LOOKING FOR WORK BUT LOST IN THE WILDERNESS?

Author: Paulette RisherProgram Director, Veteran Employment Servicesprisher@stillservingveterans.org

Connect with us at:Website: http://www.stillservingveterans.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stillserving.veteransLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/still-serving-veteransTwitter: https://twitter.com/SSVeteransPhone: 1.866.778.4645

Veteran Employment Services enabled by a

generous grant from the Call Of Duty Endowment

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Topics Facts Transition as a process The challenges of letting go Traversing the wilderness New work and new life skill Advice for the serious job seeker

‒ Clarify‒ Identify‒ Plan‒ Act

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Facts

December 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics:‒ 7.9 million (5.0%) Americans are unemployed‒ 2.1 million>27 weeks or more‒ 6 million Involuntary part-time workers

November 2015 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS):‒ Job Openings: 5.4 million on the last business day of November

2015‒ Hires: 5.2 million‒ Separations: 4.9 million (of which 1.2 were layoffs or

discharges)

Yes, unemployment is high. However, here is a lot of movement & opportunity

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Unemployment as Transition

Unemployment is a transition – typically unwelcome and many times unexpected (or we prefer to think so)

Transition is a process – universal in nature, unique in experience

Transition is a three-phased psychological reorientation process

William BridgesForemost Expert On TransitionsTransition Model

Challenges of Letting Go

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Transition is an emotional roller coaster – a surprise to many

Anger, denial, bargaining, depression, isolation, and disillusionment are all common emotions. No particular order, not one time and done!

Can’t move ahead without letting go of past Selective letting go requires self-knowledge, a realistic

perspective, and self-reflection

Traversing the Wilderness

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Nothing is “neutral” about this phase, it more like wandering through a wilderness

This is a time of challenge, but also one of great opportunity

This is critical path to the future, impacting every aspect of our lives - physical, mental, emotional, relational, financial, and spiritual

The Wilderness

Self-reflection, integrity, planning, and execution are key to success

New work and new life skill

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There is new work – what it looks like may be different that what is envisioned or preferred

Self-knowledge; practical know-how; disciplined approach to execution set the stage for future transition success

The Wilderness

The transition process is not linear and tidy. It is messy. It is full of ups and downs

Each traveler is unique and each journey is unique We are often confronted with multiple transitions

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PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR THE SERIOUS JOB SEEKER

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Rules of Engagement

Be brutally honest with yourself – tell others what you want, but don’t kid yourself

Do not share this analysis or notes with anyone – protect your ideas and protect your privacy; create safety

Get everything out of your head and down on paper or electrons. Keep a journal, notebook, or electronic file handy

Be specific, don’t generalize – no hand waving Don’t commit to a course of action you are not really

going to do – respect yourself

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Four Key Tasks

Clarify ‒ the work you seek‒ the target employer(s)

Identify ‒ strengths and liabilities‒ what are the things standing in the way of employment – really‒ actions necessary to address key obstacles

Plan ‒ detail your job search to incorporate new insights‒ craft the key stories you must be able to tell‒ Refresh resume, profiles, virtual presence, dress and appearance

Act – Assess – Adjust‒ work on the job hunt everyday – not just talk about‒ have faith

Clarify Identify Plan Act

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Task: Clarify

The work you seek – what kind of work do you want to do and will you do for whom?‒ What are your top five skills?‒ What are three things you do not want to do?‒ What can you not do (disability, family situation)‒ Are you willing to move? If so, what would be the enticement?‒ How much money do you realistically need? What is the least?‒ Will you work part-time, for commission, independent contractor

(1099 employee)?‒ Will you work for a staffing agency?

What kind of employer do you prefer?‒ Public, private, non-profit, small business, large business, local

or multisite?‒ What industry, what career field?

Clarify Identify Plan Act

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Task: Identify

Identify your strengths and liabilities ‒ What are the strengths you bring to the employer (really!)‒ What are the things standing in the way of employment – really?

