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Before I was a veteran, when I was on the computer my wife would ask what I was doing and I would answer, “I’m playing Facebook.” When I became a transitioning veteran the usual answer became, “I’m playing RallyPoint or LinkedIn.” That game analogy has helped me when I started to professionally network since it was so foreign to me as a transitioning veteran. It also showed that I was naïve to the whole concept of networking. I felt it was a necessary evil and one I was not comfortable engaging in.
Let’s face it, the military breeds us and gives us all the skill sets to be a huge success in corporate America, but the culture causes us to be completely inept at networking. We are usually very humble, focused on service to others, do not usually ask for favors, and don’t like to promote ourselves. Normally the system lets our performance and actions speak for us. We struggle to speak for ourselves- at least I did. We are woefully under-prepared as LinkedIn was unheard of in the military, very few promotions or jobs in the military require interviews, and worst of all the Transitional Assistance Program (TAPs) barely touches on it. But it is paramount to civilian success. According to an article from one of the Top four accounting consulting firms, “If you do not have a LinkedIn profile link on your resume, we do not even look at you.”
Other terms like 'personal brand' and 'elevator speech' were completely alien to me. I wasn't sure what my personal brand even was, I only knew that I was a United States Air Force Officer. In case you are wondering, your personal brand is your story and what skills you have to bring to the company. An elevator speech is how you can express your personal brand and story in less than 30 seconds (the estimated time you have with someone in the elevator). This is actually pretty difficult.
You are trying to be relatable, memorable, precise, calculating, and personable all while being charming and charismatic within a short period of time in order to meet one goal: to make a connection. This is what networking boils down to. From the very beginning, networking challenged my way of thinking. I always viewed it as “what can you do for me?” but in reality it means “what can we do for each other?” The connection or relationship has to be mutually beneficial, otherwise it is not really networking.
So in the end, my paradigm shifted from a necessary evil in my mind to an invaluable skill. Regardless of how you feel about what I said or about the situation in general, the facts don’t lie. According to a report from ABC News, “80% of today’s jobs are landed through networking.”
It is all about who you know. When you think about it, it does make sense. Would you rather vouch or trust a resume with a name you have never seen, or a person you made a legitimate connection with? That is when networking makes a difference. Creating mutual professional relationships now can make all the difference now and in the future. The benefits are clear as I hone this difficult skill. But the more connections you make, the more doors you open to opportunities.
Let’s face it, the military breeds us and gives us all the skill sets to be a huge success in corporate America, but the culture causes us to be completely inept at networking. We are usually very humble, focused on service to others, do not usually ask for favors, and don’t like to promote ourselves. Normally the system lets our performance and actions speak for us. We struggle to speak for ourselves- at least I did. We are woefully under-prepared as LinkedIn was unheard of in the military, very few promotions or jobs in the military require interviews, and worst of all the Transitional Assistance Program (TAPs) barely touches on it. But it is paramount to civilian success. According to an article from one of the Top four accounting consulting firms, “If you do not have a LinkedIn profile link on your resume, we do not even look at you.”
Other terms like 'personal brand' and 'elevator speech' were completely alien to me. I wasn't sure what my personal brand even was, I only knew that I was a United States Air Force Officer. In case you are wondering, your personal brand is your story and what skills you have to bring to the company. An elevator speech is how you can express your personal brand and story in less than 30 seconds (the estimated time you have with someone in the elevator). This is actually pretty difficult.
You are trying to be relatable, memorable, precise, calculating, and personable all while being charming and charismatic within a short period of time in order to meet one goal: to make a connection. This is what networking boils down to. From the very beginning, networking challenged my way of thinking. I always viewed it as “what can you do for me?” but in reality it means “what can we do for each other?” The connection or relationship has to be mutually beneficial, otherwise it is not really networking.
So in the end, my paradigm shifted from a necessary evil in my mind to an invaluable skill. Regardless of how you feel about what I said or about the situation in general, the facts don’t lie. According to a report from ABC News, “80% of today’s jobs are landed through networking.”
It is all about who you know. When you think about it, it does make sense. Would you rather vouch or trust a resume with a name you have never seen, or a person you made a legitimate connection with? That is when networking makes a difference. Creating mutual professional relationships now can make all the difference now and in the future. The benefits are clear as I hone this difficult skill. But the more connections you make, the more doors you open to opportunities.
Networking
Command Post
Transition
Edited 10 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 16
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Capt Richard Desmond you touched on the most important part of transition which is Networking.
If I may touch on some of my experiences so far. I've been transitioning since OCT of last year and I made Networking my number one focus. I will retire (TERA) 01 FEB 2016. I've used a combination of volunteering with Project management Institute in Alaska, taking a leadership role in Toastmasters, as a Den Leader where my son is a cub scout, attending as many employer panels as I can at ACAP to gather intel and connect with the panel members. I also volunteer for ACAP (Soldier for Life Center)
The Elevator speech works. Often you meet someone and you are asked "tell me about yourself, ""What do you sell" or "What do you do?". If you think on your feet you can paint your Personal Brand in a 30-second elevator speech and grab their attention, and hopefully take the Networking one step further.
