We Are Marshall (2016)

We're not hiring right now Random, but we are looking to expand in the near future. We'd like to be able to expand our services nationwide through a network of volunteer career coaches who would facilitate Job Search Work Teams. In a perfect world we would have a staffer to manage those volunteers and possibly another to build relationships with employers. In the meantime, we can help you with your job search if you're interested in participating in a Job Search Work Team. These teams help groups of 6-12 vets leverage each other's experience to accelerate their job search. If you'd like to help set up one of these teams in your area, let's talk offline!

BW

I would suggest having a plan for what it is you will need. For example; what is the cost of living where you are moving to? what type of employment will you need? will you need to further your education? etc.

Gather as much information as possible to help your transition go smoothly. Part of your plan should include as much support as possible. This could come in the form of attending T.A.P classes, and reaching out to friends and family members in the area you are relocating to.

T.A.P classes could help you create your resume, research target companies, and providing essential documents.

By connecting with family and friends you are utilizing your network to enhance your leads for employment and housing. This could be a huge help if you are not familiar with the area you're moving to.

Even if you have lived here before you probably need to be re-connected to people and opportunities. Having a written plan could serve as a guide to help you stay on task.

MM

There was an older vet who had been downsized from his company where he'd worked for over 20-years. As a result, he lost his housing and had to move back in with his family. This did not fare well with him because he had been independent for quite awhile.

So, he came to us unemployed, homeless, and angry. He was very frustrated and reluctant about starting over. He was especially resistant to the fact that he had to do things online, (he lacked computer skills). But, he never stopped coming to get help.

Although, he complained everyday he welcomed the support and comradery he received. Eventually he was able to complete the online process for employment with a security company that we had a connection with. Not only did he get the job, a year later he was promoted to a supervisory position. He eventually moved into his own place, and became self-sufficient once again.

Even though we have a lot of success stories, this one especially stood out because it proved that no matter what age we are, vets are resilient!

MM

I had the opportunity to work with a recently separated vet (Out about 3 years) who had done their 4 in the Army, gotten out and earned their degree. After finishing their degree they had spent a couple months looking for work with no luck. Then they attended one of our 2 day job readiness workshops.

This vet listened to everything we had to say, worked hard on their resume and LinkedIn profile, and began leveraging their network in their job search the day they left our training. Every critique and piece of advice we gave, this vet picked up and ran with. Within 3 weeks of attending our training they had a full-time job, with benefits, in their career field of choice, that they had found through networking.

I love this success story because it really shows how a willingness to learn and be adaptable to changing situations can pay off big in a job search.

KS

There are a few that stick out.

• Submitting applications and walking away - This is actually the biggest one for everyone's job search regardless of veteran status, but especially for former servicemembers. When we were in the military our next job largely came down to needs of the military. Branch personnel office was, for most, the alpha and omega of job search. It gets more complicated in the civilian world. There's no central authority to look at your qualifications and place you appropriately. You have to make your own connections and discover your own place. The best thing to help you in that regard is a solid professional network. DO NOT make the mistake of reading that as "Old Boy's Network" or nepotism. Let me give you an example. When I was a soldier the closest I came to a job interview was a Soldier of the Month board. That wasn't an interview. That was three large, angry gentlemen with unfortunate haircuts giving me the third degree for 15 minutes and then they'd chuckle as I walked out the door. The fact is, they didn't care if I knew the max effective range of an M-240 (1100 meters) or the name of the eagle on the 101st Airborne's patch (Old Abe), they just wanted to see me handle the pressure. They already knew I was qualified because my first line supervisor, staff NCO, and senior colleagues vouched for me. That was my professional network at work. As a civilian you need to build up the equivalent of an NCO support channel and chain of command to mentor you and advocate on your behalf and that takes a lot of work. Your job search has to be more than submitting applications. You have to become the known candidate. It's not just what you know, or who you know. It's who knows you!

• Lack of creativity - Too many clients come into our program thinking they are unemployable because there is no direct translation to what they did in the military. We had an infantry NCO come in with that attitude until we started talking with him about what he actually did. It turns out he was a brigade training NCO who ran a multi-purpose range complex. He had project management, training, and hazmat licensing that could set him up in logistics, HR, or (with a PMP certification) literally any industry he wanted. He was a lot more confident in his job search after that and was placed not long after.

