Winter 2016
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CHOOSING A DEGREE After Your Military Experience page 6
THE
PERFECT RESUME page 14
UNDERSTANDING THE
POST-9/11 GI BILL page 22
YOUR GUIDE To Employment Opportunities And Higher Education
2 CCE | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | WINTER 2016
CFC # 27963
G A R Y S I N I S E F O U N D AT I O N . O R G
WINTER 2016 | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | CCE 3
Brandpoint
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HELPING VETERANS EARN TRAINING FOR FULL-TIME CIVILIAN CAREERS “Veterans bring significant value to the workforce...” Today, veterans are returning to civilian life by the tens of thousands, eager to apply their highly refined talents in sustainable careers. Yet, national employment numbers reflect the challenges veterans face in pursuit of this goal. The September Bureau of Labor Statistcs unemployment rate for Gulf War Era II veterans decreased to 5 percent, which is the same for both men and women. Overall unemployment for all veterans over 18 years old is at 4.3 percent – 4.1 percent for men and 5.9 percent for women. Overall unemployment stands at 5.1 percent. The only segment where veteran unemployment is worse than general population unemployment is women veterans – 5.9 percent vs. 5 percent. The improvement in veteran unemployment suggests veteran hiring programs implemented by companies such as Prudential are having a real impact helping service members transition to civilian employment. Throughout its long history, Prudential has had a deep appreciation for the service and sacrifices of veterans. In 2010, the company established The Office of Veterans Initiatives to help prepare military service members and their spouses for meaningful careers. Headed by Chuck Sevola, a former communications officer in the Army and staffed by veterans, Veterans Initiatives works to strengthen relationships with corporations, nonprofit organizations and government agencies so they can collectively provide educational and employment opportunities to veterans and their families.
"Veterans bring significant value to the workforce, including practiced leadership skills, discipline, the ability to perform in stressful situations, and a solid work ethic," Sevola said. "We recognize the sacrifices made every day by these men and women and believe their experience and leadership can only make our company stronger." Veterans Initiatives established VETalent, a partnership between Prudential and Workforce Opportunity Services, a nonprofit organization that helps companies build strong talent pipelines through unique work-study programs. VETalent, a nine-month workstudy program, prepares veterans and spouses of active-duty service members for careers in information technology, sales and business operations. Participants receive extensive job training and classroom work followed by on-the-job training to qualify for full-time career opportunities with Prudential or other companies. When the VETalent members graduate from the program, they work as full-time consultants for Prudential, after which time they become eligible for full-time employment offers from the company. To date, Prudential has hired 88 veterans and spouses from VETalent and another 192 have been hired by other companies. In addition, another 40 veterans and military spouses are in active programs at Prudential and other 82 are in programs with other companies, helping to earn the company the recognition of "Top 100 Military Friendly Employers" and "Best for Vets" for six consecutive years.
Since its inception in Newark, New Jersey in 2010, VETalent has expanded to additional Prudential sites in Dubuque, Iowa, with Northeast Iowa Community College; Dresher-Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania, with Penn StateAbington University; Jacksonville, Florida, with the University of North Florida; Hartford-Shelton, Connecticut, with Western Connecticut State University; Roseland-Newark, New Jersey, with Rutgers University and New Jersey Institute of Technology; and El Paso, Texas, with El Paso Community College. The program also has been implemented by 26 other companies across 20 additional locations. Service members who will be leaving the military soon and those who have an interest in information technology or business careers can visit www.wforce.org/ veterans/program-overview and www.prudential.com/veterans to learn more about the VETalent program or about Prudential's other programs for Veterans.
4 CCE | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | WINTER 2016
Military OneSource
Make Informed Decisions About Your Education TA DECIDE TOOL www.dodmou.com/TADECIDE Making decisions about where to get your postsecondary education and what program is best for you can be a challenge. The Department of Defense (DOD) has developed the TA DECIDE (www.dodmou.com/TADECIDE) tool to make it easier than ever to compare schools and programs to help you meet your education goals. The tool, uniquely designed for participants of the DOD Military Tuition Assistance program, provides education costs and outcomes, as well as data on military students participating in the tuition assistance program just like you. The TA DECIDE tool uses data sources from the departments of Defense, Education and Veterans Affairs and provides you with information you can trust on the following: Tuition and fees — first time, full-time in-state tuition rates;
Cost of attendance — books, supplies, room and board; Programs and offerings — learning method, degree level, classification of instructional program; Institution accreditation — accredited by Department of Education accrediting agencies; Number of DOD tuition assistance participants — reported annually to the DOD; Federal beneficiaries and funds — tuition assistance, Post-9/11 GI Bill®, federal student aid; Complaint information — online reporting system providing feedback about education institutions; DOD memorandum of understanding — institution's eligibility to work with DOD tuition assistance; Principles of Excellence — institution's pledge to
provide quality education for service members; Yellow Ribbon — additional assistance for attendance at private degree-granting schools or out-of-state tuition costs; Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges — initiative linking service members to education institutions that provide quality education, ease the process to transfer credits and give credit for military training and experience; Programs to achieve success — Eight Keys to Veterans' Success from the Department of Education. More than 2,600 education institutions are eligible to receive military tuition assistance. Start your search today with TA DECIDE for a school and program to meet your postsecondary education needs.
