now is the time to plan your career for the new year – 2020. Take advantage of this time of year to begin thinking about what you want from your career in the new year. To help you use 2020 vision to target and clearly focus on important issues facing the workplace, you'll find key articles referencing trends for the upcoming year. So whether you are actively job seeking or plan to look for a new opportunity, use this time to begin researching the marketplace outside of your current employer. Learn what lies on the horizon and what you can do to position yourself as valuable. What Are The Hot Trends In The Labor Market?LinkedIn's 2019 Emerging Jobs Report takes a look at LinkedIn data and provides a list of top jobs and other trends impacting today's work. You can find a summary here. Here are some of what I think you should pay attention to, but please, go read the full report for your own interpretation.
What This Means For Your Career PlanningLearn new technology related to AI or machine learning or at least understand how this will impact your role. What repetitive tasks could AI replace in your organization and will you need to interact with it? If you are exploring new opportunities outside your company, keep in mind, your next employer could be located ANYWHERE. Currently, only some employers are open to remote employees, but you never know, you could be one of the first. Top Emerging JobsIf you aren't familiar with some of these titles, check out LinkedIn's report for more details and unique skills required.
What This Means For Your Career Planning There are some new titles here and they tend to be rather specialized. Take note if you are a generalist that upping skills/knowledge in specific areas may do you well as you move along in your career. Target Best Places To WorkGlassdoor's Best Places to Work 2020 Revealed contains a list of 100 companies for U.S. Large Employers (defined as more than 1,000 employees). Plus a list of U.S. Small & Medium Companies (fewer than 1,000 employees). If you are looking for a new job/career in 2020, review these companies and use them to build your target list. LinkedIn's #BigIdeas202020 Big Ideas that will change your world in 2020 features the editors' predictions for what's next in 2020. From flexible work, to streaming wars to mental health. These predictions capture global trends as well as US trends that could have a major impact in the coming year. This piece highlights some interesting topics. What This Means For Your Career PlanningWe live in an interconnected world and changes in technology, environmental issues, regulation and policy changes and even what other countries are doing will impact what happens here (and to you). My 2020 ThoughtsHere are my thoughts on possible trends to watch in 2020 From where I sit, in the world between recruiting and job seekers, there are several trends I think will be interesting to watch in 2020. Here's what I'm watching:
Artificial Intelligence (AI)I'm not suggesting that robots will take your job. However, I can't help but notice the chatbots on every website I visit. We are going to see more of this everywhere. Remote Work"95 percent of U.S. knowledge workers want to work remotely, and 74 percent would be willing to quit a job to do so", according to a 2019 study by Zapier. Finding remote job opportunities remains a challenge. Employers are just beginning to figure out how to promote remote opportunities from the terminology they use to how they categorize the jobs. Services JobsServices related to climate will certainly gain greater demand as we continue to think about global warming. It is beyond my expertise to predict all the new services in this growing area, but one thing is for sure, there is great potential in environment-related services and offerings. Take These Steps In 2020
Before You Launch Your Job SearchFollow these six steps. |
DoD answers top 10 questions on expanded commissary, exchange, MWR accessBy VAntagePoint Contributor | VA.gov - ©2020 All Rights Reserved The Defense Department recently announced expanded commissary, military service exchange and MWR access Jan. 1 and established a standard for physical access to military installations. Below are the top 10 questions Veterans have asked the Defense Department about the expanded access. For more information on expanded access, call Military One Source at 1-800-342-9647. Q1: How do I get access if I have a 0 percent service-connected condition, but my income is too high to get a Veteran Health Identification Card?A1: Veterans who have received a Health Eligibility Center Form H623A that states they have been placed in VA health care priority group 8E may bring this form paired with an acceptable credential like a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or a U.S. passport for installation and privilege access. Q2: If I've got a DoD-issued identification card because I'm retired, a Medal of Honor recipient, or have a 100 percent VA-documented disability or unemployability rating, do I also need to have a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) to get access to DoD privileges?A2: No. If you are eligible for a DoD-issued retiree, Medal of Honor, or 100 percent disabled identification card, you should obtain and use the DoD-issued card to access DoD installations and privileges. While you could use a VHIC if you had one, you would be subject to the commissary credit/debit card user fee if you paid for your commissary purchases with a commercial credit or debit card. The commissary credit/debit card user fee is not charged to DoD-issued identification card holders. Your DoD-issued identification card will also allow you broader morale, welfare, and recreation activity access. Q3: How does the installation access process work for me and my guests; and if I have old felony activity on my record, will I be denied access to the installation?A3: All newly eligible Veterans and caregivers and any guests traveling with them who are age 18 or older must stop at the visitor control center before entering an installation for the first time to verify identify, establish purpose for the visit, and undergo a basic on-the-spot background check.
