Category: Job Center

By Randy Wooden

Most job hunters face challenges, particularly when looking to change industries or job functions. Even though the unemployment rate for veterans is below that of the general population, veterans may face different challenges; let’s explore three and some tips for dealing with them.

1. The written word, particularly resumes. All industries have unique jargon, and the military is no different with its job titles, acronyms, and phrasing. Your task is to de-militarize your resume’s wording by using the corporate world’s equivalent terminology. For example, personnel could translate into associates or human resources. Mission could translate to project. Company/squadron/platoon could translate into department, division, or perhaps organization. The website www.military.com is one of many resources that help translat military-speak into corporate-speak. Try having your resume reviewed by a career coach or civilian hiring official for their feedback.

2.  Networking. Most of us, veterans included, tend to spend time with our co-workers and family rather than establishing and maintaining a broad professional network. Try attending veterans  and professional events beyond hiring fairs.  Check LinkedIn or a Google search for veterans groups that focus on advancing careers.  You’ll find you have company wrestling with a career transition. You’ll pick up pointers on how to engage in the civilian labor market while establishing relationships with others who’ve already made the leap and are eager to help others do the same. Get out, and get involved.

3. The interview. Just as you’ve tried to replace military-speak with corporate language on your resume, you’ll need to do the same during your interview. Getting the words right is only part of the challenge

Boot camp works to remove a person’s individuality: “I” becomes “we.”  In interviews, you’ll need to cite accomplishments, ideally your accomplishments and not necessarily those of your team. Now is the time to toot your own horn.

Ask people to do practice interviews so you can practice using  civilian rather than military-speak. Your service is great; now it is time to convey how you did it in terminology your potential employer can understand.

Remember to smile and talk with your hands and arms open. You’re bringing lots of technical skills as well as training in a myriad of interpersonal scenarios. You have transferable hard and soft skills that include things like problem solving, negotiating, dependability, critical thinking and effective team work.

Many employers are wisely eager to hire vets. Do your part: show them how your past experiences mesh well in their corporate world.

By Randy Wooden

Your boss calls you into their office.  “Are you looking for another job?”  Gulp!  Now, what?

Why are they asking?  How should you respond?

In all likelihood, your manager suspects you’re looking and is seeking to confirm that hunch.  Asking that question for no reason seems unlikely; assume they’ve heard or sensed something that prompted their question.

Let’s assume you are looking or interviewing.  Admitting you’re looking for another position could make you appear disloyal or uncommitted to your current job.  Instead of lying or being forthcoming, you could dodge the question. Ask why they’re asking.  “Why do you ask?”  Or, “Should I be looking?” With either dodge, you could gain insight as to what prompted their question.

Your boss may say, “Well, I’d heard you weren’t happy and were out looking.”  Do you use this opportunity to voice your concerns that have you looking for a job?  It depends on your boss.  If they say something such as, “Let’s talk.  I value your work,” then perhaps you discuss why you are looking for other opportunities.

If you choose to discuss it, don’t dwell on negatives.  Talk about seeking continued challenge and professional growth.  It’s not uncommon for workers to change jobs and/or companies many times in their careers.  Don’t be surprised if you’re asked whether you’re looking; be ready with a response.  Good luck!

Among the toughest interview questions is why you are no longer employed.  Let’s dive into ways of addressing that question.

First of all, notice the wording.  There’s a major difference between being unemployed and looking while being employed.  The latter – looking while being employed – is pretty easy.  You’re seeking professional growth, challenge, perhaps a career change, etcetra.  Focus on the positives of the new position for which you’re interviewing.

But what if you’re unemployed?  Most people don’t walk away from a job without another job lined up unless they’re relocating for family reasons.  Otherwise, if they do walk away,  it may be because the job was not a fit for their skills or workplace culture preferences.

If you did walk away, you may not want to divulge that information.  Instead, acknowledge it’s somewhat rare to step aside from a job without something waiting for you.

Once you’ve done that, let them know it was a difficult decision, but you felt it wasn’t fair to your previous employer or to yourself to remain there.  You decided to step aside to evaluate where you want to be next.  Job searching is a full time job, and you didn’t want to do it while being employed full time.

If you didn’t quit and your employer pulled the plug, how do you spin that?