FROM STRENGTH COMES SECURITY. Because we live in an age of uncertainty, the financial stability of our organization is increasingly on the minds of our members. And rightly so. More than simply numbers on a balance sheet, we see our rock-solid financial foundation as the fulfillment of our promise to you and your loved ones for generations to come. To learn how we can help your family visit NavyMutual.org
Photo Courtesy of the Department of Defense
WINTER 2016 | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | CCE 5
At Sentara, we view each day as another opportunity to be better. To provide patient care that is unmatched, every time. And, to improve the level of satisfaction our careers deliver. Our goal is to make you feel more excited to be here every day. Sentara is 28,000 strong with a unified objective: Creating an environment of health and healing for our patients with our high standards of care and patient safety.
6 CCE | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | WINTER 2016
Michael Ingram FedsHireVets.gov | GIJobs.com
HOW DO I KNOW WHICH MAJOR IS RIGHT FOR ME AFTER THE MILITARY? How do you choose a degree after your military experience?
For most veterans, separating from military service means a change in career. While a few job fields have direct civilian equivalents, in most cases the veteran will find his work duties will change in the civilian workforce. Sorry folks, there is no Bachelor of Science in Infantry Studies, nor a master’s degree in Line Handling. The skills you learned in the military will always be present, but the civilian world will require an entirely new training evolution. So how do you choose a degree after your military experience? A good place to start is lopping off majors that you know for certain that you have no interest in. Keep an open mind in fields you may not be familiar with, but get rid of the majors that are clearly a bad fit for your interests and goals. Hate math? You’ll probably want to steer clear of engineering. Grossed out by bodily fluids? Health sciences is not for you. Hard-core atheist? Theology may not be your thing. Once you’ve crossed off some definite “no” majors, consider the driving factors of your career choice. For some people, the financial security of a high-paying job is paramount. For others, it’s all about job satisfaction. Chances are, you’ll find that both will factor into your choice. Luckily, there are a number of tools available to help you with your decision. One great resource is the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) (www.bls.gov/ooh/) provided by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics. The OOH includes hard data on the long-term employment prospects of hundreds of occupations, as well as a description of the job responsibilities, pay and comparable occupations. Once you’ve narrowed down the list of majors to fields you find potentially interesting, it may be wise to consider the practicality of the major. Military experience may give you a leg up in an industry related to your rate, MOS or AFSC. For example, a boatswains mate’s experience is more likely to be compatible with a degree in marine engineering than a degree in the culinary arts. This is doubly true if your prospective school awards transfer credits for military training. Depending on the school, a significant amount of prerequisites and in-major requirements can be waived by providing a list of completed military courses, including basic training. Always make sure to work with a military friendly school and request your JST and SMART transcripts! It’s important to remember that experience does not have to be limiting. There is nothing stopping a separating artilleryman from pursuing a career in veterinary medicine, assuming he or she can reacclimate to an occupational speech volume that does not startle the animals. Instead, experience can be an opportunity, a leg up to avoid some of the pitfalls of starting at “entry level.” Interested in jobs for veterans? Check out our job board for HOT JOBS and current openings. Above all, stay flexible! Perhaps the field that
It’s important to remember that experience does not have to be limiting. you thought was a perfect fit turns out to be a nightmare. Perhaps you thought you hated math or English or history, but you enjoyed an elective course. If done early enough, a change of major can be done with little to no delay to graduation date. Even if a change slows down graduation by a semester, that setback is minor compared to decades in an occupation that does not suit your needs. As a transitioning veteran, your situational awareness and flexibility will be an asset when applied to your post-military training evolution – note: your classmates will have no idea what this means. Just as in military service, planning, attention to detail, and a willingness to work hard will improve your chances to find the major and veteran career that will be the best fit for your needs. You want to go back to school, that much you know. But there could be a lot more you don’t know about finding a college than you realize. The education content section specifically for veterans will help guide you through your school selection process, making sure you don’t miss critical deadlines or choose a school that doesn’t offer the full range of education benefits you’ve earned.
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Robert Stevens FedsHireVets.gov | GIJobs.com
HOW TO PRESENT Separating from the military can be a deeply traumatic experience for some. Not knowing how your skills and values convert to civilian occupations can make separating veterans feel as if they are stepping into a giant chasm from which there is no return. As veterans, we possess many traits which we take for granted but are an uncommon commodity in the civilian workforce. Recognizing these traits and being able to effectively highlight them in an interview can give separating veterans a big advantage over their civilian counterparts. For the most part, we recognize tangible achievements such as awards, medals, rank and degrees, but it is our attributes that are important to note. When cataloging your traits in an interview, you should first know how to demonstrate their meaning in a way that will add value to you as a prospective employee. Dependability is a word that is often used but rarely understood by applicants and employers alike. Simply saying you are dependable may not bring to light the actual nature of this trait. By
telling an employer that you will follow through with all assigned tasks to the end, no matter how difficult or complex they may be, lets them know your true intentions. Integrity is a trait that many profess to have but few actually live up to. We all make mistakes, but it is your ability as a prior military member to own your mistakes in spite of the consequences that will separate you from the herd. Letting an employer know that you never deflect responsibility if you make a mistake tells them that they can count on you for honest answers, even under the worst of circumstances. Military members are conditioned to make decisions quickly in life or death situations. Employees who sit on their hands and fail to make any decisions are typically given the most menial jobs requiring little, if any, decision-making abilities. It is the decision-makers who are typically selected for promotion to the next level. In the absence of clear instruction, employers rely on people in their organization to make decisions with limited information.
