How are you building your personal brand?

Col Matthew Fritz — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 17:06:33 -0400

Even the most successful military career will someday end. The benefit of military service is that you are still young enough to try something new in the civilian marketplace when you hang up your uniform and transition to the next chapter of your life. As such, every day is a tryout and experience builder in helping you to figure out what you want to be when you outgrow military service.
With that in mind, it is important that each service member commit to building their personal brand and establish themselves as "the expert" or "the best" at whatever it is that makes their heart sing outside of the military experience. For others, it may be about leaning into their discomfort, learning a new skill set or growing as a person before making the leap.
How are you building your personal brand and what are you doing to ensure you codify skills and experiences that will help you when you make the leap? For those who have already made the transition, what is one thing you are either glad you did, or wish you had done, to establish your personal brand before leaving and entering the civilian world?
I look forward to your discussions! Feel free to join the fun on Twitter, too, if you want to share in that space. You can find me at @fritzmt and @GenLeadBlog!

Response by Col Matthew Fritz made Apr 21 at 2015 5:08 PM

Col Matthew Fritz — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 17:08:31 -0400

Capt Brandon Charters Col Private RallyPoint Member Brig Gen John Michel LTC Yinon Weiss I'm sure you will have some definite opinions in this regard. Weigh in and share your thoughts!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 5:24 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 17:24:34 -0400

You left out the option of "I'm still serving and I have transitioned to the outside world". There are quite a few Reservists on here that do both.

As for building your brand, LinkedIn!! It should have as much information on there as possible. More information than your resume. LinkedIn is the place to go into further detail and explain what exactly you accomplished on your last deployment and how you handled difficult situations. It is not a place to brag or to embellish but to state facts and explain to the layman business man, that has zero military experience, why you will be an incredible asset to his team.

I have been approached many times for interviews because of my LinkedIn account.

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Apr 21 at 2015 6:41 PM

Capt Brandon Charters — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 18:41:06 -0400

Col Matthew Fritz Looking back as I transitioned, I wish I had fully built out more of my civilian industry network and found exactly what I was passionate about. Serving your country can be an all encompassing task with little time or energy left to explore what's out there. I got very used to just chasing orders as a career path and there is no such thing in the civilian world. :)

Having that passion figured out early really helps in crafting that SME attitude you mentioned. Once you have that interest locked in, there are so many ways to start setting up realistic goals to achieve after transition. Great topic here. Thanks for bringing it up!

Response by Col Matthew Fritz made Apr 21 at 2015 7:07 PM

Col Matthew Fritz — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 19:07:15 -0400

Excellent advice for your peers and teammates, Capt Brandon Charters ! All too often, we get so channelized on the path in front of us, we forget to recognize the forks in the road. Chess-gaming future opportunities is always in your best interest--both in, and out of, the military. Thanks for weighing in with your personal example!

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Apr 22 at 2015 11:30 AM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 11:30:15 -0400

This is a great topic.. and something I did not think about enough (or at all!) when I was on active duty. Suggestions I would give:

1) Personal brand is not just a civilian thing, it's throughout your life both during and after service. People think of you a certain way... are you an "easy going leader", "a tough leader", "a fair leader", "a squared away person", "a go-to person", or "just another guy" -- either way, your "brand" (i.e. reputation) is there both in and out of uniform.

2) One thing that has really helped me is pursuit of education. For me it was getting a full time MBA, but not everybody can do that, and not everybody needs to do that. However, no matter whether one is enlisted or officer, active duty, reserve, or out, one's education is a great way to add more dimensions to your "brand" -- or reputation if you prefer to call it.

3) Become really good at something that you enjoy. This is advice that many of us have heard before, but many people in the military don't practice it. The military tends to promote "put me in where I can best help the unit" team player mentality, which is great. However, it also helps to say "I am an expect on XYZ, and that is where I can add the most value. However, I am also happy to add value wherever I am needed." Establish what that expertise is, and live it (don't just say it).

Response by LTC John Shaw made Apr 22 at 2015 1:35 PM

LTC John Shaw — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 13:35:21 -0400

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member Nailed it! "I'm still serving and I have transitioned to the outside world". There are quite a few Reservists on here that do both.

I use linkedin, RP and Twitter to try to help veterans and engage in spirited/passionate conversation. I enjoy helping others and these forums provide the means.