View from the Skies: Military Transition

Bryan shares his background and military transition from Communications specialist to the reserves to complete separation.

1) Discusses finding yourself

2) Passion to give back to veterans and community (Vets2Industry and Full Moon Digital)

3) Using the opportunity to hit reset, that's a good thing

- Give yourself time

- Grow your professional network: Types of people- The coach, the mentor, and the sponsor

- Get to that sponsor and work for them:  Need to "deposit" something for them

4) Marketing/Branding yourself

- Break it down for the larger audience

- Translate your skills

- Figure out how and where to tell your story (leverage your resources) both written and verbally

- Be active on LinkedIn

- Conduct Informational Interviews

References:

As always we kick off the show with introductions.  Antony humbles us with his transition experience and proves the value of planning and networking when it comes to career transitions.

Micah was a crew chief of mine and introverted comedian.  When we got back in touch and he told me he was managing a comedy club, it seemed fitting.  In this bonus episode, Micah talks about his lows of his military transition, followed by his highs when finding something that was enjoyable and natural to him.

Micah highlights he knew he could fall back on his skills and resources (go work as maintainer as a contractor or use his GI Bill).  Instead, he realized he wanted to follow his passion.  To do that, he need an opportunity, which he created himself by placing himself in a position to gain an apprenticeship, which lead to his promotion as extra hand and part time comedian, to becoming a club GM.

This is not the path for everyone, but his story shows the power and enjoyment of finding your interest and how it motivates you to never quit until you succeed.

My brief story

Do your own research on what works for you 

Current data is thinking is aged (70 years) and being challenged now, don't just fall in line!

Have a plan to prioritize and incorporate diet and exercise 

Health=Energy=out perform peers and better work-life balance= more time and/or money

Tips and techniques to diet and exercise

References:

"The Magic Pill" on Netflix

1) Transition Advice:

- Find your Passion (go after skills you don't have that are required)

- Develop a Plan (He planned 3 years out!)

-  Learn and use your resources (Ex. GI Bill)

- Determine your location

2) Describes a day in his life to learn/understand the competition and what it takes in the sports world

3) Skills that Carried over:

- Standards/cadences

- Leadership

- Character

- Intellect

4) Network with Veterans and non-Veterans who support veterans

5) Common Mistakes

- Will likely take an unpaid internship to network and land a position

- Just as competitive off the field in this industry

- Importance of selling yourself, your brand (Never Stop Interviewing!)

- No guarantees or defines career path

References:

1- His transition

- Give yourself plenty of time

- Find your why, what motivates you

- Network (while still in)

- Look for opportunities to brand yourself

2- Program Vs Project Management

- Know the differences/definitions

- Learn terminology (gets you to the interview table and allows you to establish Trust)

- Skills you will have: Goal setting, Attention to detail, Team Building, Integrity, timing and sequencing, humility, relationship building

- Skills you will need to acquire: Contract management, Cost control, Profit and Loss, product and process knowledge

3-  Education

- MBA- understand business, learn marketing

- PMP Certification: verbiage, cost management, scheduling

4- Resume

- Highlight Duty Description

- Find metrics and root cause in bullets and connect them to project management fundamentals

5- Closing statements

- Be confident

- No one cares

- Pay it Forward

References:

This not is not a Work-Life Balance Episode.  This episode is more about awareness of the options out there, how to plan for them and how to phase them in and out as you grow.

Eric discusses:

1- His enlisted to warrant officer transition in the military:  Not accept No!

2- How he planned and adjust his active duty separation and transition to maximize his benefits

3- Why he pursued higher education and why he both does and doesn't recommend it

4- Knowing the resources available to you, do your research, and tie them to your plan

5- How he got into side gigs and how they currently fit into his life balance

6- Continuing to pursue his passion and interests

7- Staying in the National Guard / Reserves (and other ways to continue your service and/or fill that need)

8- Willingness to sacrifice (short and long term) as you grow and plans adjust 

9- Why he chose his current business and profession and what he has learned from it.

10- Own the process and have 3 hobbies (one money maker, one for personal growth, one for physical well-being)

References:

1- Rich discusses his background and passes on some transition tips as a recruiter

- Don't focus on the company and job title

- Have your voicemail activated

- Keep your mind open to possibilities

2- BlueRecruit

- Digital platform to connect blue collar workers to trait and technical jobs without a resume

- Ability to help shape and influence now within pilot program

3- References:

Best Selling Author Scott Vedder discusses his top tips for developing a great civilian resume when leaving the military

1- Best tips for writing a resume 

- !@#$% approach

- Not a Job Description

- Objectives vs Summaries

- Bullet length

- Making it about the employer

2- How to translate your skills so civilian recruiters understand

- Terms and job titles

- Using RATS (Results and Actions up front) over STAR

3- How to ensure your soft skills are effectively portrayed

- PATRIOT technique

4- Where to find the !@#$% for your resume

- Past PDs (Evaluations), Comptrollers, Chain of Command, Keeping track of information/data yourself

5- If changing careers, and experience has little relevance, what to do

- Functional resumes

6- Importance of networking and how it plays into the resume process.

- Never stop interviewing

Bio:

- Best Selling Author (Presented at the White House)

- Fortune 100 Recruiter

- ACP Mentor

References:

What to look for in 2020

- Buyer/procurement skills

- Sales Skills

- MP Skills to the business world (not law enforcement)

- Life Balance

- Military vs Corporate Recruiting

- and much much more

CALL TO ACTION:

- Need your feedback (Anchor VM, Apple Podcast rating and review, or comment on my website)- How to improve, what topics you want to discuss, anyone interested in guest hosting, etc.

- International Listeners- Please reach out so I can find ways to support you and keep you included as well.  It is a global economy and you have served or support those who have served your nation as well.

References:

Background and Military Transition

1- Using job posting sites- leveraged with veteran assistance organizations

2- Importance of Networking (to learn organizations and self-interests) 

3- Step back to move forward (fit it in the big picture!)

4- Story telling in the interview

5- Quantify resume bullets

6- Title Self Appropriately (are you really an Operations Manager or Project Manager, what does that even mean?)

7- Relationship Building is key

8- Big picture/long term planning

Distribution Ops and Delhaize

1- Importance of Soft Skills (leading and problem solving)

2- Companies will train you

3- Importance learning on the side

4- They value your character, values, and soft skills

5- Highlight your performance development skills (coaching, documenting, mentoring)

6- Add value with side interest projects- pitch them to higher

Advice

1- Listen

2- Never stop interviewing

3- Network (in and out of the organization) (military and non-military)

References:

Discussion of Chase's military transition:

1- Decision to prioritize location

2- Interest in learning business

3- Why MBA route

4- Importance of Learning Self

5- Identifying your skills and skill gap

6- Learning and tackling your weaknesses

7- Acquiring hard skills

8- Importance of realizing you own it and need to establish a plan

JPMorgan discussion:

1- Skills organization values

2- Military Pathways Development Program (as well as Veteran Direct Hire)

3- Mistakes made by candidates (military transitioners)

4- How/who to connect with to learn more

5- Why Financial Services Industry

6- JPMorgan Divisions (structure)

Referenced in Podcast:

I share my experience and initial military transition failure story

I leave seven key takeaways from listeners to learn from:

1- I didn't know who I was (what I wanted, what my interests were)

2- I didn't trust/listen to the right people

3- Pleased others and not myself

4- Had an exit plan (from the military), but not an entry plan (into a new career)

5- Didn't truly assess my skill set

6- I prioritized the wrong things- in regards to preparation

7- I didn't focus on the right things- in regards to understanding myself, my interests (assessment of Growth, Location and Income).