Your Military Traits In An Interview
A lack of initiative can quickly lead to a lack of upward career mobility. In the military, understanding the commander’s intent gives individual members the ability to make decisions on their own and press for an advantage without having to rely on constant instruction from superiors. In the civilian world, employees who understand the corporate vision and work toward it are relied upon more heavily than those who do not. Do your homework before you show up to an interview and try to understand what the company goals might be. Your ability to demonstrate your understanding of this lets employers know that you did take the initiative to look further into their company than just the basic job posting. Even if you do not entirely understand what their goals are, they will still appreciate the fact that you made the effort. Companies today more than ever need to be able to put the right people in the right positions. This can require employees who are willing to relocate to other cities where positions are available. As a prior military member, you
probably had to move every two to four years. Civilians are not as mobile. Facing the uncertainty of moving to another state or country can be nerve-wracking, but as prior military members we got it done. Being willing to relocate can definitely increase your odds of moving up in the ranks quickly with a civilian company. As a prior military member you may not have even considered these traits because they are common in our world. But they are uncommon in the civilian world. Indeed, there are many more traits that you possess and these are just a few. During an interview it is not enough to just say that you are a dependable, adaptable employee with good decision-making abilities and high integrity. When preparing for interviews, ask yourself tough questions and prepare your answers by presenting one or more of these traits. Practice and be ready. Your confidence will come across in the interview and you will be seen as a cut above the average applicant – someone who deserves to be at the top of the list.
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8 CCE | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | WINTER 2016
Brandpoint
THE TOP 10
THAT ROB PEOPLE OF QUALITY SLEEP Is your job literally a pain in the neck? From an aching back to sore feet, Americans experience a variety of different aches and pains attributed to their jobs. While everyone experiences pain every now and then from work, some jobs are far more likely to cause pain than others. According to healthcare professionals surveyed on behalf of Advil PM, the top 10 most pain-inducing jobs are: 1. Construction worker 2. Mechanic 3. Gardener and landscaper 4. Athlete 5. Firefighter 6. Lawyer 7. Production line worker 8. Truck driver 9. Writer and journalist 10. Information technology professional
If you work in one of the top painful occupations, you might not be getting the right quality or quantity of sleep each night. In fact, 98.5 percent of the healthcare professionals surveyed said that pain keeps their patients up at night, or prevents them from getting a full night's sleep. All of the healthcare professionals surveyed believe that not getting a good night's sleep impacts job performance. No matter your job, aches and pains shouldn't rob you of a quality night's sleep. To help you feel your best and sleep more soundly Dr. Michael Breus, a board certified sleep specialist, recommends the following tips: Take a shower About 90 minutes before bedtime, take a hot bath or shower. This will help to reduce muscle tension and accelerate sleep onset. Create an electronics curfew The blue light from your favorite electronic devices inter-
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rupts your ability to relax and fall asleep. Create a rule that you won't use your smartphone, tablet and other digital devices for one hour before bed. Stretch to relax Stretching for 10 to 15 minutes before bed will help reduce muscle tension which may be causing soreness from an active job or lifestyle. Turn down noises and do some gentle stretches to relax the muscles and mind. Set a wake-up schedule Try to wake up at the same time each morning, even on the weekends. Waking at the same time will help keep your internal clock ticking correctly so you can fall asleep more quickly and sleep deeply. Embrace natural light About 15 minutes of sunlight each morning will help reset your circadian rhythm so you can rise more naturally and then sleep better in the evenings.
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WINTER 2016 | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | CCE 9
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10 CCE | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | WINTER 2016
MC1 Theodore Green The Flagship
NAVIGATE a sea of new career options Sailors can expect to navigate a sea of new career options after the recent approval of the DOD overhaul of the military retirement system. The U.S. Uniformed Services Blended Retirement System takes effect Jan. 1, 2018, and gives Sailors a greater individual responsibility in securing their financial future. The Fleet and Family Readiness Centers (FFRC) of Hampton Roads plans to educate Sailors about these new changes by offering town hall-style events, educational videos, leadership briefings, classroom seminars, and one-on-one counseling to all fleet and shore commands in the Hampton Roads area, ensuring the widest dissemination over the next two years. “This is an exciting time,” FFRC Mid-Atlantic Education Training Supervisor Karen Melvin said. Finalized marketing campaign and curriculum materials have not yet been released by the DOD. Sailors can expect their local FFSC to offer the new training as early as this spring. “I anticipate we will do a lot of wardroom and chief’s mess briefs, in addition to enlisted briefs, to give a basic overview, but what people are really going to be interested in are the workshops and one-on-one counseling,” Melvin said. Melvin added the FFSC’s main focus will be to help determine what will be best for the individual Sailor based on their unique life situation and their goals for the future. But just what do all these changes mean for Sailors? The new plan offers a blended system of accounts and pensions that is set to replace the current traditional retirement system – which pays out only after a minimum of 20 years of service. “I think the big thing that we see is obviously people are going to have more options earlier in their career,” Melvin said. The modernized plan is built to accumulate retirement savings regardless of time served through the addition of a 401(k) style investment option. This option combines automatic and matching contributions, giving Sailors a choice of making the Navy a career or leaving the service, while still securing an investment in their future. “When you’re 18, nobody will ever tell you the power of time and money,” Melvin said. “This puts people in a better situation earlier in life. It also encourages people to invest now and not wait. Let’s start thinking about your future when you’re young as opposed to when you’re in your thirties and are like, ‘well I don’t know if I want to stay in the Navy for the rest of my life.’” For the first time, Sailors with as little as three years of service, would leave the Navy with some type of retirement ben-
