AuthorWarren Wright is a 20-year veteran of the Air Force, Army, and National Guard. He has taken his experience in both the military and civilian sector and used that to help veterans in Northern New York translate their skills and expertise into marketable traits sought by employers throughout the North Country. ArchivesCategories |
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The Advantages of Attending a Job Fair4/14/2021 Attending a job fair is not only a good way to get your resume out there and see what companies are hiring, but it’s also an excellent way for companies to get to know you.
Applying for a position the traditional way in most cases requires the applicant to email their resume to a hiring manager or HR professional. That resume typically will be pooled with dozens, if not hundreds, of other resumes. However, when you attend a job fair, you’re handing your resume to a person. Whether it be face-to-face or virtually, you have the opportunity to speak to a live person and make an impression, something your resume alone, no matter how well written, could accomplish. Even if the company you’re engaging isn’t hiring, the impression you make with the recruiter, HR professional, or hiring manager could result in them thinking of you when a new job opportunity becomes available. If they are hiring and you meet the requirements of the position, oftentimes, job seekers will have the opportunity to interview on the spot. In comparison, resumes sent through the mail or email often take days or weeks to get to the hiring manager. Even then, they have to wade through the numerous applicants and reduce the list of applicants to a manageable number. That means your resume could be trashed, even if it’s well written and appropriate for the position. Meeting with employers face-to-face at a job fair allows you to skip that whole process. Even if you don’t land a position right away, a job fair is an excellent way to explore the many careers available in your area. These events allow job seekers to explore a variety of occupations and learn more about specific companies, different jobs, and career paths you may never have considered otherwise. Are you looking to attend a job fair? The North Country Veterans Employment Connection is hosting a virtual job fair on Aug. 2nd from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to view presentations by the North Country’s most prominent employers, and some less known companies will also be in attendance. Following the presentations, attendees can attend one of the many break-out sessions with employers to discuss positions, hiring qualifications, and next steps if selected. To register for the next job fair, head over to the NCVEC website at https://ncvec.weebly.com/contact.html to fill out a contact card. Be sure to indicate you’d like to sign up for the August 2nd job fair. (Note: This is not a real job fair. This is a mock post created for educational purposes as part of COMSTRAT 565 in The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University.)
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So, you’ve left the military. Now what?3/31/2021 Transitioning from a military to a civilian career can be an exciting experience, bring on new challenges and experiences. However, the transition can also be stressful and confusing, especially if you’re not exactly sure where to start. The key to a successful transition is knowing you’re not alone. Each year, approximately 200,000 servicemembers transition to civilian life. Unfortunately, many may struggle to find civilian employment due to varying factors. For instance, some veterans may not know how their military training and experience could apply to a civilian job. Fortunately, help is available. The services provided by the North Country Veteran Employment Connection go beyond simply connecting veterans with civilian employers. The center also offers veterans training in resume writing, interview techniques, and assistance in translating military experience and training into terms and skills understood by civilian hiring managers. When translating military experience, it’s important to understand that just because your skills were tailored to fulfill military requirements, it doesn’t mean they won’t be useful in a civilian job. For example, a squad leader in the Army might say, “As a squad leader, I was the tactical center of the team, responsible for reporting up the chain of command, overseeing the care and maintenance of the squad’s weapons, and tactically deploying the squad during missions and patrols.” This skillset can then be translated into, “As a team leader, I was responsible for managing the team dynamic and ensuring multifaceted tasks were completed by deadlines. I ensured accurate and timely reporting of team progress to organizational management. Additionally, I supervised the care and upkeep of more than $153,000 worth of equipment, led the team through challenging and demanding projects, and provided guidance and leadership to team members while empowering them to learn and grow in a complex environment.” Of course, this is just one example, but one can see how tactical military experience does have relevance in the civilian sector. Civilian employers are looking for the dynamic experiences and skills former military members can bring to an organization. Furthermore, they’re looking for individuals with the integrity, discipline, and professionalism inherent in those who’ve chosen to serve their country. By understanding how to translate that into terminology understood by civilians, you will have a leg up in your hunt for a rewarding career. To learn more about how to translate your military experience or to take advantage of other services provided by the NCVEC, please give us a call at (888) 121-1212, stop by the office, or fill out a contact hard here: https://ncvec.weebly.com/contact.html. We’re waiting to hear from you.
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The skills veterans receive during their time in the military go way beyond simply having the ability to follow instructions, work in stressful environments, and make sound decisions under pressure. Of course, these are all traits many employers are looking for, but it only scratches the surface of what makes veterans such valuable employees once they hang up their uniform and put on a suit and tie.
The service teaches us the value of teamwork and the dedication to place the needs and welfare of others above our own. It teaches us how to succeed in the face of adversity and how to bounce back and not lose faith when we've been knocked down. So, why is it that so many of us have a hard time finding gainful, adequate employment after succeeding in such a demanding environment? Why is the veteran unemployment rate currently approximately 68 percent higher than that of the non-veteran unemployment rate? Why, for a country that claims to love its veterans so much, have so many been left behind? To answer these questions, one has to look at the uniquely defining characteristics of veterans, characteristics both ingrained in those who choose to serve and those developed in service to our nation. One of the more defining strengths of a service member might also be one that can translate to weakness when entering the civilian sector. That characteristic is that of selfless service. To be truly selfless, one begins to place the needs of others above themselves, even if doing so puts the individual in harm's way. One of the downsides of being truly selfless is the belief that asking for help is somehow a sign of weakness, one that goes against the very nature of being selfless by putting your own needs above that of others. In order to truly help eliminate the epidemic of veteran unemployment, we have to begin by changing the culture of asking for assistance when needed. Asking for help in order to better take care of yourself is not a sign of weakness. Instead, I argue it is another sign of strength, a strength that can only be realized with the support of those around us. As a community, we must encourage others to seek help when needed and inspire others to do the same. Furthermore, being able to seek assistance when needed will only help to put you in a position to help others. Only when you are able to take care of yourself can you take care of others who need it. Even the most successful among us understand the need to seek assistance from others. Barack Obama once said, "Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and to learn something new." It wasn't until I realized this fact that I was able to grow as a professional and as a human being. After a successful military career, I was unsure of where my future might take me. I tried to succeed in the civilian sector on my own, with little success. It wasn't until I reached out to an old mentor when I realized it's impossible to do everything on your own. Had I not had the courage to ask for help, who knows where I might be today. If you're reading this, you are likely in a similar situation or know someone who is. If you're having trouble transitioning, don't be afraid to reach out. If you know someone who's having trouble, encourage them to seek guidance and not be afraid to help where you can or point them to someone who can help. As you begin to take the first steps, you'll see the next steps are not quite as difficult; it only takes one small step to start a great journey. |