Franchising: A Popular Fit for Veterans by Heidi L. Russell, Contributing Editor
Y
ou want to buy a franchise, but the franchise fees and start-up costs seem insurmountable. Don’t get that deer-in-theheadlights look just yet. Not only is it doable, but you may also be surprised that a franchise lifestyle closely mirrors your military experience. That’s what retired Army Master Sgt. Larry Colley discovered this year, when he decided to take the plunge with Aire Serv, a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group Inc. The 170unit global franchise organization provides installation, maintenance and repair of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and indoor air quality systems. Colley, of Riverview, Fla., launched his franchise in May, but before that, he needed $42,000 to cover franchise fees. As for equipment, he didn’t have a van or even a phone system to get up and running. It took all of two months to get things in motion. Colley became The Dwyer Group’s first-ever participant in its “Boost a Hero” program, which takes a “crowd
funding” approach. Crowd funding is just like it sounds – send out a plea to anyone in your circle for financial support. Colley personally raised $3,700, and the rest came from other sources. “It may have taken all my savings, but we had it, and I had good enough credit to withstand credit cards being maxed out for a while. I had no credit balance whatsoever before we started. We knew that we could do it, and the donations from strangers through “Boost a Hero” helped, too,” Colley says. A growing option Franchising is fast becoming a popular option among transitioning soldiers, with 66,000 veteran-owned franchises in the United States, says Beth Solomon, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Industry Relations for the International Franchise Association (IFA) in Washington, D.C. Veterans find that the structure of a franchise operation is not so very different from what they did in the military, Solomon says. “These are leaders, trained to follow rules. And, franchising is
the same: Here’s the system. Follow it, and this is exactly what it takes to be successful. We’re not asking you to invent something new. It comes from executing on a detailed plan very well,” she says. “The consistency of the product makes it successful, and that fits very well with the personality of the veterans. Military experience and skills learned have a natural application in franchising.” Last November, the IFA launched “Operation Enduring Opportunity” in response to the President’s call for industries “to step forward to find opportunities for veterans in the civilian economy,” Solomon says. The association set a 2014 goal to recruit 75,000 veterans and spouses as franchisees and franchise employees, plus 5,000 wounded warriors. Additionally, 2,100 veterans have joined franchises as employees. Franchise corporations have established programs to help veterans get started. Some, like Domino’s, allow people to start as an employee and eventually become a business owner. And 468 IFA members, like those in The Dwyer Group, participate in the IFA’s “Vet Fran” Program
“The IFA’s 1200 franchisor members and 600 supplier members will recruit/hire 75,000 veterans and military spouses plus 5,000 wounded veterans by the end of 2014.”
Ask the Recruiter:
Dress Like a Winner ......................page 3
Spouse Series:
Managing Stress ................ page 4
Be your own Boss:
It's easier than you think ................... page 6
(www.vetfran.com), offering financial incentives, training and mentoring to veterans. Dina Dwyer-Owens is chairwoman and CEO of The Dwyer Group and also was 2010 chair of the IFA. Dwyer has seven franchising brands, with initial franchise fees averaging $35,000. With a Vet Fran discount, fees drop about $5,000 to $30,000, she says. Dwyer will finance up to 80 percent of the cost. People should also figure in equipment costs, which can run up to $150,000. Although Dwyer doesn’t finance the equipment, it has a leasing program. That said, Dwyer-Owens cautions people not to worry about the money. “Get clarity about what business you want, then set a goal to be a franchisee. I would suggest, don’t be overwhelmed. First explore what’s available and who is offering the best deal. Then understand, ‘What are my initial costs?’ Then explore funding. There are ways you can go, like a 401(k) rollover or IRA rollover to finance what you need – and the newest ways, like ‘Boost a Hero’,” she says. Strategy: deploy multiple funding sources David Nilssen is CEO of Guidant Financial Group. “The financing environment is a difficult one, even more so for our servicemen coming back from war,” he says. “They have unique challenges. Some don’t have perfect credit. There are gaps in their financial profile, because they’ve been away and not tending to those things.”
Job Fairs
Start Attending Now ................... page 8
An advisor can offer guidance on tapping a myriad of funding sources. Guidant funds about 200 businesses in a given month, and 12 percent of the company’s clients are veterans, Nilssen says. Fifty-five percent of Guidant’s clients deploy multiple options at any given time. “It happens more often than not, because financing is not easy to obtain today,” Nilssen says. What are some of those options? The Small Business Administration has many different programs, most of which are under the 7(a) Loan Program. But Nilssen doesn’t recommend going there, “because those programs only provide guarantees to banks to make it more attractive for them to lend to you.” Instead, talk to someone to create an outline and analysis of your financial profile. From that, you can look at unsecured credit or conventional lending options, equipment leasing or peer-topeer lending (like the “Boost a Hero” program). “There is funding available, but think about it earlier in the process, not later. You may have to work a little harder to access credit. The more time you provide us, the more likely we can help you when the time is right,” Nilssen says. Freelancer Heidi Russell Rafferty is a reporter with 19 years of experience who writes about employment and business issues.