If the installation has credential enrollment capability and the acceptable credential(s) used are enrollable, they can be enrolled for recurring access so that the individual(s) don't have to stop at visitor control every time they want to visit the installation. Even a guest's acceptable credential can be enrolled. It will not allow them to enter the installation without someone who is eligible to enter the installation, but it will allow them to have their credential scanned from the car when entering with an authorized individual. This is the same process used for anyone who desires entry to an installation. An individual may be denied access if derogatory information shows up on the background check that reflects on the integrity or character of an individual that indicates that such an individual may pose a risk to the good order, discipline, morale, or safety of a DoD installation or the resources or personnel on that installation. Examples include, but are not limited to, aspects of an individual's criminal history or current status as wanted or as a known or appropriately suspected terrorist. There is a process for an individual with accurately identified derogatory information that prevents individuals from establishing either historic or current fitness to seek an exception due to their specific circumstances, allowing them to be granted unescorted access. DoD Components may grant unescorted access to a convicted felon, in accordance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws, after considering appropriate mitigating factors such as the nature and seriousness of the offense, the circumstances surrounding the offense, recency and frequency of the offense, the individual's age and maturity at the time of the offense, the individual's effort toward rehabilitation, and other factors. Under these conditions, an individual should apply directly to the installation commander requesting an exception to all allow access to the installation. Q4: Are dependents of newly eligible Veterans and caregivers also eligible for DoD privileges?A4: No. The Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018, only gave these privileges to specific Veterans and caregivers, not to their dependents. Dependents may accompany eligible Veterans and caregivers as their guests, but they may not make purchases. Q5: Why can't all Veterans have these DoD privileges?A5: The scope of operations on military installations is sized to take care of the needs of military members and their families. Military operations are not funded or sized to accommodate all Veterans. Expanding access to the 4.1 million Veterans and caregivers directed by the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018 (and that number continues to grow daily), will already be a test of DoD's capacity. Inserting another 15 million Veterans into the mix would overwhelm the system and our military members and their families would suffer for it. Q6: Will Veterans who choose to live overseas be able to access military installations and privileges in overseas foreign countries?A6: It depends. U.S. law doesn't apply outside of the United States and outside of the U.S. territories and possessions. Access in overseas foreign countries is subject to applicable host-nation laws and applicable international agreements, like status of forces agreements. The function of the installation also sometimes restricts access. It is best to check with the installation you desire to visit to find out if, as a Veteran or caregiver in one of the new Veteran or caregiver categories, you will be authorized access. Chances are that if you are a retired military member living abroad and didn't already have access as a retiree, you will not get access under any of the new categories. Q7: Can newly eligible Veterans and caregivers bring guests to the installations and facilities?A7: Yes. Guests will be subject to installation access procedures described in #8 above and must remain with the eligible Veteran or caregiver at all times when they are on the installation. Also, guests cannot make any purchases in commissary or exchange stores. Q8: Which of the following MWR activities can be used? (This is not an exhaustive list, only the most frequently asked about activities.)A8:
AmericanForcesTravel.com: Yes. Fishing: It depends. If lakes are operated as part of the installation park and picnic areas, no. If lakes are operated as part of the installation outdoor recreation activity, then it is at the discretion of the Military Department, subject to capacity and funding conditions.