• Not taking advantage of available benefits - Don't know what to do next? Don't think a college degree will help your career? I don't care. Use your GI Bill. Spend four years taking classes that interest you and building a professional network to help you get on your feet faster. And while you're there, get to know your local SVA chapter. They are folks in a similar position as you with different perspectives who can help you open doors you didn't know existed. Or, have you made an initial transition and found a job, but that facility is closing down? WIOA and TAA are part of the alphabet soup at the Department of Labor that can help you develop new skills or transition to a similar position at another firm. Believe it or not, some people from the government are actually are here to help.

BW

Wow, that sounds like a rough transition. Can you provide a little more information about where you're going and your husbands professional skills and goals? We can offer some coaching online and over the phone, but I'd also like to be able to connect you with services where you're going.

BW

Well, I've heard great things about Louisville and aviation operations is always an in-demand skill set. There aren't a lot of folks who know how to manage an airfield or an FBO. I'm going to shoot you a private message to continue this conversation more in depth. Hopefully we can hook your family up with supportive services in Louisville. We might even be able to set up your husband with a Job Search Work Team. If not, we'd be happy to teach him how to start one!

BW

womp womp womp

BW

The biggest difference is for recently transitioned vets and vets who've had long term employment after separating from the service. Essentially, these two groups are composed of highly qualified job seekers who should be easy placements, but their biggest obstacle is understanding how the civilian job market works.

As I mentioned above, finding your next gig in the military is the military's responsibility for the majority of servicemembers. A lot of people will even joke that the military is the best functioning communist state in the world. Transitioning from that into the civilian economy can be a real challenge. It's a completely new rule set our clients are playing by and compared to the 7-13 weeks of basic training the military puts civilians through to become servicemembers, there is woefully little training for servicemembers becoming civilians.

The biggest thing we do is introduce our clients to the basic rules of the new game they find themselves in and help them develop a professional network through our network of employing partners and on going support like Job Search Work Team. Next week we'll be rolling out another service called Mission Forward that will provide our training and coaching support to vets beyond the Chicagoland area. You'll be able to follow our development of Mission Forward at our website

I hope that answers your question.

BW

Your brother-in-law sounds a bit like one of our clients I worked with last year. He was a really talented young man who just wrapped up his bachelor's degree after a stint in the Marine Corps. His biggest problem was trying to decide what his career was going to look like.

My client had some outstanding information security experience from the military and he studied biology in college. He wanted to try something new, but he wasn't quite sure what his degree qualified him for. Ultimately we were able to connect him with Abbvie, a major biotech firm and a company we have a great relationship with, where he was able to combine his skills to help design research projects.

The decision of what to do with your skills and experience isn't necessarily binary. There are countless opportunities out there that can combine what you know with what you are passionate about, but sometimes we need help finding them. That's one form of assistance we try to offer.

BW

I would have to say that it really depends on where you are professionally and financially and what your professional goals and needs are.

If you are just looking a job to get you through and put some money in the bank for a short time until you can find something permanent then a temp agency might be the right choice for you. However if you are looking for a permanent role in your career field with advancement options and/or benefits, then you will likely find yourself quickly frustrated with temp agencies.

As for the best job hunting site, I would like to make a few important points before I answer that question.

1. a very small portion of hires in todays job markets are sourced from online applications. Only about 25 to 30 % of hires come from online applications. The other 70 to 75% of hires are either known by the hiring managers or a position is created for them and a job is never actually posted. So I always advise clients to limit their time spent searching for jobs online to 25 to 30% of their total time spent job searching each week.

2. Networking and building your professional relationships to expand your network is typically a more effective way to job search than spending your time applying for jobs online.

3. If you are going to apply for jobs online I would recommend applying directly through the employers website as opposed to applying on a third-party online job hunting site.

However if you are going to spend some time looking for jobs on job hunting sites I recommend LinkedIn jobs or for those looking for not-for-profit jobs NPO.net is pretty good as well.

KS

Absolutely. I would say at least half of our vets have had a civilian job and many have 10-30 years of civilian experience.

BA

We'll make sure you get a link to our online platform Mission Forward once it's in full release. There's a ton of great training and tips there to help guide your job search.

BW