efits as opposed to the traditional all-or-nothing approach. Broken down, the blended system has many appealing elements. “With the new blended retirement system, one of the biggest highlights is that you’re going to be automatically enrolled into TSP, and not only that, but for the first time the [Navy] is going to give matching funds. They’ve never done that in the past,” Melvin said. New Sailors entering service will have 1 percent of their basic pay automatically withdrawn from their paycheck and deposited into a thrift savings plan (TSP) account after completing their first 60 days of service. They will then have the option of adjusting the amount they contribute. After reaching three years of service the Navy will begin matching a Sailor’s contribution up to 5 percent of their base pay, another first. Money in the savings plan will not be available without tax penalties before age 59.5. In addition, any money contributed while in a tax-free zone will remain tax free as a Sailor begins to withdraw benefits. “[This plan] is really putting us on par with civilian organizations,” Melvin said. “So many civilian companies now automatically enroll their employees into a 401(k) on day one of work. Investing means you’re not going to get your benefits until you’ve worked there for a certain amount of years, and this is the same, you’ve got to be there for at least three years.” To curb a possible exodus of valuable mid-career leaders, the Navy will offer compensation incentives for those with
12 years of service electing to serve an additional four years, while still offering the promise of a healthy monthly lifetime annuity for those who chose to stay Navy until retirement. The 20-year retirement pensions will remain for all, but only at a reduced rate of 40 percent of a three year average of the Sailor’s base pay at retirement, compared to the 50 percent average currently offered. Anyone enlisting after Jan. 1, 2018, will be automatically enrolled in the new blended system. Sailors who entered service after Jan. 1, 2006, with 12 years or less, and anyone signing up in the next 24 months can choose to receive the traditional 20-year retirement pension or opt into the new 401(k)-style blended system. This means those who are midway through their career may have to wrestle with some tough financial decisions before 2018, but they’re not alone. The FFSC’s doors are open to anyone looking to discuss their individualized plan with one of their highly trained personal financial management staff members. “I think it’s really about weighing your options, how long you want to stay in, which is going to be financially better for you?” Melvin said. “You need to sit down and do the math, and we can help.” FFRC already offers over 22 financial education courses for military members and their families, including money and credit management; strategies for car buying; and tips for developing a saving and investing plan. For more information, contact your local FFSC personal financial manager by visiting http://1.usa.gov/1KsYATH.
WINTER 2016 | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | CCE 11
Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity
VETERAN UNEMPLOYMENT LOWEST In Nearly 8 Years A concerted national effort to hire veterans, coupled with their soughtafter essential skills training, likely had an effect on making October’s veteran unemployment rate – the lowest since April 2008, a Defense Department official said. Susan S. Kelly, who leads Department of Department’s (DOD) Transition to Veterans Program Office, spoke to DOD News about the October Bureau of Labor Statistics Report published by the Labor Department, which indicated that veteran unemployment has been lower than the rate of nonveteran unemployment for 23 consecutive weeks. In October, the veteran unemployment rate stood at just 3.9 percent, while non-
veteran unemployment was 5.4 percent. Kelly believes the drop in veterans’ unemployment stems from several factors, such as the economic upturn across the country, as well as the many layers of effort in the public and private sectors to hire veterans. In addition, she said, employers are seeking the professional “essential skills” ingrained in every veteran. “Employers have been telling us the last 18 months, ‘We can train them in technical skills, but the [other skills] take years to develop,” Kelly said. Those “essential skills” include leadership, ability to handle work stress, persistence, attention to detail, interpersonal skills, teamwork and team-building, oral
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"Employers are seeking the professional 'essential skills' ingrained in every veteran." – Susan S. Kelly and written communication, decision making, training people, supervising, critical thinking and project planning, she said, adding that the philosophy behind hiring veterans has evolved from the “right thing to do” to “the smart thing to do.” “The heads of corporations say they spend millions of dollars every year teaching their managers leadership skills,” Kelly said, and employers have learned that veterans arrive at the workplace already equipped with these skills. Veteran Hiring: A Snowball Effect Not long ago, veteran unemployment among young veterans ranged in the
double digits. When the White House’s Joining Forces initiative began in 2011, it called on all sectors of society to hire veterans and spouses and “opened avenues for veteran employment,” Kelly noted. At DOD, with the help of several federal agencies, Kelly led the transformation of the Transition Assistance Program into weeklong, mandatory training for transitioning service members, giving them the skills and knowledge necessary to secure jobs, seek education and pursue optional training, such as how to start a business.
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12 CCE | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | WINTER 2016
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More federal agencies, corporations and nonproďŹ t organizations joined the hiring effort and sought veterans for employment. For example, national retailer Wal-Mart launched the “Greenlight a Vetâ€? campaign to shine a light on how veterans enrich communities and to encourage hiring veterans, who are known to take action quickly, show great leadership skills and “represent the best of America,â€? an organization statement noted. Several organizations, including the Institute for Veterans and Military Families; Team Red, White and Blue; Team Rubicon; Blue Star Families; and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes program have also joined the effort. “Each one brings us a unique contribution to veteran unemployment,â€? Kelly said. Rand Corp. Endorses Veteran Skillset While it was understood veterans had strong work ethics and skills, Kelly said, those basics weren’t “codiďŹ edâ€? until DOD enlisted the Rand Corp. to study
the combat arms profession – the ďŹ eld with the fewest technical skills transferrable to civilian employment. Since Rand’s study this year, it has endorsed hiring veterans and illustrated how veterans’ essential skills line up “very wellâ€? with what the Labor Department, academia and economists named as necessary in the 21st century workforce, she said. The professional standards taught to troops are an asset to the civilian workforce during a time when the nation is challenged to ďŹ ll what Kelly calls “a gap in workforce skills.â€? She said that while DOD is “delightedâ€? with the drop in veteran unemployment, the turnaround is an ongoing effort that is continually adapting to new lessons learned. “We look at these skills as an asset for the workforce, but our veterans have an incredible amount of attributes that can be used in all aspects of community life,â€? Kelly said. “They can be leaders, and in [those] I meet, I tell them to run for public ofďŹ ce, because our nation needs leaders, and they have what it takes, for the betterment of all of community life.â€?
