MilitaryStars Blog

Career Surviving and Thriving: Overcome and Adapt

We have a few guys here in the office (you probably know some too) quite fond of the phrase "overcome and adapt"; it didn't take me long to latch on as well.  In the business we're in for all of you, when you break it down until even Funkadelic couldn't break it down any more, what else is there to say?  It's the ultimate pointer toward career search success and the motivation to keep pushing you toward it, but don't take my word for it, or a co-worker's... how about Harvard's?

Courtesy of C.M. Russell's Secrets of the Job Hunt blog (a favorite here, also always linked in the left column, bottom corner) comes some advice from the Ivys echoing that which I hear from my veteran friends here on the regular.  Career resiliency (overcoming and adapting) includes all of the following:

• Keeping up with trends in your chosen career
• Quenching your curiosity for new knowledge and opportunities
• Networking and building relationships

If you want to go three-for-three and demonstrate to Harvard HR that you clearly already know what's up, you know where to go...

What Makes Us Stars

Hopefully some employers will read this and see what makes us different. Maybe some Veterans will see this and realize that they may not be in the right career (not job) just yet . . .

My wife, Kelly, has been sick for three days. Sunday up to, and including, today. After a visit to the Doc we found out she'll be fine but has to take another day or so off & pound the meds. This entire time, my team at Military Stars has backed us up and given us whatever support we've needed. Numbers to medical facilities, help with pending clients and overall moral support.

She's not dying. She just has a nasty bug. She is not related to anyone else in the office but by the support and help we've gotten you'd think she was every ones spouse.

Thank you. Semper Fidelis.

I'm out.

Job Search Research Skills: Don't Just Read the Lists

Here's another one to spend some time with: MONEY Magazine's Best Jobs in America.  This is one magazine's (heavily researched) opinion, in association with one website (Salary.com), but it is a heck of a resource.  That is to say, start from here.  Then think about similar jobs, about the career fields that the jobs that most interest you are coming from, what companies come up most often in searching for those jobs, and how your military experience relates to some of the skills required.  Employers need to know that you've done your research - starting from a list like this can really speed up the process and is great for practice.   

Civvy and the Devil Dog: Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself

It is my distinct pleasure to introduce the premiere episode of Civvy and the Devil Dog - career advice from two wildly different perspectives.  Hopefully over the last week everyone has got a chance to know SgtMikeC.  He's teamed up with me, we've already covered some serious ground, and we're just getting warmed up.  I hope you enjoy it!  Cue up "Sympathy for the Devil", and here's to a great week...

Walk my post from flank to flank . . .

Monday has arrived and it is time to get back to it. I love Monday's. It like a fresh inning to get the runners on base, move them around and get some runs in. 3 whole outs to work with and I'm willing to take the counts to full in order to make the pitcher work . . . .

I hope this week brings some good news for our candidates in the form or companies on board and jobs to be had. It's great to enjoy the weekend but some part of me is always thinking about the Devil Dog that is unemployed and foaming at the mouth for Jacksonville to hurry up and arrive.

It's Monday. I'm on it. I got you. The 25th is your time at the plate, don't wait till the 24th to move to the on deck circle . . .

I'm out.

Sneak Peek

I don't want to ruin any surprises or steal anyones thunder, however, there will be a new feature to our personal efforts here on Military Stars.com & the Blog.

Interested in PTI? Like to see Marines beat up on Civvies? I thought so.

The whispers I hear, the birdie outside my window, the tiny bubbles all say:

       Civvy  & The Devil Dog

                                       

Friday? Already?

I don't look forward to Friday's as much as others & I'll tell you why. 'Cause I can't keep working. Well, I could but I don't have the discipline.

The 1st step is admitting you have a problem, right?

Don't get me wrong, I love liberty, but follow me. I flipped it. You see that? Now follow me...

I really do enjoy what I do. I wish more and more companies understood the mindset we have here. We have such a passion for this. Fridays are like an end to a ride at a theme park. Glad to be off the ride to recoup but excited to say "let's go again!".

Luckily, we try to still spend time with each other off hours. It's like being back at Search & Rescue in Yuma for me. That camaraderie and unit cohesiveness is so important for not only what we do but how, you know? Not to bash the other folks that attempt to help veterans but what's the motivation for them? I know mine.

I look forward to Mondays.

I'm out!

CBS News, Friend of Career Search Bloggers

Career search blogging has arrived at the point where CBS News' official website made it the lead point of discussion for their weekly blog-tracker column.  Some great links in here, whether you could use a laugh when recognizing how badly some other job seekers have screwed up their moment to shine in an interview (see also ArmyDog's post below) to a suprising shared belief by CEOs worldwide that landing the dream job is all about... how you treat your waiter (personally, having tons of friends in food service always drove the point home for me).  Spend some time with this one and marvel at the collision of the megaconglomerate and the personal poster - apparently, good things can come of it.   

Jacksonville 35 Day Update

With about 35 days until our Jacksonville, FL event, I thought it would be cool it give a "State of the Expo".

We are looking good for quantity (clients) this far out but much like our candidates; I'm more optimistic about the quality. We are so diverse right now that a company could come in at the last minute (still not a good idea) and undoubtedly have the ability to meet the right veterans. National, local, hands on, office types; the whole sha-bang-a-bang is covered as far as opportunities.

Feeling good about Jacksonville but better yet, looking good. 35 days to go; stay the course, bridge to the 21st century, . . um, thousand points of light and God bless America!

{This has been the State of the Expo. Stand by for your local late breaking news}

I'm out!

Veteran Education Update, Pacific Standard Time

Great to see these initiatives continuing to arise: the State of Calilfornia is joining in the effort to make higher education more accessible for its veterans.  The new Veterans Education Opportunities Partnership pushes for support in everything from priority admission to academic and financial advice.  Well worth examining, and hopefully outstanding news for a huge veteran population - all of whom we look forward to meeting in San Diego on June 1!