Career Coaches' Corner
Rejection Gives Us Insight....... page 9
2
July/August 2012
JOIN OUR RANKS Our goal is to be the best trucking company in America. Not necessarily the biggest–although we are one of the industry’s largest companies– but the very best, in everything we do. To accomplish this we need to hire more of the best people including: – Professional Truck Drivers – Shop Technicians – Office Management We’re looking for men and women with honesty and integrity, who assume responsibility and adhere to a code of ethics. In other words, if you succeeded in the military, we’d like to enlist your services. There are no shortcuts™
800-998-2221 | 800-669-0322 cretecarrierjobs.com/military
July/August 2012
3
Ask the Recruiter Publisher Pete Charest Managing Editor Kathy Scott Art Director Alec Trapheagen Associate Editor Anthony Morris Contributing Editors Janet Farley Carolyn Heinze Heidi Russell Rafferty Tom Wolfe Director of Technology Don Nowak Executive Consultant Marla Smith Consultant Don Johnson Account Representative Rhonda Davis Account Representative Lauren Faughnan Account Representative Leah Penland Account Representative Geoffrey Reabold Director of CivilianJobs.com Vicki Washington Civilian Job News is published by: CivilianJobs.com 1825 Barrett Lakes Blvd., Suite 300 Kennesaw, GA 30144 1-866-801-4418 Reproduction or use without permission of any editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. The inclusion of advertising is considered a service to our readers and is not an endorsement of products or advertising claims. Opinions expressed in articles are the opinions of the contributors and do not necessarily express the opinions of Civilian Job News or its staff. Subscription rate: $12 per year (6 issues). To subscribe, call 1-866-801-4418. ©2007-2012 Civilian Jobs, LLC. All rights reserved. Civilian Job News and CivilianJobs.com are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Bradley-Morris, Inc. (BMI), the largest military-focused placement firm in the U.S.
Q: A recruiter asked me to meet him for lunch. Is this considered a job interview or just an introduction? How should I dress? A: While the meeting is meant to be more casual, make no mistake, it is a job interview. When it comes to the selection of interviewing attire, remember this rule of thumb: “The more conservative, the better.” Yes, you want to make an impression, but remember that first impressions begin with your attire and you don’t want your clothing to define who you are before you even get started, which is often the case with loud, flashy prints. It is very difficult to recover from an impression of being under / inappropriately dressed in an interview. You will get off on the right foot if you stick as closely as possible to this list. Proper interviewing attire / etiquette: • Dark-colored, single-breasted business suit for men; charcoal gray or navy blue is recommended; wool blend; trousers should match. • Knee-length dark-colored business suit for women; charcoal gray, navy blue or black is recommended. • White long sleeved shirt for men; professionally pressed with starch. • White, neat business blouse for women, conservative in appearance (not ‘frilly’, low-cut, etc.). A conservative bow or scarf is acceptable. • A conservative tie (no ‘loud’ designs, emblems, animals, cartoon characters, etc.) for men; dark red
or maroon preferred; tied so the bottom of the tie reaches the belt. • Polished black or burgundy business shoes for men. • Low heeled business pumps for women (black pumps with black or gray suit, navy or black pumps with navy suit) • Belt matches the color of your shoes; no big belt buckles • Men’s accessories should be limited to a conservative watch, glasses and one ring per hand. No earrings. • Women’s accessories should be limited to a simple necklace or conservative chain; earrings, if worn, should be simple and coordinate with the necklace. • Make sure fingernails are cleaned and trimmed. • Cell phone is off or on mute.
Mike Arsenault is Director of Candidate Services at Bradley-Morris, Inc. He can be reached at (800) 330-4950 ext. 2105 or by email at marsenault@bradley-morris.com
Visit MilitaryTransition.com to learn more on how to take charge of your job search.
YOUR MISSION: Advance your life by earning your degree. Complete your degree at home or abroad with Ashford University. Discover a supportive learning community designed for you to go to school while you serve. Ashford’s digital tools allow you to keep in touch with your courses while on the go. Even deployment doesn’t mean your education is on hold – you can continue while deployed or pick up where you left off when you return. To learn about all your benefits, contact Ashford today. Call 866.213.3806 or visit military.ashford.edu/cjn today.
Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association (ncahlc.org). Benefits subject to eligibility. Visit military.ashford.edu for complete eligibility requirements. 400 North Bluff Blvd. Clinton, IA 52732 12AUAM0303 • AC-0255
4
July/August 2012
SPOUSE SERIES: Mission Transition Stressed Much? by Janet Farley, Contributing Editor
D
o you find yourself feeling a bit out of sorts lately? If you’re in the process of transitioning from a military to a civilian life, it’s completely understandable. Even just thinking about it is enough to raise your blood pressure, rev up your fight-or-flight mojo and get you daydreaming about maintaining a uniformed status quo. At this time in your life, you have many unanswered questions that can cause you angst.
Where will you and your spouse go after you get out? What will you do professionally in a new post-active duty world? Will you be able to land a good position in today’s tough job market? How will you land that position? How will your family adjust to life outside the proverbial main gate? How will everything possibly come together in the time frame you need it to?