Golf: Yes. Lodging: Yes. Cabins, cottages, recreation centers, resorts, and official temporary duty and permanent change of station lodging (on a space-available basis). Movies: Yes, if there is an admission fee. (No, if the movies are shown at no charge.) Pools: At the discretion of the Military Department, subject to capacity and funding conditions. Rentals: Yes. Tickets: At the discretion of the Military Department, subject to capacity and funding conditions. MAC flights: This is NOT an MWR, exchange, or commissary activity and access is NOT authorized. Pharmacy: This is NOT an MWR, exchange, or commissary activity and access is NOT authorized. USO: This is NOT a military organization. USO is a non-Federal entity. Q9: What conditions are required to get access to the DoD privileges?A9: Newly eligible Veterans must meet at least one of the following conditions:
Veterans with a 100 percent disability or unemployability rating and Veterans who are Medal of Honor recipients already have DoD privileges, so they are not newly eligible. Veterans include former members of any of the uniformed services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, U.S. Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Newly eligible caregivers must be the individual assessed, approved, and designated as the Primary Family Caregiver for an eligible Veteran under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. In addition to meeting one of the above conditions, newly eligible Veterans and caregivers must possess the specific documentation that DoD will accept as proof of identity and eligibility for access:
Q10: Can anyone with a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) get these privileges?A10: No. Only Veterans with a VHIC that displays "PURPLE HEART," "FORMER POW," or "SERVICE CONNECTED" will be authorized the new privileges. Veterans may be able to use a VHIC that doesn't contain one of these markings to access an installation with a medical facility if they have an appointment there, but if the VHIC does not display "PURPLE HEART," "FORMER POW," or "SERVICE CONNECTED," they will not have access to commissaries, exchanges, or morale, welfare, and recreation facilities. Learn more about the VHIC requirement and how you can get one here. Download the Expanded Access at Commissaries, Exchanges and Recreation Facilities fact sheet here. For more information on expanded access, call Military One Source at 1-800-342-9647. |
Lawsuit: Pentagon withholding info from veterans' advocatesBy BEN FINLEY | Associated Press - Reprinted with permission ©2020 All Rights Reserved NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A veterans group said the Pentagon has stopped releasing information that helps former service members to contest less-than-honorable discharges from the military. The Defense Department has been breaking the law since April, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court in Virginia by the National Veterans Legal Services Program. The group says it lacks access to decisions made by military review boards. The boards grant or deny a veteran's request to upgrade a less-than-honorable discharge. Veterans' lawyers study those decisions in hopes of building successful arguments for their clients. The lawsuit comes at a time of growing recognition that a less-than-honorable discharge can stem from behaviors brought on by post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries. Liberal consideration is supposed to be given to veterans with combat-related mental health conditions and to those who were sexually assaulted while in the military. Lawyers and veterans' advocates "often look" at the past decisions of military review boards, said Bart Stichman, executive director of the organization that filed the lawsuit. "These decisions are redacted to protect privacy," he added. "You don't see the name of the veteran who has PTSD or other personal information." Lisa Lawrence, a spokeswoman for the Defense Department, said in an email that the military is "reviewing the complaint and will consult with the Department of Justice on an appropriate response to this lawsuit." Dana Montalto, a clinical instructor at Harvard Law School's Veterans Legal Clinic, backed up the lawsuit's claim that discharge decisions have not been available. She said there are thousands of decisions going back at least 15 years. She said the lack of information hampers veterans' efforts to change their discharge statuses and to get more help. Veterans can lose some or all of the benefits that are available depending on the level of their discharge status. "It would shock many people to learn that veterans are waiting years to get a decision from a review board, during which time they're often shut out from receiving critical healthcare and support services that they desperately need," she said. Montalto said military review boards have made significant efforts to account for mental health conditions. And requests that would not have been granted a decade ago are now being approved, she said. But she said success rates are still too low and that more needs to be done. "It may be surprising to know that post-9/11 vets have the highest rate of receiving less-than-honorable discharges than any era of veterans," she said. "This generation is no less honorable and has notably volunteered." |