I’m no employment attorney, so this isn’t legal advice.  If you were terminated for cause, I believe you need to briefly mention it when asked.  Admit your mistake, indicate you’ve learned from it, and let them know you’ve taken steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

But what about those awkward times when you didn’t  get along with your boss?  You don’t want to admit you can’t seem to play well with others.  So how do you explain that sort of termination?

Two answers may work.  If you weren’t the only person terminated, then let them know that the company had a reorganization that included your job ending.

If relatively new management has come aboard, share that information. New managers often surround themselves with their own team; this can mean releasing or reassigning employees working under the previous manager.

No matter what happened, never bad mouth your past employer.  Indicate you’ve learned a lot and welcomed the chance to contribute.  Then turn your focus toward what you like about the position for which you’re interviewing.

These days, very few people stay with one company their entire career.  Sooner or later, most of us will face that “why did you leave” or “why are you looking to leave” question.  I hope this post has given you some tips on how to answer.  Good luck!

It’s sweaty palm time: you’re going to ask your boss for a raise.  Today I’ll offer five tips to help you put your best foot forward.

#1.  Understand your worth in the marketplace.  Any number of websites can give you an idea of what your job’s likely to earn in your community at your size organization.  Salary.com and payscale.com are a couple resources, but also seek out recruiters and staffing companies for their input on what jobs like yours are earning in your area.

Talk with your co-workers and with former co-workers who do your job.  The game plan is to know what’s typical so you are well-informed and prepared when sitting down with your boss.

#2.   Show why you deserve a raise.  Make a list of your recent and past achievements. Ideally, support them with numbers just like you’d quantify your achievements on a resume.

Maybe you’ve taken on additional duties. Remember, your goal here is to demonstrate bang for their buck. Show them how you’ve added value to the organization.

#3.   Timing is important:  strike while the iron’s hot. Did you just finish a big project or have some sort of achievement? Chances are better for getting a raise when your achievement is fresh in everyone’s mind.

Schedule a time for your meeting with the boss so no one will be rushed. Stay away from Mondays. Be mindful of your manager’s stressful times. For example, don’t try to meet your boss in finance when the payroll deadline looms.

Keep in mind the company’s typical timeframe for giving raises, if they have one.  You’d ideally want your request to coincide with their typical salary bumps.

#4.   Avoid coming across as needy. The fact you need a raise to meet your financial obligations isn’t the employer’s concern and does not justify a raise. Your argument for a raise must be based on the value you add to the organization, not your inability to manage your finances.

#5.   No employer wants to face an ultimatum. Your threats to quit or to accept another company’s existing offer might help you get more money today, but you may be let go once your employer finds your replacement.

Think about it. Threatening to leave creates an disruption for your boss and the department. The boss might throw money your way to stop a sudden inconvenience, but only long enough to buy them time to find a suitable replacement in their timeframe, not the timeframe you’d just pushed on them.

Do your best to be confident, non-confrontational and prepared. I hope these tips have given you some confidence as you make your case. Their answer could still end up being “no,” but if you don’t ask, you may never get that raise you deserve.  Good luck!

Each week we have been spotlighting our Job Centers. This week we are spotlighting our Job Center at 611 Lindbergh Ave. Rapid City, SD.  Our Job Centers are a great free employment resource for our community to use to search and apply for jobs, improve computer skills and access community resources. Our Job Center Representative, Meggan and Employment Specialist, Lisa are willing to help you reach your employment goals. Let’s learn more about Meggan and Lisa.

Meggan

1. What do you wish you knew more about?

• The stars

2. What would be your ideal way to spend the weekend?

• Driving through the Black Hills

3. What is the most interesting place you have been?

• Redwood National Forest

Lisa

1. What do you wish you knew more about?

• Non-work: I wish I knew how to speak the Hebrew language.
• Work: I wish I knew how to speak the Lakota language.

2. What would be your ideal way to spend the weekend?

• Right now in this weather the perfect weekend would be: in a cozy log cabin in the mountains, with a roasty toasty fire going, having everything you need to have a fun weekend (family, movies, food, hot cocoa, electricity, warm blankets), surrounded by beautiful tall trees, and watching the big snowflakes come down, and still being able to see the sunshine.

3.  What is the most interesting place you have been?

• Crazy Horse Mountain in the Black Hills is one of my very most favorite places.