Take some degree of comfort in knowing that any time you make, or start to mentally prepare for a major career and life change, you and everyone under the same roof can expect to feel a wide range of emotions. In short, you can expect to feel stressed. Accept that this is completely normal and that it can even be a healthy motivator. Stressed spelled backwards is desserts, after all. That can’t be all bad, can it? To help you deal with the stress that can accompany a military-to-civilian career transition, know: • how to recognize stress when you see it or feel it • how to manage it effectively • where to go if you need more than this list of helpful tips to get you and those you love through this mother-of-all career transitions. Recognizing the Signs of Stress You or someone near to you might be stressed if these signs are present: • Moodiness • Irritability or a short temper • Agitation and/or an inability to relax • A feeling of being overwhelmed • A sense of loneliness and isolation • A feeling of depression or general unhappiness Stress shows up physically, too. Aches, pains, frequent colds, chest pains, and diarrhea or constipation may really be physical signs of stress. Things that used to bring great joy may no longer be meaningful. If you’re feeling stressed, you might start forgetting things and find it hard to concentrate. Your normally good judgment goes far, far away and negativity takes over. It may seem like you are entering a dark place where your eating and/or sleeping
patterns change dramatically. To relax, you may find yourself coping by using/abusing alcohol, drugs, and/or cigarettes. Your waistline may suffer from overeating and your wallet may suffer from overspending. U.S. Air Force photo by Val Gempis
Seven Tips for Managing Transition Stress 1. Breathe. It’s such a simple act and yet it is an effective one. Take the time to breathe deeply and purposefully. Not only does proper breathing add much-needed oxygen to your lungs, but it also lowers your heart rate and gives you a moment to pull it back together. 2. Meditate. Find a quiet place, turn the lights off, and make yourself comfortable for 10 to 15 minutes. Clear your mind and visualize those places or moments in time -- real or imagined -- that bring you the most peace. 3. Let it go. Some things are out of your control. Put forth your best effort and then just let it go. 4. Manage your time more effectively. At this particular point in your life, you have a lot of important and life-changing activities going on simultaneously. Don’t try to accomplish everything at once. Know when to say when and stick by it. 5. Take care of your body. No one needs to remind you of the mind-body connection. It’s very real. Take care of your body, and your mind will be clear and ready for the challenges of transition that lay before you. 6. Take care of your mind. Don’t let your life get absorbed by this transition. Enrich yourself mentally with other things that bring you happiness. Fifteen minutes a day spent reading a favorite book, journaling your thoughts, or communing with nature can help you work through the stress. 7. Take care of your soul. Routinely tap into your own source of spiritual strength. When You Need More than Helpful Tips If you or someone you care about needs more help than a convenient checklist can provide, then be strong enough to reach out for professional assistance. Here are potential resources, should you need them: • An on- or off-post member of the clergy • The military family support center • A Military OneSource consultant (1.800.342.9647/ www.militaryonesource.com) • The nearest hospital or emergency room • The American Psychological Association (www.apa.org) • Mental Health America (www.mentalhealthamerica.net) Janet Farley is the author of "The Military Spouse’s Guide to Employment: Smart Jobs for Mobile Lifestyles” (Impact Publications, 2012) and “Quick Military Transition Guide: Seven Steps to Landing a Civilian Job” (Jist Publishing, Inc., 2012). Follow her on Twitter @mil2civguide and @smartjobchoices for tips, news and inspiration.
You serve our country and we are proud to serve you! Make Atlanta Technical College your choice for a world-class education
e lionn ms n O d gra
*
an pro s
s les ion r tuit a ual er ye n n p a ge ,000 4 era *Av han $ t
pu
m ca
404.225.4400 www.atlantatech.edu
A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and an equal opportunity institution
THE HEALTH I.T. CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM ATLANTA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
51,000 Healthcare/IT professionals will be needed nationwide to assist healthcare providers in complying with the federal mandate for electronic health records.
6 MONTH PROGRAM • 100% ONLINE
AREAS OF STUDY: • Practice workflow and information management redesign specialists Workers in this role assist in reorganizing the work of a provider to take full advantage of the features of health IT in pursuit of meaningful use of health IT to improve health and care.
• Trainers Workers in this role design and deliver training programs, using adult learning principles, to employees in clinical and public health settings.
Contact 404-225-4487 or CE@atlantatech.edu to apply
Atlanta Technical College is now the only college in GA selected to train healthcare professionals in IT competencies and IT professionals in healthcare competencies through the Region D Consortium.
$178.00
YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR PARTIAL TUITION REIMBURSEMENT
ENROLL NOW!
July/August 2012
5
Read this issue of Civilian Job News online NOW: Online.CivilianJobNews.com
Transitioning A to Z:
Assess, Action, Advantage
D
on’t wait until you’re 30 days away from separation before starting the military to civilian transition process. ASSESS your options and create an ACTION plan. The ideal time to begin preparing for your transition is one year before you are available to begin employment in the civilian workforce. Take ADVANTAGE of all the free services that are available (military placement firms, military job boards, military job fairs, TAP/ACAP) and don’t be afraid to network on your own to find a military connection (VFW, former military you know, military associations such as AUSA, MOAA, Marine for Life, etc.).
Join CivilianJobs.com on...
Photo credit: © Cpl Bryan Nygaard
FRANCHISING FROM HONOR...
TO OWNER.
SAME PRIDE DIFFERENT UNIFORM. With its systems, training, and need for operational excellence, franchising is a proven path for U.S. veterans. In franchising, you’re in business for yourself, not by yourself. Find out how you can become a leader of the 66,000 veteran-owned U.S. franchise businesses by logging on to www.vetfran.com.
MarinePublicationsAd_VetFran_2.indd 1
4/25/12 3:19 PM
6
July/August 2012
Read this issue of Civilian Job News online NOW: Online.CivilianJobNews.com
Following your orders... and your dreams What it means to be your own boss
by Carolyn Heinze, Contributing Editor
B
enjamin Houston had a choice. Well, actually, he had a couple. After being laid off from his job at a digital mapping firm, he could do one of two things: polish his resume and pound the pavement for a new gig, or he could start his own business. He chose the latter. It was a brave decision. The year was 2009, the economy had crashed, small business loans were next to impossible to come by, and no one knew when things would start looking up. But for Houston – and his business partner, Karen Kwasnowski – these challenges only strengthened their determination. “We decided that if we can make it in a bad economy, then we should be fine once the economy turns around,” he explained. In the U.S. military, Houston served as a combat engineer, a topographic engineer, and then as a public health engineer in Special Operations. Today he is co-founder and CEO of the Woodstock, New Yorkbased GroundPoint Technologies, LLC, a two-person consulting firm focused on geospatial technologies, such as highresolution digital terrain mapping and analysis. As his own boss, he sets his own schedule and makes his own decisions, a challenge for a former officer that was accustomed to taking orders. “When you’re running your own business, there is nobody giving you orders,” he said. “In the military, everything always begins with your last standing order. When you have your own business, there is no last standing order, and if you don’t do anything, the phone is not going to ring, the checks aren’t going to come in, and nothing is going to happen.” He admits that this aspect of entrepreneurship has been one of the most difficult to overcome. Risk – and the willingness to accept it – is also an issue for Houston. “It’s easy to say that big rewards come with big risk, but it’s a lot harder to do,” he said, especially when that risk is shared by two people. “If you have a bigger team, the confidence in being able to overcome risk just increases. You know you have more people to help carry the weight.”