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WINTER 2016 | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | CCE 13
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GP S N J MJUBSZ BO E GBN J MZ XBSSJ P ST Introducing the Military and Family Scholarship. Our new Military and Family Scholarship caps the cost of tuition at $250 per credit hour, saving up to 50% in out-of-pocket costs for active duty military, Reservists, National Guard and their spouses and dependents. TROY is committed to keeping higher education affordable for those who sacrifice so much. That’s the Trojan Warrior Spirit, and it’s alive and well at Troy University.
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14 CCE | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | WINTER 2016
Colonel Nicole Malachowsk Joining Forces
JOINING FORCES To Help Veterans Transition When Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden launched Joining Forces, they challenged people across the country to ask themselves one simple question: “What can I do to honor veterans and military families who have given us so much?” Today, one day before our nation pauses to honor Veterans Day, the White House and Joining Forces would like to highlight a few of the many answers to that question. Veteran employment has always been a focus for Joining Forces. Recently, we have seen numerous programs like Solar Ready Vets and TechHire that equip our veterans with the necessary skills for good-paying solar and tech jobs. Similarly, the Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) is another great example of an initiative that supports veterans transitioning back into the civilian workforce. HVRP grantees throughout the nation provide homeless veterans with the support they need – from employment counseling and housing, to clothing and medical support – to start working again. But we have heard time and time again that transportation to and from work and job interviews is often a significant
hurdle for homeless veterans trying to find work. If a veteran is working a night shift, or employed in a remote area of a city, public transportation is not always a viable option and there is limited funding available for alternative transportation. Today, Michelle Obama and Joining Forces would like to thank ride-hailing companies, Uber and Lyft, for stepping up to help address this problem. Both companies have committed to donating free rides to veterans – to be administered by the employment counselors who work with them every week. It is remarkable to see competitors come together to support our veterans. Additionally, there is much that can be done to prevent veteran homelessness in the first place. For example, the PenFed Foundation is working with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide emergency financial assistance for veterans who are experiencing unexpected financial setbacks and are may be at risk of becoming homeless. Similarly, the YMCA is also working with the VA to provide greater access to services in the areas of employment, health, and reintegration into the local community. Healthcare providers around the
country are committing to learn more about serving veterans, service members, and their families through Joining Forces Wellness Week, a collaboration between the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Center for Deployment Psychology. However, you do not need to be a company or nonprofit to support our veterans. Building off of their commitment to HVRP grantees, Uber will enable riders to donate $5 towards a ride when they take one on Veterans Day, giving American citizens an opportunity to give back as well. Furthermore, Walmart has asked its customers to change one light in their home or office to glow green as a symbol of appreciation for our veterans. Both financial and symbolic contributions from citizens help to support veterans and military families who have made sacrifices for our country. As Michelle Obama has noted about helping America’s veterans, “There are so many ways you can make a difference, whether you’re a multinational name-brand, or a startup that’s just getting off the ground.” On behalf of Joining Forces, I would like to say “thank you” to these companies and nonprofit organizations for answering the Michelle Obama's call. Colonel Nicole Malachowski is the Executive Director of the Joining Forces Initiative.
ARA Content
Tips for Preparing & Proof-reading In today’s competitive job market, employers can receive literally hundreds of responses to a posted job. A resume often creates the first impression a prospective employer will form about each candidate – and that first impression forms quickly. According to Business Insider, a career website, research shows “recruiters spend about six seconds before they make the initial ‘fit or no fit’ decision.” “When it comes to mistakes on resumes, I’ve seen it all – grammatical errors, misspelled words, and even omitted credentials,” Brown Mackie College-Hopkinsville, in Kentucky, Director of Career Services Amanda Rajotte said. Rajotte helps students and graduates prepare for professional job searches and conducts workshops on the fundamentals of writing resumes.
“I cannot stress enough that the resume is a gateway to an interview,” Rajotte said. “It’s worthwhile to put time and effort into creating it. If a resume contains mistakes, all the effort after that is wasted, no matter how many you send out.” A resume is an important marketing tool that introduces you to a prospective employer in the professional world. Rajotte likens it to a 30-second commercial for yourself. It’s all about the proper sequencing of information relevant to the employer. “You want to highlight the good qualities and attributes that employers want to see; things that tie into the specific opportunity,” Rajotte said. Think carefully about and always doublecheck spelling. “Incorrect spelling worries potential employers. Candidates should
spell check and double check their work by proofreading,” Rajotte said. It can help to let someone else proofread the resume. An extra set of eyes often finds mistakes. What do spelling errors tell an employer about you? Monster.com says it tells them, “This person obviously doesn’t care.” Grammatical errors also throw up a red flag. “Bad sentence structure and incorrect word usage are common mistakes people make,” Rajotte said. “These decrease your level of competency in the employer’s mind, and they move on to the next resume. Other typical resume blunders include incorrect capitalization of words, and failure to spell out acronyms. Not everyone knows what acronyms mean. Each one should be spelled out the first time it appears.” The format of the resume is the next con-
sideration. “The goal is to create a visually pleasing page,” Rajotte said. "Use a legible typeface and a readable point size. This means scrap the script font, and stick to 10-12 point type. Alignment is another big one. Always print a copy to see how it looks on paper. Don’t just look on screen.” Once the resume is in top form, you have a better chance of landing an interview. After the interview, it is appropriate to send a thank you note. “Not everyone sends a thank you. It can set you apart from other applicants,” Rajotte said. Quintessential Careers found that just 5 percent of job applicants follow through with a thank you note. “It’s a nice way to build a relationship,” Rajotte said. “You never know when you might run into that person again.”
