Clean Up Your Credit Report

Episode – 12 Months Out

Clean up your credit report, it matters.  There are lots of places you can access your report but if you need some place to look try here.

You also need to think about letters of extension, resignations and leave.

These are just a couple of the weekly actions in this section of the checklist.  There are other activities as well.  Listen as Jake, Phil and Kathy talk about this section of the checklist.

If you haven’t already you need to download the checklist now and follow along with the podcast series.

Contact us with any questions or suggestions.

Get out . . . get ahead!

Test Drive a new career.

Determine what you might want to do next.  Review all the notes; your Life Vision, Personal Assessment Sheet, lists of what you like and hate in your job, and what’s important to you in a job or career. What type of work or business is being revealed?

This is only one of the weekly actions in this section of the checklist.  There are other activities as well.  Listen as Jake, Phil and Kathy talk about this section of the checklist.

If you haven’t already you need to download the checklist now and follow along with the podcast series.

Contact us with any questions or suggestions.

Get out . . . get ahead!

Unclutter your life. Get rid of the “noise” that draws your attention away from the important things in your life.  Make a list of the things that just need to get done.

This is only one of the weekly actions in this section of the checklist.  There are other activities as well.  Listen as Jake, Phil and Kathy talk about this section of the checklist.

If you haven’t already you need to download the checklist now and follow along with the podcast series.

Contact us with any questions or suggestions.

Get out . . . get ahead!

Family meeting?  You got it!  Family communication is one of the activities on the checklist when you are 18 months out from your last day.

There are other activities as well.  Listen as Jake, Phil and Kathy talk about this section of the checklist.

If you haven’t already you need to download the checklist now and follow along with the podcast series.

Contact us with any questions or suggestions.

Get out . . . get ahead!

Episode – The Checklist

No doubt you’ve used checklists before.  Why should your transition from the military be any different?  Getoutgetahead.com offers you a comprehensive checklist created by Kathy Malone of Frontlinetransitions.com.  The checklist is absolutely free and packed with valuable information!

The checklist takes you from approximately two years out up to your last day in uniform and combines the experience of lessons learned with a very personal touch.  The checklist will provide the structure for our podcast series moving forward.

You need to download the checklist now and follow along with the podcast series.

Contact us with any questions.

Have you looked for yourself online?  What do you find when you “Google” your own name?

If you’re applying and interviewing for jobs you have to assume potential employers are going to do their research online as well.  Chances are they will find you. . . . the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Listen to Jake, Phil and Kathy talk about cyber awareness and the “do’s and don’ts” of social media.  Know what’s out there and why you should keep some things private.

Do you have a question or comment about the podcast series?  Do you have a suggested topic?  Contact us and let us know.

Episode  – Paperstorm

Make sure your paperwork is in order and make sure you have a plan to have your military files ready for your transition.  Even after a single enlistment contract you have a significant “paper trail” following you.  Much of this administration will be important to you when you settle into civilian life.

Listen as Jake, Phil, and Kathy give you some great reminders and explain reasons why some paperwork is critical.

Do you have a question or comment about the podcast series?  Do you have a suggested topic?  Contact us and let us know.

This week Phil and Jake are joined by Kathy Malone from FrontlineTransitions.com.  Kathy is retired from the Navy and has a wealth of experience in helping others make the transition as smoothly as possible.  In fact, it is her job to do just that.  Kathy blends her personal military transition experience with her own life coaching skills to to create a great service for anyone thinking of leaving the military.

Listen this week as we hear what Kathy has to say.

In this weeks 10 Minute Transition Tip Podcast Jake and Phil talk about the importance of LinkedIn and some tips to make your LinkedIn profile work for you.  Contact us with any questions or comments you have.

LinkedIn is a professional network built around and focused on your employment capabilities. It is more much than online version of your CV or resume, it is a place to connect with others on a professional basis.  People who use LinkedIn expertly will be the first to say that this service is sorely underrated as a place to develop business, grow your capabilities, and promote your projects and opportunities. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile yet you’re behind the ball.

Create Your Profile

If you have not already get out there and create your profile.  Click here to begin.

Here are some thoughts on getting the most out of your LinkedIn Presence.

Write to be Read

The worst thing you can do is create a profile that is completely dry, you put a lot of work into creating  a resume so why let you LinkedIn profile suffer. Though one should write with robots in mind, this is still a human network, so write as if you want someone to actually read your profile. Here’s an example of a good profile summary:

I manage complex server consolidation projects for companies focused on cutting IT cost and improving their return on IT investment.  I have over 10 years experience with complex project management in the server consolidation domain and 16 years of leadership experience in dynamic, fast paced environments. As an experienced project manager I mitigate the inherent risk in IT environments changing because of technology and  business.

You can tell what the person does, a glimpse of their experience level, and you get a hint a unique value proposition to businesses on this regard. The paragraph clearly explains the individual’s core skill sets.

Make your summary explain, succinctly, why someone would want to tap your shoulder for business. If you’re not sure why, that’s another matter altogether. Read it aloud a few times to see how it sounds.  Do you see any relation to your personal elevator pitch?

Make Your Job Descriptions Work Two Ways

People who read your profile should be able to tell if you work for a company or are self-employed.  If you work for a company make sure that you work the companies strengths and even their service portfolio into your profile.   Being your own boss is great as well, you just need to focus on your core strengths and capabilities.

Further, make sure that when people read your job description, they are thinking about how to put you to work on their issues. If applicable state your company’s primary functions in the first sentence of your current role, so that people can see what you’re bringing to the table alongside your own personal skills. Thus, your job description states not only what you are currently doing, but also what you can do.

Recommendations are Your Friends

Ask for recommendations all the time. Don’t be shy about it. Why? Because you want other people’s words to guide someone to choosing you for their business needs. You don’t want people to have to take your word for it, but instead, to know what others have to say.

Think hard about recommending people whose professional work you’re not familiar with enough to suggest to a close, personal friend.

Connection Strategies

LinkedIn has an official opinion on connecting up with others. They recommend that you only connect with people you know well personally. You’re welcome to take their opinion on that.

Consider “accepting” anyone who wants to connect with you.  This only increases the size of your network.  If you ever want to drop someone for abusing their link to you it is pretty easy.

Your mileage may vary. It feels good to broker relationships in your network but putting people in touch with each other.  That only does good for you, good deeds do come back around.

Some Last Thoughts

• Check your contact settings. Be explicit about who you want connecting with you.
• Consider putting up a photo.
• Use the groups features and find groups where you might want to contribute.
• Participate in the Q&A function to share your expertise (it’s like free advertising, when done tastefully).
• Update at least every three months. Your role has changed. Make sure your profile reflects that.