At the same time, Houston believes that veterans are well-positioned to apply the skills that they acquired in the military to being entrepreneurs, especially in the area of work ethic. “One of the skills that comes from the military is the ability to look at your time and be disciplined about hard work,” he said. While military jobs are thought of in 24hour cycles, the civilian world works from 9-to-5 – a scheduling model that definitely does not apply to running one’s own business, especially in the beginning phases. “One of the things that veterans bring to the table is that unwavering commitment to hard work. It’s not something you question; it’s not something you think about as being optional. You just do it,” adds Houston. For Amy Sufak, a former public affairs and protocol officer with the U.S. Air Force, structure is a crucial component that veterans can bring to their own businesses. “In a military organization, you have to have people who are in charge, and you have to have hierarchy,” she said. “I think a lot of civilian organizations that I’m compared to have a team of people and everybody tries to pitch in, but I think there does need to be some structure.” While a loose environment may promote exercises such as brainstorming, the time eventually comes to deliver the project and get the job done. “When something needs to be done cost effectively and efficiently, I think it’s good to have structure.” Based on her experience in the U.S. Air Force, Sufak launched Red Energy Public Relations in Colorado Springs, Colo., in September 2008. Focused on PR, branding, marketing, advertising and special events, the firm boasts six employees and a stable of independent contractors. Like Houston, Sufak did not transition from the military into entrepreneurship, having held a position as public relations director for a hospital system for three years after she was discharged. “I always knew that I wanted my own business – I think many entrepreneurs do – but I knew I needed to go corporate for a couple of years,” she explained. “I would highly recommend that others do something similar as well, because otherwise you feel like a fish out of water.” Navigating the Business World Learning the language of the civilian business world becomes extremely important when running one’s own business; because the hierarchies are different, it’s not always clear who has the authority to do what. “There are a lot of likenesses and a lot of comparisons that you can make, but it’s important to understand who is paying you, and who the decision-makers are in an organization,” Sufak explained. “Sometimes it’s not the head person, but rather someone who is managing the purse strings.” For any business to be sustainable, she counsels, you have to be able to identify those people and the nuances in the business world versus the military.
Both Houston and Sufak are graduates of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV), run by the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y., as well as seven other universities across the country. The program consists of a preliminary fourweek online component, followed up by an 8-to 9 day “immersion experience” (hence the term “bootcamp”) that covers all of the aspects of what it means to run one’s own company, as well as the specific challenges that veterans face in the business world. “Because the EBV was designed for veterans with service-connected disabilities, we also dig into a lot of the issues related to being a person with disabilities and a business owner, as well as the opportunities to being a person with disabilities and a business owner,” explained Mike Haynie, Barnes Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Whitman School of Management. Entrepreneurs of any shape or form require a strong support system in order to succeed, and those who are thinking about being their own boss should start establishing one as soon as possible. As part of the third phase of the program, the EBV provides its graduates with access to a number of services, including logo and website design, pro bono legal services, as well as resources within participating universities. For Sufak, this support system also includes hired experts. After her first six months in business, she enlisted the services of an accountant and a bookkeeper after discovering that it was unrealistic for her to fill these roles on her own. “When I got into the civilian world, I found that there is government oversight, but it’s really up to you in terms of how you want to do things,” she said. “It was better for me to call in an expert because I wanted to remain compliant, and I wanted to remain a good, sustainable company with a good foundation.” Aside from paid experts, she also advises veterans to develop mentors that have been in the business world and, possibly, in the military as well. “Maybe they were in the military and now they are in the business world, and they can help you to identify some of the things that were challenges to them, and some of the ways that they got through it.” An obvious starting point is the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and the Small Business Administration. But while he concedes that they serve a purpose, Houston encourages transitioning veterans to quickly move away from governmentsponsored agencies and into the private sector for support. “[These organizations] are very limited in terms of scope. Don’t plan on relying on them to help you grow your business,” he advised. “It might help you to get some good ideas initially, but then you need to be talking to, and working with, other business owners.” He notes that many times, your
competition can be a source of support as well. “You don’t want to treat your competition as the enemy, really. In fact, they can be some of your greatest allies in terms of giving you advice, or helping improve your products or services.” Family Support While other professionals, entrepreneurs and mentors are invaluable in providing support, it’s also important to seek support from your loved ones. “Everybody is different, but it certainly helps if you have your family supporting that you are going to be taking risks to be starting your own business,” Houston said. “If your parents believe that in order for you to be successful, you need to find a good job and save your money, they may not be as supportive of your starting your own business as you might have thought.” He adds that it’s important to be able to own the idea that there are many paths to success. Both Houston and Sufak financed their businesses on their own, eliminating the need to chase after those hard-to-get loans. Regardless of how you choose to fund your start-up, Sufak offers this advice: “Entrepreneurialism is a full-time job in itself, but the trick is that you need to have another full-time job at the same time,” she said. “You need money to do this, and a lot of people go broke before they bring their idea to fruition.” These financial challenges, and the sheer time it takes to get a business off the ground (most entrepreneurs work 60- to 80-hour weeks) requires sacrifice, which drives Haynie to urge would-be business owners to pursue something for which they truly have a passion. “For someone leaving military service, part of the attraction to entrepreneurship is that business ownership represents an opportunity for them to craft a vocation out of a passion,” he said. “When we see veterans pursuing business ownership based on that idea of pursuing something that they have a true passion for, rather than something that they think they can make a little money off of by selling a product or service, that’s typically where we see success.” And “success,” when it comes to being your own boss, comes in many shapes and sizes. “Forget what anybody tells you is the definition of being an entrepreneur,” Haynie challenged. “This is the empowering and democratic thing about business ownership: it can be whatever you want it to be. If you are somebody who is pursuing business ownership because you are looking to establish a lifestyle business that will afford yourself and your family to have some economic freedom, but at the same time you don’t have great aspirations to become the next Google, that’s fine. The other side of that coin is fine, too. At the end of the day, it can be whatever you want it to be.” Carolyn Heinze is a freelance writer/editor.