WINTER 2016 | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | CCE 15
FFSC Norfolk
TRANSITION RESOURCES From Your Local FFSC
Change is a good thing, right? Absolutely! However, for those service members currently transitioning from military to civilian life, this change may be quite intimidating. Transitioning service members find themselves asking various questions during their transition. Where am I going to live? How am I going to pay the bills? How am I going to get a job? Do I need to go to school? What benefits am I entitled to? The list goes on and on. The answers to these questions are, in some cases, not easily found and may require the transitioning service member to seek the assistance of others in their search for those answers. For those of you who may require some assistance, here are the Top 10 resources for transitioning service members: 1. NATIONAL RESOURCE DIRECTORY (NRD.GOV) This directory is currently maintained by the Department of Defense, Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As an online directory, service members are able to connect 24/7 and receive resources pertaining to benefits and compensation, education and training, employment, family and caregiver support, health, homeless assistance, transportation and travel, volunteer opportunities, and many more. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA.GOV) Probably the most popular veterans organization, the VA, provides services to men and women who have served in our armed forces. As the mission statement on their website states, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan,” which fulfills President Lincoln’s promise to serve and honor the men and women who are America’s veterans. The VA offers health care options for veterans and their families, as well as other benefits including retirement compensation, education and training, home loans, life insurance, burial benefits, and vocational rehabilitation. The VA eBenefits website is an online portal that allows service members, veterans and their families research their benefits and have access to these benefit options 24/7. 3. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL.GOV/VETS) During their Transition Goals Plans Success (T-GPS) five-day workshop, transitioning service members will receive a three-day presentation offered by representatives
CONTINUED PG 16
WE’VE GOT THE BASES COVERED. DEDICATED TO SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE. MILITARY NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW SERVICE MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS ENTERTAINMENT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES SOUTHSIDE 757.222.3990 | PENINSULA 757.596.0853 | COLONIAL HEIGHTS 804.526.8685
16 CCE | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | WINTER 2016
CONTINUED FROM PG 15 of the DOL. The presentation focuses on assisting service members in job searches, career decision-making, current labor market information, the drafting of resumes and cover letters, skills analysis, and interviewing techniques. Post-transition, the DOL assists veterans with job seeker services through the DOL Gold Card. The DOL Gold Card enables unemployed post-9/11 veterans with the follow-up services they need to succeed in their job search. Certain grants and other resources are also available through the DOL. 4. DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS (DAV.ORG) The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization is dedicated to “Empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity.â€? Many transitioning service members feel the physical pain associated with injuries incurred while on active duty. However, some of these service members may not know where to go to get the assistance they need. The DAV assists service members, veterans, and their families with ďŹ ling disability claims, job search, transportation options, and other outreach programs. The DAV has over 60 ofďŹ ces throughout the U.S., which enables service members to obtain assistance from virtually anywhere in the country. 5. FFSC (CNIC.NAVY.MIL/NAVYLIFEMA ) Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC) provide service members, veterans, and their families with numerous programs, including relocation assistance, new parent support, deployment services, clinical counseling services, ďŹ nancial management, family employment services, family advocacy, and transition assistance programs. Transitioning service members are encouraged
FREE
to stop by one of the FFSC ofďŹ ces and request information on upcoming events and workshops relating to their transition. 6. JOB FAIRS (VEC.VIRGINIA.GOV) One of the major hurdles for a transitioning service member to overcome is obtaining a civilian job that will cater to their needs. Networking has a major inuence on landing that dream job, and one way to successfully network with employers is through job fairs. State websites frequently post job fairs, as do various military installations. Being able to write one’s skills on a resume is one thing, but connecting with employers face-to-face has proven to be extremely effective. 7. MENTOR GROUPS (ACP-USA.COM) Everyone needs a mentor, whether that mentor is a parent, friend or business executive. Transitioning service members ďŹ nd that connecting with individuals in their desired career ďŹ eld can be useful in gaining the knowledge needed to succeed. Certain mentor groups, such as American Corporate Partners can provide this assistance. These groups are often free for transitioning service members and veterans, and offer a year of mentorship for that individual. Managerial level civilians offer their help and advice to transitioning service members on the matters of job search, networking, education, and transition in general. Mentors are available to chat online, through phone conversation and sometimes even in person. 8. COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING SERVICES (DANTES.KUDER.COM) Some transitioning service members may ďŹ nd that they may need to pursue education opportunities post-separation in order to ďŹ nd a job that will beneďŹ t them. Others may feel as if they are undecided on which career path to pursue. In order to assist with
questions associated with choosing an educational program, or choosing a career path, certain skills assessments may be useful. The Kuder assessment is designed to assist individuals in answering those questions. Services are free for service members and veterans 9. GI JOBS MAGAZINE (GIJOBS.COM) The GI Jobs Magazine is issued monthly and delivered to most military installations. Interested individuals may also subscribe to the magazine and pay a fee to have the magazine delivered to their house. This magazine includes information on military friendly employers, military friendly schools, military friendly cities, and military franchise opportunities. The GI Jobs website allows for individuals to navigate through their site, and connect with recruiters, receive assistance in resume writing, and information on business attire. 10. SOCIAL MEDIA (LINKEDIN.COM, ETC.) Social media can be used in order for individuals to be able to network with other professionals in their chosen career ďŹ eld. LinkedIn, for example, has become more and more popular in the recent years for many different reasons. The social network allows individuals to connect with people in their career ďŹ eld for networking purposes. Individuals can also join interest groups in order to share ideas and welcome feedback. LinkedIn provides job postings, as well as information on employers, that may be beneďŹ cial for anyone looking to enter the workforce.