One of the most powerful things we can do for transitioning is to join a Toastmasters club outside the base. To clean our language away from military lingo. And also to work on interview skills. I've attended over 12 employer panels on base and they never fail to say that service members struggle at the interview part. Networking can get us to an interview but the way we communicate can seal the deal. We want to communicate how we bring value to the company/employer but it needs to be clean, confident and natural versus rehearsed, robotic and sweating in fear.
Every networking event is an opportunity to practice the elevator speech. After all, normally the first question we are asked at an interview is, "Tell us a little bit about yourself".
If I may touch on some of my experiences so far. I've been transitioning since OCT of last year and I made Networking my number one focus. I will retire (TERA) 01 FEB 2016. I've used a combination of volunteering with Project management Institute in Alaska, taking a leadership role in Toastmasters, as a Den Leader where my son is a cub scout, attending as many employer panels as I can at ACAP to gather intel and connect with the panel members. I also volunteer for ACAP (Soldier for Life Center)
The Elevator speech works. Often you meet someone and you are asked "tell me about yourself, ""What do you sell" or "What do you do?". If you think on your feet you can paint your Personal Brand in a 30-second elevator speech and grab their attention, and hopefully take the Networking one step further.
One of the most powerful things we can do for transitioning is to join a Toastmasters club outside the base. To clean our language away from military lingo. And also to work on interview skills. I've attended over 12 employer panels on base and they never fail to say that service members struggle at the interview part. Networking can get us to an interview but the way we communicate can seal the deal. We want to communicate how we bring value to the company/employer but it needs to be clean, confident and natural versus rehearsed, robotic and sweating in fear.
Every networking event is an opportunity to practice the elevator speech. After all, normally the first question we are asked at an interview is, "Tell us a little bit about yourself".
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Networking for business is definitely a skill that the average service member lacks, at least in practical application. The good news is that, once they are taught how, they tend to do much better in a networking setting than civilians who were taught the same skills. Why? Because we are more confident. Tell me, you...the reader, when you walk into a room full of civilians you don't feel like you stand a little taller, look a little fitter, speak with a little more worldly view than that of your peers? You may not EVER say those things out loud, but you are probably thinking them.
Networking skills can be learned quickly. With some practice, you can be far and away the most memorable person in the room.
Here are some quick tips:
1. Do your homework prior to an event. Many people in the room have LinkedIn or other public social networking accounts. They probably posted on their Twitter when they used EventBrite to sign up for the event that they were going. Gathering intelligence about who is in the room can start the ball rolling by knowing ahead of time the names and details of a few people you want to talk to.
2. Don't be afraid to ask the person you are currently talking to if they know of anyone else in the room that you should know. Not only does it allow you to get a warm introduction and for that person to show that they know people, but it also gives that person a chance to repeat back a few facts about you, which will help them remember you.
3. Don't pre-judge anyone in the room as to their ability to help you. I can't tell you the number of times I have connected with someone that I thought was a wasted hour long conversation only to find out that the other person was very impressed and talked me up to several of their connections that needed my services. Connecting with people isn't always about YOU feeling like you made a connection. (This usually happens when you end up listening ALOT more than you talk, so if it happens that you can't get a word in edgewise, it might be a good thing.)
Happy Networking!
Networking skills can be learned quickly. With some practice, you can be far and away the most memorable person in the room.
Here are some quick tips:
1. Do your homework prior to an event. Many people in the room have LinkedIn or other public social networking accounts. They probably posted on their Twitter when they used EventBrite to sign up for the event that they were going. Gathering intelligence about who is in the room can start the ball rolling by knowing ahead of time the names and details of a few people you want to talk to.
2. Don't be afraid to ask the person you are currently talking to if they know of anyone else in the room that you should know. Not only does it allow you to get a warm introduction and for that person to show that they know people, but it also gives that person a chance to repeat back a few facts about you, which will help them remember you.
3. Don't pre-judge anyone in the room as to their ability to help you. I can't tell you the number of times I have connected with someone that I thought was a wasted hour long conversation only to find out that the other person was very impressed and talked me up to several of their connections that needed my services. Connecting with people isn't always about YOU feeling like you made a connection. (This usually happens when you end up listening ALOT more than you talk, so if it happens that you can't get a word in edgewise, it might be a good thing.)
Happy Networking!
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I am a member of the Boston College Veterans Network and we have been doing some good things lately to help veterans and just spend time with ROTC students at BC
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Sir, great post! I used to have the same feelings about networking. I thought it was sucking up, and not something that I wanted to do. Being on LinkedIn and RallyPoint has made me a believer that networking is a good thing.
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
I think Social Media Networking is awesome. On LinkedIn I have had several job offers. Probably my best networking on Facebook was with Herschel Williams. Mr Williams is 94 years young & was awarded a Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima. He likes some of my Sea Stories I also have networked with many who served with me in 1st Radio Co FMF Atlantic which meant a lot because I trained some of them before they went to Nam. I didn't serve in Nam but most of these guys still have responded to my comments on their Website...I guess time has a way of healing old grudges or negative thoughts.
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OoRah..collaboration with like minded people is a true gift that RallyPoint provides.
Stay Connected..Stay Tuned.. :)
Stay Connected..Stay Tuned.. :)
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