July/August 2012
7
Questions About Financing College?
When it’s time, trade in your uniform for ours. At Averitt, we know that looking your best is a reflection of your high quality of work. We take pride in looking and working as a team. Averitt would be honored to have you join our growing team of veterans. We have the utmost respect for the members of our military and that respect will follow you through your career at Averitt.
START YouR CAREER WITh ThE AVERITT TEAm TodAY » Regional Truckload, Dedicated, Flatbed & Local Driving Positions
At Ease.
» Leadership Opportunities as well in 100+ locations
The new Everest Military Scholarship can cut tuition by up to 50% for all active duty personnel and their spouses!
Also offering paid driver refresher courses for CDL-A holders with only 4 months T/T experience.
If you’re thinking about starting college but have questions about the costs, call Everest University Online. Our student finance planners are experts on the education benefits available to you.
■
Accounting Applied Management Business Computer Information Science
■
■
■
■
Criminal Investigations Criminal Justice Homeland Security Paralegal
■
■
■
Call today for more information! » Equal Opportunity Employer » Females and Minorities Encouraged to Apply Facebook.com/averittcareers
AV-july-military-opt2.indd 1
1-888-404-5942 www.everestmilitary-online.com
888-362-8603 » AVERITTsalutesyou.com
6/8/12 3:52 PM
A-EVU-MAE-4780 (12-0130)
And now, our expanded Military Scholarship for active duty personnel provides up to a 50% reduction on your tuition, giving you even more financial support.* That means you could be enrolling in one of our career-education degree programs sooner than you think! * Military scholarships and additional financial aid are available for those who qualify. Talk to an Everest military admissions representative for complete details. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at www.everestonline.edu/disclosures
8
July/August 2012
Job Fair Calendar July 12, 2012 Ft. Leavenworth Career Fair. River Front Community Center, Leavenworth KS 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. ACS Career and Education Expo POC Alex Devora 913-684-2590
Date: Location: Sponsor:
July 12, 2012 Ft. Drum ACAP Career Fair. The Commons, B4350 Euphrates River Valley Road, Ft Drum NY 13602 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. POC is Lorrie Guler, 315-772-3284
Date: Location: Sponsor:
July 18, 2012 CivilianJobs.com Career Expo. Ft. Bragg, NC - Ft. Bragg Club 10 a.m. - 2 p.m CivilianJobs.com, 866-801-4418
Date: Location: Sponsor:
July 19, 2012 Camp Lejeune, NC Marston Pavilion 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CivilianJobs.com, 866-801-4418
Date: Location: Sponsor:
July 19, 2012 ACS Career Fair. Rheinlander Conference Ctr, Smith Barracks, Baumholder 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. POC Ray Figueroa 314-485-8188
Date: Location: Sponsor:
July 20, 2012 Ft. Hood ACS Community Job Fair - TBD POC Teresa Shipman. 254-287-6067
Date: Location: Sponsor:
July 22, 2012 ACS Career Fair. 1520 Freedman Dr, Suite 300, Rm 124, Ft Detrick MD 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. POC Daphane Freeman 301-619-2208
Date: Location: Sponsor:
July 25, 2012 Schweinfurt ACS Job Fair TBD 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. POC Greg Miller 314-354-6933
Date: Location: Sponsor:
July 25, 2012 Ft. Gordon. ACS Community Job Fair. US Army Reserve Center Ft Gordon GA 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. POC Rasheeda Winn 706-791-0795
Date: Location: Sponsor:
July 25, 2012 Fredericksburg VA @ Expo & Conference Center, 2371 Carl D. Silver Pkwy. 22401 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. military/veterans/wounded warriors and family members only. JobZone, Janet Giles, 540-775-4199 www.jobzoneonline.com
Date: Location: Sponsor:
July 28, 2012 Ft. Riley Career and Education Expo. Riley Conference Center, 446 Seitz Dr, Riley KS 66443 Glennwood McLaurin 785-239-9435
Date: Location: Sponsor:
August 1, 2012 Ft. Benning, GA - Benning Conference Center (formerly Benning Club) 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CivilianJobs.com, 866-801-4418
Date: Location: Sponsor:
August 2, 2012 Robins AFB, GA - Heritage Club 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CivilianJobs.com, 866-801-4418
Date: Location: Sponsor:
August 9, 2012 Washington Area Top III Job Fair. location to be confirmed; Pentagon or nearby Fort Myer/Pentagon 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. JobZone, Janet Giles 540-775-4199 www.jobzoneonline.com
Date: Location: Sponsor:
August 15, 2012 Camp Pendleton, CA - Pacific Views Event Ctr (formerly South Mesa Club) 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CivilianJobs.com 866-801-4418
Date: Location: Sponsor:
August 16, 2012 Naval/Marine Corps San Diego, CA - Scottish Rite Event Center 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CivilianJobs.com 866-801-4418
Date: Location: Sponsor:
August 21, 2012 Pax River Naval Air Museum (next to Gate 1 directly off of Three Notch Rd.) 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. RESUME WORKSHOP (3-6pm) JobZone, Janet Giles 540-775-4199 www.jobzoneonline.com
Date: Location: Sponsor:
August 24, 2012 Ft. Belvoir Community Job Fair. American Legion-Springfield; 10 a.m-12 p.m. - open to Military, Veterans and family 12 a.m. - 2 p.m. - open to the public (all job seekers) 6520 Amherst Avenue; Springfield, VA 22151 JobZone, Janet Giles 540-775-4199 www.jobzoneonline.com
Date: Location: Sponsor:
August 29, 2012 Naval Staton Norfolk, VA Hilton Norfolk Airport 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CivilianJobs.com 866-801-4418
Date: Location: Sponsor:
August 30, 2012 Ft. Lee, VA - The Lee Club 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CivilianJobs.com 866-801-4418
Date: Location: Sponsor:
September 13, 2012 Ft. Polk, LA - Warrior Community Center 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CivilianJobs.com 866-801-4418
Date: Location: Sponsor:
September 26, 2012 Ft. Stewart, GA - Stewart Club 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CivilianJobs.com 866-801-4418
Estes Team?