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WINTER 2016 | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | CCE 17
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18 CCE | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | WINTER 2016
Military OneSource
A guide before using the GI Bill® U.S Department of Veterans Affairs
COLLEGE NAVIGATOR
FACTORS TO CONSIDER
FIND THE SCHOOL That's Right For You Searching for the right school for your postsecondary education can be challenging. The College Navigator at nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator, a free online tool from the National Center for Education Statistics, can help you with your search. The tool provides a wide range of information for more than 7,000 postsecondary education institutions, allowing you to compare schools' features that are most important to you like the following:
When Choosing a School
How well does the school support Veterans? DOES IT HAVE A DEDICATED PROGRAM? Be careful about schools that claim to be “military and veteran friendly.” Make sure your prospective school is friendly to your needs. There are objective sources to help you determine those needs. The American Council on Education (ACE) has developed a toolkit for how schools can create or enhance policies and programs to better serve veterans. It has examples of many successful programs that are available to you.
OTHER THINGS TO CHECK FOR:
Tuition and cost of attendance Financial aid statistics Accreditation information Graduation and retention rates Credit transfer Student loan default rates BEGIN YOUR SEARCH The college search has gotten a bit easier with College Navigator. This free tool is easy to use – just enter the information and click "Show Results." It's just that easy. Your search results will provide a wide range of information, as well as the opportunity to do the following: Refine your search to select additional criteria Build a list of schools for side-by-side comparisons Pinpoint school locations on an interactive map Export results into a spreadsheet Save your search session This tool takes the guesswork out of researching and comparing schools. Check it out and start achieving your education goals today.
Transfer of credits from other schools or for military training – Your school should recognize your past coursework and training, and accept your transferred credit. Be vigilant in understanding whether your coursework will transfer to a new school. Not all credit will be accepted, but finding an institution where this credit is best utilized towards degree requirements will help you make the most of your benefits. Check out the ACE Military Guide to find out what kind of credit you may receive for your military experience. Campus and community support – Look for access to mental health and medical support, disability services, academic accommodations, and available career services. A strong Veteran voice – Find an administration that listens to and involves veterans in veteran programs such as a school with a Student Veterans of America organization. We want you to be a face, not just a number at your institution. Central point of contact – Hands-on, in-person assistance with navigating the educational process makes the academic journey much more manageable. Schools that agree to the President’s Principles of Excellence are obligated to have such a person for veterans. Veteran specific space – A designated location for student veterans offers a dependable and supportive environment where trust, support, and camaraderie can be found and fostered in an academic environment.
Visit 1.usa.gov/1UVzbaI to set up an appointment with an education consultant to discuss college information, scholarships and financial aid.
Principles of Excellence participant – Be sure to review VA’s list of schools that agree to participate in the President’s Principles of Excellence Program by searching for schools using the GI Bill Comparison Tool. Expanded housing options – Student veterans sometimes have unique housing preferences and needs; options differ by institution.
WINTER 2016 | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | CCE 19
90 cents of every dollar supports programs and services for local military families.
20 CCE | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | WINTER 2016
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Working for a U.S. Congresswoman, Clarin Gniffke wanted to broaden her perspective on politics. At Regent University, she found more than exceptional online courses — she found confidence. “With core classes like American Political Thought, you realize issues in law and ethics will come up again and again in your career. You gain a stance you can defend,” she says. Our expert faculty will prepare you with a principled foundation for the next step. Master of Arts in Government (M.A.) Master of Public Administration (MPA)
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WINTER 2016 | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | CCE 21
By Luke Torrance FedsHireVets.gov / GIJobs.com
3 WAYS TO AVOID COMING ON TOO STRONG In Your Job Interviews And You Know That
It’s a competitive world out there post-military, and you know that. Getting a job isn’t as simple as sending in a resume and waiting to be called back with an offer. When you apply for a position on our job board for veterans, the company that is hiring could be receiving dozens, hundreds or even thousands of applications and resumes. In a way, it’s like the lottery, except you have to keep working if you win. But it isn’t a lottery because hiring isn’t random. There are ways to increase your odds, such as reaching out to your could-be employer. If this is not your first job hunt, you probably know this. There are millions of articles on the internet about how to best write a resume, who to talk to and how to conduct an interview. We recently posted an article that reads interviewing advice for military veterans. Those pieces make sure that you are doing enough to get noticed. In this article, I will tackle the opposite: if you are doing too much. Yes, it is possible to go over the top, so here are three pieces of interviewing advice for military veterans. 1. IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU You and the person doing the hiring are, most likely, not friends. Before an interview, to him or her you are just a name attached to a resume. Whether networking or interviewing, you have to tell others who you are, what you can do and what you would like to accomplish, all in a limited amount of time. But the conversation cannot be entirely self-centered; this is especially the case when networking. Ask the other person about themselves, and their careers. Networking is a professional relationship, and the best way to form a relationship of any kind is to ask about the other person and be genuinely interested. You might even pick up some free advice. When it comes to interviews, ask about the company and the position that you are trying to fill. If you only talk about yourself, you
will come across as someone who cares more about himself than the company. 2. GIVE THEM TIME One way to make sure that your resume isn’t falling into an endless pit of paper is to reach out to the hiring manager. Sending an email or, preferably, a phone call gets your name into the mind of the person conducting the hiring, making it more likely that your resume will be saved from the endless pit. Some people’s fear of being overbearing prevents them from calling at all – this is a mistake. You should definitely call. Ask when it would be the best time for you to call back instead of frequently calling at random hours. 3. RELAX There is plenty of advice on how to interview well, and I’m sure that you will have memorized it long before you find yourself sitting in the hallway outside the room where the interviews are conducted. This advice is good: give a firm handshake, make eye contact and prepare answers to basic interview questions beforehand. The key is not to take this advice as a robot would. You don’t need to break your interviewer’s fingers during the handshake. You don’t need to look into your interviewer’s eyes for the entire time. Have talking points for answers, but do not memorize what you are going to say and repeat it. It isn’t a play, it’s an interview. If you have not yet read our article on how to answer the salary question, you should because they will probably ask and you want to be prepared. This applies to everything else on this list: don’t go overboard with advice. You should talk about yourself. You should make eye contact. The key is not to stretch it to a level in which you seem like a narcissist or unable to understand boundaries. It is a competitive world, but that does not mean you should do anything to get someone’s attention. If you follow our advice, an offer will come!