Age, gender, appearance, education (too much, too little, to long ago), lack of technology skills, handicap (real or perceived), sexual orientation, religion or lack thereof, marital status…

What can you and what are you willing to do to address key obstacles?

Opinions: There is virtually nothing that an employer might want to know about

you that is not available online. Accept that fact and be prepared to address it! There is no where to hide

If your technology skills are weak and your disciplinary knowledge dated – you can fix that (and must) for little or no $

Clarify Identify Plan Act

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Task: Plan

Plan‒ Layout your job search, incorporating new insights‒ Lay plans out on a calendar – what and when (no “happy talk”)‒ Refresh resume, profiles, virtual presence, dress and appearance‒ Craft the key stories you must be able to tell

• Start with the “Big Four”‒ Tell me a little about yourself‒ What kind of work do you want to do?‒ How does your experience fit with the job you want?‒ Why did you leave your last job?

‒ For sophisticated jobs – be prepared for challenging questions (see next few slides)

Clarify Identify Plan Act

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Consider Potential Questions

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Consider Potential Questions

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Performance Based Interviewing (PBI)

Sample PBI Questions (from Dept. of Veteran Affairs)‒ Describe a situation in which you had to use your communication

skills in presenting complex information. How did you determine whether your message was received? (With the original question you are assuming the person did understand.)

‒ Share with me an example of an important personal goal that you set, and explain how you accomplished it.

‒ Lead me through a decision-making process on a major project you’ve completed.

‒ Have you ever had many different tasks given to you at the same time? How did you manage these?

‒ Give an example of a time you had to make a difficult decision.

Research findings show that the best predictor of future behavior is past

behavior … This method is also referred to as competency-based or

behavioral interviewing

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Task: Act

Act – Assess – Adjust‒ work on the job hunt every day – not just talk about‒ get out of the house – network‒ stay positive and have faith

Clarify Identify Plan Act

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home

and think about it. Go out and get busy.Dale Carnegie

Who We Are Still Serving Veterans, a registered 501c(3) non-profit, established in

Huntsville, Alabama in 2007 provides the Veterans and their families, transitioning military, and members of the Guard and Reserves with employment services including career planning, job search strategy development, resume preparation, and interview preparations. Additionally, we work closely with local Veteran-friendly employers to fill positions with well-qualified, screened Veterans. All services are provided at no charge to either client or employer.

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North Alabama / Huntsville Office626 Clinton Avenue, Suite 200Huntsville, Alabama 35801Phone (256) 883-7035 | Fax (256) 883-7166

Central Alabama/Birmingham Office135 Gemini Circle, Suite 204Birmingham, Alabama 35209Phone (205) 670-1955 | Fax (205) 637-7917

East Alabama/Columbus GA Office1206 Broad Street, Suite 102Phenix City, Alabama 36867Phone (334) 384-9111 | Fax (334) 384-9112

Virtual Employment CounsellingWeb request at: www.stillservingveterans.orgOr Call (866) 778-4645 or (256) 883-7035 and ask to speak to an Employment Counselor

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About the Author

If you are looking for someone to stand by you and support you through critical life transitions, Still Serving Veterans is here for you!

Paulette M. Risher is twice retired, once as a civilian Organizational Psychologist with the United States Air Force Research Laboratory and once as a Major General (2-Star) in the United States Army Reserve. With 34-years of Army service, Paulette was the first woman to command an Army Special Operations unit as a flag-officer and served as President of the Joint Special Operations University.

Upon leaving active duty, Paulette joined Booz Allen Hamilton and led their organization and strategy team in Huntsville and then served as the Principle Director for Huntsville Operations for DigiFlight, Incorporate. Today, Paulette is the Program Director for Veteran Employment Services for Still Serving Veterans and manages the Call of Duty Endowment (CODE) grant to expand Veteran hiring. She is a serious mentor and Veterans’ advocate. Paulette holds a Masters degree in Education with a focus on adult learning and a Masters and Bachelors in Psychology.