• Great schedules—Most drivers are home daily or every other day • Competitive wages • Comprehensive benefits
• Growth opportunities • Terrific work environment • Company stability (Celebrating 80 years of service!)
Positions Available! • Drivers
(Class A CDL with Hazmat and Doubles)
• Supervisors
• Dock • Clerical • Mechanics
(Power and Trailer)
© 2011 Estes Express Lines 07/11-0218
Date: Location: Sponsor:
Why Join the
Be sure to visit www.Work4Estes.com for a complete list of positions available. Toll-free recruitment line: 1-877-WRK4ESTES (1-877-975-4378) Current Operating Area AA/EOE
For more job fair dates and locations, go to CivilianJobs.com 11-0218 110729 Estes Civilian Job Ad.indd 1
7/29/11 11:50 AM
July/August 2012
9
A dozen reasons for the dreaded rejection letter career coach’s corner
by Tom Wolfe Career Coach and Contributing Editor
T
he interview is over. You are told to expect the results in two weeks. A letter arrives two weeks later. You open it and read the following: We regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you a position at this time. Although your background is impressive, your skill set is not compatible with our requirements, and we have identified another candidate who is a better fit for our opening. We will keep your résumé on file and contact you in the event a more appropriate position becomes available. We enjoyed meeting you and wish you well.
The dreaded rejection letter! Your level of disappointment varies depending on your level of interest. Not being selected for the job of your dreams is one thing; losing one in which you had little interest is easier to swallow. In any event, you might like to know why you were rejected and if you have any recourse. With regard to recourse, probably not. No almost always means no. It is impossible to challenge or overcome objections which are unidentified. You can ask, but you will probably not be told. Your chances of finding out improve if you have an inside connection. If you decide to not take no for an answer, it is important to stay positive and professional in your approach. Do not get defensive, indignant, or accusatory. Stay humble. Be appreciative. Ask for help. The odds are against you, but maybe your persistence will pay off, and you will be able to overcome the objection and eliminate the real reason for rejection. As to the basis for rejection, note the language in the letter: your skill set is not compatible with our requirements. That must be the reason, correct? Probably not. Your résumé indicated the minimum skill set, or the interview would have never happened. Does the company owe you a more specific explanation? No. Years ago companies were forthcoming with concrete reasons for not selecting an individual, but as our society has become increasingly litigious, the willingness to share this type of feedback has all but vanished. Rather than risk a lawsuit for reasons that could be interpreted as discriminatory, a company will use the terminology above. In the following section, a dozen reasons for rejections are listed, all of which fall into
two categories: those within your control and those that are not. Keep them in mind as you interview and try to whittle down any areas that may result in rejection. 1. You failed to show sufficient interest in the position. This is a classic. Maybe you truly were not interested and it showed. Maybe you were very interested and failed to let it show. Regardless of how you feel, the perceptions of the interviewers become their reality. 2. You are overqualified for the position. If the interviewer senses that the job will bore you or that growth in the position may be too slow for your qualifications, it is best to eliminate you from consideration. Every position requires a certain amount of cost to train, and employers want to be sure they are investing in a candidate who will be there on a long-term basis. Since overqualified candidates tend to become bored easily and leave much more quickly, employers usually do not want to take the risk in hiring them. 3. You are under-qualified. Most jobs today are increasingly diverse, requiring numerous skills from several different disciplines. While your qualifications are exemplary, you may be limited in specific areas that the job requires. To avoid this kind of rejection, ask about the company’s needs and focus on how your current skills can make a difference. If you can identify a specific gap in your experience, you can address how you will correct that. 4. They liked someone else better. ‘It’s not you, it’s me.’ Every single corporate division has a culture that is dictated by the people already in the area’s job functions. The hiring manager looks for personality fits as well as skills sets. It’s important that both the candidate and current staff are in-sync. 5. You were beaten out for the position. As good as you know you are, it would be a mistake to assume that you are the only qualified candidate for the job. Remember, in today’s job climate, the difference between an offer and a rejection letter can be as simple as one small skill. 6. You failed to sell yourself for the position. As you leave the interview, ask yourself what impressions you left in the minds of the interviewers. Do they see you in the job for which you are being considered, doing it well, and with a big smile on your face? If so, congratulations. If not, then expect to receive a rejection letter. 7. You displayed inappropriate behavior or breached interviewing etiquette. Were you on time? Dressed appropriately? Polite and courteous? Did you treat everyone you met with respect and courtesy, or just those people in the powerful positions?