Why your budget request will cause you to failBy HRNasty - Reprinted with permission Budget requestEver put together a budget request for a special project? When you are working on a project that requires employee hours or financial resources, is your budget request on point? One of the most common career mistakes a person can make is not asking for enough. As the VP of Operations or VP of HR in prior companies, I have heard 100's of budget requests over the years. There are a couple of pitfalls when it comes to asking for resources. Not having your business pitch prepared and not asking for enough. Today we cover the latter. Is your budget request enough to ensure your successful completion?The dilemmaYour project needs $10,000.00. You know your manager is going to pop their lid when they hear your budget request so you ask for $7,000.00. I get it. If you ask for $10,000.00, you will hear at least the following: Are you fricking kidding? This little project isn't going to cost $10K. We just went through the budgeting process? Why didn't you include this in your annual budget request? I can't take this upstairs. You know we are trying to do more with less? Take this back and cut this budget request. You are smart so you anticipateIn your mind, you can hear your manager's response to your $10K request while you are typing up your one-page proposal. We hear the ranting and the insinuation that your economics are wrong or you are wasting company money. So what do we do? We cut our budget request from $10,000.00 to a budget request of $7,000.00. It doesn't sound like much a cut. $3,000. Three grand, $3k. After all, what can you really do with $3K? Not much. In your initial proposal, all of your line items added up to $10,000.00. As we think about presenting it in person, we chicken out. We assume our proposal is ludicrous. So we cut the budget request on a couple of line items and we come up with a new budget request of $8,000.00. Then we go through it one more time and come up with a tally of $7,000.00. We feel really good about asking for $7,000.00 and in our minds, feel like we just saved the company $3,000.00. You go into your boss's office and pitch your idea. Eyes are narrowed as they glance over the proposal. Questions are asked and answered. Silence hangs in the room. Your boss looks up and says "Looks good, I can get you your budget. Great job. Looking forward to your updates." Budget request approved. You leave the office relieved, happy, and excited. Your project is going to get off the ground. Why you got your budgetYour budget was approved because you appeared to be confident in your number. You weren't squirming or appearing nervous. You were confident in your request because in your mind it was low. The more important question is, are you going to be confident in what you can accomplish. In the immortal words of Matt Damon in Rounders, "Listen, if you can't figure out who the sucker is at the table in the first 30 minutes, it is probably you.You get 50% of the way through the project and realize you are going to run out of resources. You realize that your original estimate of $10,000.00 was much more on track. Now you are haunted: How did they expect me to get this done right with only $7,000.00? In order to complete this project, I am going to have to cut corners. (But because we are halfway done with the project and only have a few thousand dollars left, the rest of the project is really getting the short end of the stick.) In the end, you get the project done. You also realize the end result isn't close to your original vision. You could have done a lot better if you had received the proper resources. In many cases, we are just happy if we can finish our project. In some cases, we literally wasted the companies money because the project needs to be re-booted. Budgeting lessonIf you are putting a project plan the request for resources will go one of a few ways:
Senior people have learned to ask for what it takes to be successfulAsking for anything less is career suicide. It doesn't mean I am asking for Ferrari money when I only need Acura money. I put together a list of resources to be successful. My research and budgeting process should prove out my request. I don't trim the numbers if I think I am going to get push back. Intestinal fortitude. Professional courage people!
No one can say to me, "You should have known better, you should have asked for $10K"The most important lesson here is that we need to explain what we think we can accomplish with $7k. We shouldn't just cave into our irate manager and act like we are happy to receive the $7K. Acting happy will condition our manager to low ball us every time we ask for resources. Believe in your requests, stick by your guns and explain that results will fall short with less budget. HRNasty nasty: an unreal maneuver of incredible technique, something that is ridiculously good, tricky and manipulative but with a result that can't help but be admired, a phrase used to describe someone who is good at something. "He has a nasty forkball". |
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