You’ve got the discipline. You’ve got the attitude. You’ve got the knowledge.
Take the Next Step. Being in the military was hard work. Now you’re wondering what to do next. You’ve always loved cooking and you’ve envisioned a career working in professional kitchens. It’s all about teamwork. Let us help you make it happen. Our small classes and hands-on learning make NECI the first step on your road to culinary success. Come visit our campus in Montpelier, Vermont. Check out our benefits for military veterans at www.neci.edu/military Call us toll-free at: 877.223.NECI (877.223.6324) We’re not just military-friendly. We’re life-changing. NECI is a Military Friendly School and a proud partner of the Yellow Ribbon Program
22 CCE | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | WINTER 2016
UNDERSTANDING THE POST-9/11 GI BILL
Q&A
Am I Eligible?
You may be eligible if you served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty* after Sept. 10, 2001, or were honorably discharged from active duty for a serviceconnected disability after serving 30 continuous days following Sept. 10, 2001. *Includes active service as a National Guard member under title 32 U.S.C. for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training and active service under section 502(f) of title 32 for the purpose of responding to a national emergency.
PROVIDING EDUCATION BENEFITS INFORMATION GI Bill Comparison Tool
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – The GI Bill Comparison Tool is designed to make it easier for veterans, service members, and family members to estimate their GI Bill education benefits and learn more about the VA’s approved college, university, and other education and training programs across the country. It also provides key information about college affordability and value, so beneficiaries can choose the best education program to meet their needs. The VA successfully trademarked GI Bill to prevent its fraudulent use for recruiting purposes and to protect this publiclyowned intellectual property. “We are excited to see how veterans respond to the wealth of information now available on the updated GI Bill Comparison Tool,” VA’s Undersecretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey said. “We’re grateful for the chance to work with our partners at the departments of defense and educa-
tion to ensure beneficiaries are informed education consumers.” The updated version of the GI Bill Comparison Tool has new functionality, including a more robust GI Bill benefits calculator and additional information pertinent to the veteran population – identifies schools with student veteran groups, VetSuccess on Campus program, and those that have agreed to the 8 Keys to Success. The GI Bill calculator provides a personalized estimate of Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition and fee, housing allowance, and book stipend benefits that would potentially be paid to the student. The calculator prepopulates the tuition and fee estimates from the Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. The veteran indicator section now contains new information on schools’ student veterans groups, VetSuccess on Campus program and Yellow Ribbon agreement status.
What Will I Receive? You may receive a percentage of the following payments: • A tuition and fee payment that is paid to your school on your behalf; • A Monthly Housing Allowance – not payable to individuals on active duty or those enrolled at half-time or less – that is equal to: • Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents, for students pursuing resident training, payable for the zip code of your school; • Onehalf the BAH national average for students training solely by distance learning; • The national average BAH for students pursuing training at foreign schools; • A books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000 per year.
How Many Months Of Assistance Can I Receive And How Long Am I Eligible? Generally, you may receive up to 36 months of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. You will be eligible for benefits for 15 years from your last date of active duty, of at least 90 consecutive days.
What Kind Of Training Can I Take? You can use the Post-9/11 GI Bill at colleges, universities, trade schools, on-the-job training, apprenticeships and flight schools. To see what programs are currently approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for VA benefits, visit www.gibill. va.gov. You can use the Post-9/11 GI Bill for tutorial assistance, licensing (attorney license, cosmetology license, etc.) and certification tests (SAT, LSAT, etc.). Note: If the program you are interested in isn’t on the website, contact your state approving agency – list is available on www.gibill.va.gov – to see if the program can be approved.
Can I Transfer My Entitlement To My Dependents? You must be a member of the uniformed services to transfer your unused benefits to your spouse or dependent(s). Generally, you must agree to serve four more years when transferring benefits.
What Is The Yellow Ribbon Program? The Post-9/11 GI Bill can cover all in-state tuition and fees at public degree granting schools, but may not cover all private degree granting schools and out-of-state tuition. The Yellow Ribbon Program provides additional support in those situations. Institutions voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA and choose the amount of tuition and fees that will be contributed. The VA matches each dollar of the institution’s contribution and issues payments directly to the institution.
WINTER 2016 | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | CCE 23
24 CCE | CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION | WINTER 2016
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