8. You were not prepared for the interview. How much homework did you do? Were you knowledgeable about the company? The industry? The position? The company’s competitors? Yourself? 9. You focused too much on you and not enough on them. Human beings are by nature selfish—they care about themselves, their needs, and the needs of their dependents. No one expects you to deny your selfish side, but you need to be time-sensitive about it. Showing that selfinterest too early in the interviewing process will increase the odds of rejection. When is it safe to broach those selfish issues? Only after the job offer is on the table. 10. You seemed more interested in the future than the present. Let’s say you asked twenty questions during the interview. Five of them concerned the position at hand and the rest were focused on the jobs to come. Sounds like you view the initial position as simply a stepping-stone. Is that the signal you meant to send? Note that some of these factors are within your power to control, while many are not. With proper preparation and strong selfknowledge, you can minimize rejections. Learn from every interview, think positive, be prepared, control the controllable, and don’t get discouraged. Rejection letters are part of the interview process. Tom Wolfe is contributing editor & columnist for Civilian Job News and author of ‘Out Of Uniform: Your Guide to a Successful Military-to-Civilian Career Transition.’
10
July/August 2012
Bradley-Morris, Inc. Joins Forces with First Lady to Hire American Veterans Hiring Events at Ft. Bragg, NC; Camp Lejeune, NC; Ft. Benning, GA; and Norfolk, VA to connect veterans and service members with more than 4,000 job opportunities this summer
A
tlanta, Georgia, June 24, 2012 – Bradley-Morris, Inc. (BMI), the largest military-focused recruiting firm in the U.S., announced today that they will be presenting four job fairs via their CivilianJobs.com subsidiary in the coming months near military installations. These events will be part of the Joining Forces initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden’s national initiative to recognize, honor and support military families and veterans. Veteran employment is a major focus area of the Joining Forces initiative. “We very much appreciate BradleyMorris, Inc. and CivilianJobs.com stepping up to help our service members find the job opportunities they have earned,” said Navy Captain Brad Cooper, Executive Director of Joining Forces. “These job fairs cater to a wide-range of veterans and transitioning service members of any background and occupational specialty. Through Joining Forces, we seek opportunities to connect our talented service men and women with opportunities in the private sector - and these CivilianJobs.com events are aligned
AirForceReserve
with this important aspect of our mission.” The job fairs will be held at the following locations and will include more than 100 companies with 4,000 available jobs for our troops. Ft. Bragg, NC Wednesday, July 18 Camp Lejeune, NC Thursday, July 19 Ft. Benning, GA Wednesday, August 01 Norfolk, VA Wednesday, August 29 As a part of Joining Forces, Bradley-Morris, Inc. has pledged to deliver free job seeker services to more than 10,000 transitioning military members and veterans through military job fairs and hiring events, a 25 percent increase in dedicated resources over 2010 and 2011. Bradley-Morris, Inc. will also distribute more than 200,000 military job
The first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, gives a speech during a visit at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 13, 2011. The visit was part of a national tour to promote Joining Forces, a national initiative to support Service members and their families. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ben Flores/Released)
seeker publications to bases worldwide. “The Bradley-Morris family of companies is proud to co-sponsor these events with Joining Forces,” said Sandra (Sandy) Morris, CEO, Bradley-Morris, Inc. “Since 1991, BMI has been helping veterans find civilian careers, as well as helping employers understand why and how to hire military. Teaming with the White House and Joining Forces is an extension of what has been my life’s work - assisting our service members with finding employment.” Employers and job seekers who wish to learn more about the upcoming Joining Forces / CivilianJobs.com job fairs can visit CivilianJobs.com or can call 866-801-4418. About Joining Forces Joining Forces is First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden’s national initiative aimed to educate, challenge, and spark action from all sectors of our society – citizens, communities, businesses, nonprofits, faith based institutions, philanthropic organizations, and government – to ensure veterans and military families have the
@AirForceReserve
recognition and support they have earned. To learn more about Joining Forces, go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces/ About Bradley-Morris, Inc. (BMI) Bradley-Morris, Inc., the largest militaryfocused recruiting firm in the U.S., matches the top military-experienced job seekers with the leading jobs in the Fortune 1000. BMI is also the parent company of related lines of business including CivilianJobs.com. Serving the U.S., Europe and Asia, BradleyMorris, is headquartered in metro-Atlanta, Georgia, and can be found on the web at www.Bradley-Morris.com. About CivilianJobs.com CivilianJobs.com, where America's military connects with civilian careers, delivers military job fairs, staffing services, a job board plus employer advertising in our military base newspaper, Civilian Job News. CivilianJobs.com is home to military affinity programs including the Most Valuable Employers (MVE) for Military® and the Top 40 Under 40 Military.
USAirForceReserve
For more information scan this QR code with your smart phone*
A part-time job in the Air Force Reserve made a difference. It gave me the time and financial support to continue my education and begin a civilian career. It’s ideal because I wanted to continue to serve but stay close to home. And I discovered the Air Force Reserve is offering signing bonuses up to $20,000. If you’ve served in any branch of military, you can join the Air Force Reserve without repeating Basic Training. I kept my rank as well as the sense of service and teamwork I’ve learned to love. Best of all, now I serve my country from where I choose to live.
Scan the QR Code with your smart phone for AFR news, events and information * Message and data rates may apply. Text CHAT to 71212 to initiate an SMS conversation with an Air Force Reserve advisor. Text STOP to 71212 to opt out. Text HELP to 71212 for more information. This program employs operators who are paid to participate in chat. Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 10:00 pm EST. See program terms and conditions and privacy policy at http://sms.afreserve.com.
110419_CivJobNews_Half-Pg_HZ.indd 1
Text CHAT to 71212 to reach an advisor* 800-237-8279 • AFReserve.com/Prior 3/23/12 12:45 PM
July/August 2012
HOT JOB OPENING National
11 regional truck driver positions, offering career options within the company. Qualifications: Must be at least 23 years of age with one year full-time verifiable tractor-trailer experience, a high school diploma or equivalent. To learn more and to apply visit CivilianJobs.com’s Job Board.
