| "> | | | | transitioning and you have to be willing to sacrifice |
| It's Friday night and you're stressed our perusing | | | | your time. |
| the web searching for job leads. In just two | | | | 2. Plan to interview at least one civilian |
| weeks you will be on terminal leave from the | | | | businessperson a week over coffee or lunch. |
| military and you're nervous. The economy is in | | | | Maybe that person you strike up a conversation |
| shambles, jobless rates are at an all time high, and | | | | with at Starbucks can be a perfect candidate. |
| you have zero experience in the corporate world. | | | | Sometimes, strangers can be a great resource of |
| To make things worse, you're competing against | | | | information. Just be friendly and inquisitive. People |
| folks with stacked resumes and a huge network, | | | | like to help. |
| and the outlook appears dim. | | | | 3. Get on Linked In or Facebook and search for |
| You're about to go to combat in the real world | | | | people who are former military. Develop a |
| except you have a problem, you're not ready for | | | | relationship with them if you can and do what |
| battle. | | | | most military folks don't like to do: ask for help! |
| Fighter pilots don't strap on our gear and fly | | | | Here are some great book resources you should |
| unless we're fully prepared (i.e. up to date with | | | | check out ("Google" them): |
| tactics, intelligence and skill.) Did you ever strap on | | | | - Sweaty Palms: The Neglected Art of Being |
| your gear and deploy without being prepared? I | | | | Interviewed |
| didn't think so. It's called being Mission Ready | | | | - Military-to-Civilian Career Transition Guide: The |
| ("MR".) Becoming MR takes work. | | | | Essential Job Search Handbook for Service |
| Simply put, you need to fully trust yourself | | | | Members |
| before you can go on a mission. You have to | | | | - How To Win Friends and Influence People: Dale |
| trust yourself to win. | | | | Carnegie |
| You have to Prepare. | | | | - Think and Grow Rich: Napoleon Hill |
| You have to Train. | | | | Notice I didn't just list job resources. Personal |
| You have to Sacrifice. | | | | development guru Jim Rohn says "Work harder |
| Just like transitioning to the military was very | | | | on yourself than you do on your job." I agree |
| challenging for most of you, transitioning into the | | | | 100%. |
| highly competitive job market also takes a | | | | All these resources and strategies will help you |
| tremendous amount of work. But it's not the job | | | | develop what I call your Inner Wingman. When |
| searching and networking that you should be | | | | you trust your inner wingman, you become |
| concentrating on initially. Rather, you should be | | | | confident. Confidence breeds action which leads to |
| working on yourself. | | | | performance. People who lack confidence are |
| Arnold Schwarzenegger once said: Nobody ever | | | | fearful. They fear change, failure, and rejection. |
| got muscles watching me lift the weights! I have | | | | Fearful people have a survival mentality, but |
| a question for you: Have you lifted your career | | | | confident people have a winning mentality. |
| transition weights today? | | | | Confident people have positive attitudes and |
| So, rather than spending most of your time | | | | companies love to hire people who are positive |
| delving deep into the job search and getting | | | | and trustworthy. |
| stressed watching the news, what you need to | | | | If you don't trust yourself, neither will your |
| do first is get busy at preparing. | | | | interviewer. |
| Here are a few wingtips. | | | | So, before you start complaining about how |
| | | | difficult your job search is or how little |
| 1. Instead of watching "Grey's Anatomy" and | | | | opportunities are out there, ask yourself if you've |
| playing online poker, head over to Barnes and | | | | done the heavy lifting necessary to build trust in |
| Noble and find the best books you can on job | | | | yourself in this competitive job market. In life, |
| interviewing techniques, resume writing, cover | | | | nobody is flying your jet but you. You have to |
| letters, and recruiters. Sit, read, and take tons of | | | | earn your wings before you can fly. |
| notes. Do this every chance you get. You need to | | | | PUSH IT UP! |
| essentially get a private degree in career | | | | |