Pocomoke, Maryland, Waste Management, Truck Technician - Waste Management, an industry leader in waste and environmental solutions, is seeking motivated, skilled heavy-duty truck technicians to work in our shops. Our truck technicians enjoy a professional, clean, and well-organized work environment that supports our team atmosphere. Working under limited supervision, a Waste Management truck technician performs preventative maintenance, runs inspections, diagnostics tests, and repairs a variety of vehicles and equipment. Our truck technicians utilize computer diagnostics and work with fleet maintenance software programs to document part usage, account for repair time, and more. Qualifications: Must be at least 21 years of age, successfully pass pre-employment (post offer) drug screen, background and motor vehicle records check. Waste Management employees are eligible for benefits and offered a competitive total compensation package. Visit CivilianJobs.com’s Job Board to apply and view other corporate openings.
Telemundo – Sinclair Broadcasting Group, INC, Local Sales Manager - KEYE-TV Telemundo Austin has an immediate opportunity for a dynamic, creative and goal-oriented bilingual local sales manager. The ideal candidate must be a creative business problem-solver and have a proven ability to develop and inspire their sales team to new heights in a very competitive marketplace. Strong leadership, motivational, negotiation and problem solving skills required. Must have a proven track record in new business development, national business, be highly organized and have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Extensive knowledge of Nielsen, CMR and OSI preferred. Should have excellent analytical, computer, research and presentation skills. Apply online at www.sbgi.net
Regional/AR
IL • Additional Locations
Schneider National, Truck Driver/Owner Schneider National has been in business and leasing with owner-operators for over 75 years. The company has an opening for a regional truck driver position, which features weekly time at home, up to $48,000 per year and a full benefits package based on experience and location. The position offers a predictable work schedule, plus, you’ll haul 95% no touch freight and average 300-400 miles per length of haul. Qualifications: a valid Class A CDL; Hazmat endorsement preferred at time of hire. Schneider offers small company values and large company benefits. Driving familiar routes means you’ll go big, then go home because at Schneider work-like balance matters. To apply, visit CivilianJobs.com’s Job Board or send an email to driverrec@schneider.com.
Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Sales Representative, Women's Health - Ferring Pharmaceuticals, a private, research-driven specialty biopharmaceutical company is actively seeking a Women’s Health Sales Representative who would be responsible for all sales’ activities in an assigned geographical area. Achieve maximum sales volume through promotion of Ferring Products to physicians, pharmacists, wholesalers, hospitals, clinics, and other approved distribution outlets.The proper candidate should be highly motivated, adaptable to changing environments and a self-starter. Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree is required with a minimum two years related sales experience. To apply or to view other openings, log on to CivilianJobs.com’s Job Board.
CA • San Francisco (Bay Area)
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), Project Manager - Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) seeks a professional, innovative and detailed individual possessing a high level of integrity, commitment, initiative, and positive attitude for our Project Manager role in Bangalore, India. If you are looking for an opportunity to apply your talents in project management then this position is for you. Are you ready to develop stateof-the-art monitoring, control, and automation equipment for distribution power systems? Would you like to work for a company that continuously invests in new product development and truly values the contributions of smart, dedicated engineers like yourself? Our products protect, monitor, and control transmission lines, transformers, bus bars, capacitor banks, distribution feeders, generators, and motors worldwide. If you are an engineer with demonstrated experience in application, support, and development of transmission or distribution systems, we invite you to consider joining our team. Visit CivilianJobs.com’s job board to learn more.
DaVita Rx - Pharmacy Service Representative - DaVita Rx is looking for a Pharmacy Service Representative to sell the features and benefits of the DaVita Rx Pharmacy services to patients, teammates and physicians in the territory of Colorado/Kansas. This position is responsible for the full life-cycle sales process including initial presentation, facilitation of the enrollment process, gaining teammate and physician support, ongoing trainings and developing relationships to enable continued sales support and patient retention. Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent, Bachelor's degree preferred. To apply or to view other openings, log on to CivilianJobs.com’s Job Board.
NC • Charlotte Averitt, Team Truck Drivers - Averitt has an immediate opening for a position on their shuttle truck driving teams to assist in moving LTL freight between service centers within the Averitt system. The company offers competitive pay and benefits. Averitt's truck fleet includes local, dedicated, and
TX • Additional Locations
Overseas
Where America’s military Connects With Civilian Careers
EmployErs
Job sEEkErs
CivilianJobs.com is more than a great place to post your resume. Your skills are valuable and marketable, and we provide you with the best methods to pursue military-friendly companies including via our job board and military job fairs.
If you are seeking to recruit / source military talent, let CivilianJobs.com design a staffing solution to fit your needs: • Contract Recruiting • RPO • Per Hire or Contingency • “IQ” Talent • Military Base Newspaper/ Employer Advertising • Military Job Fairs • Military Job Board
The leading career resource for the military community.
1-866-801-4418 Founded by military veterans with years of experience in placing military candidates in new careers.
July/August 2012
12
Do the best work of your life. At URS, we believe that when you create an environment that encourages individuals to collaborate and solve complex problems, you attract the best people. As a leading provider of management and technical services to the U.S. Government, URS values the wealth of experience, discipline and integrity that veterans bring to our business. So if you thrive on meeting complex challenges and are looking to do the best work of your life, we invite you to explore careers at URS.
POWER INFRASTRUCTURE FEDERAL INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL
Visit us at www.bestworkofyourlife.com.
URSCORP.COM
Experience, commitment, honor.
Put them to work as you help others.
At Humana, you can commit to a vision that enables you to continue to serve a noble purpose: helping people achieve lifelong well-being. Humana, a leading healthcare company, offers a wide range of career opportunities in insurance products and health and wellness services. We’re looking for veterans and their spouses for positions across the country. Go to jobs.net/jobs/Humana-Veterans to find out more and apply.
1,000 strong by 2014
Humana is proud of our long history of serving veterans. KYHHA4BHH 0512