Add Depth to Your Job Network

Go Three Deep

Recent studies conducted by recruiters indicate that many people are finding their jobs through people they already know. However, success is two (2) referrals away from your immediate level of contacts. In other words, jobs come from two people removed from whom you already know. If you know Jim and Jim introduces you to Elaine that’s one level. Once Elaine has meet with you and she furthers your information to a third person, Steve, you will then start to see a level of interest which results in actions taken that are closer to serious interviews and employment offers. Therefore, the key is to get yourself "three deep" in all of your existing relationships.

"Retire to" your next opportunity

One key to successful transition is to reframe the conversation you have with yourself and others. You are not so much "retiring from" the military as you are "transitioning to" your next opportunity.

There is a continuum at work here that you must be aware of, truly accept and believe in. You want to avoid the "abrupt dead end" and "difficult start over" phases. The reality, irrespective of how you treat it mentality, is that "dead ends" and "start overs" don't exist. Sure transitions do happen to all of us and they are certainly natural occurrences of life.

However, if you choose the right path your transitions should be relatively smooth. This is especially true if you humble your ego and embrace learning something new where you can also reapply your strengths and draw upon past experiences. The opportunity is in learning something new that rounds out your existing skills set. It has been proven many times, in many ways, that business skills are very complementary with military leadership.

On your next series of moves, related to transition, do yourself a tremendous favor. Drive down all future paths using both your front and side windows. Don't exclusively focus on your "rearview mirror" or assume that your military experiences will be enough of an employment card to ensure your future success and ongoing happiness.

Make Education Planning Part of 2012

What is your education plan for upcoming year? With large numbers of personnel and officers leaving the military by the end of the year, setting up a plan of action for your education now is an important part of successfully transitioning into a meaningful path of work and future livelihood to pursue. Recognizing this period of time, as a building block for future success, is a very real opportunity for you.

If earning a graduate degree is part of your future, working with Military MBA can be beneficial for you. In addition to our existing resources (i.e., a timeline for planning key steps in an MBA education and acting on requisite resources), we have several new programs planned for 2012. Two worth mentioning are: 1) the "12 More in 2012" initiative and; 2) a "Leaders Apply" campaign. The Leaders Apply campaign is an outreach program designed to help you initiate proper evaluation of an MBA degree and career. While "12 More in 2012" is a year-long initiative for us and our member schools to step up our commitments to enroll, resource and educate more military students next year.

We hope you chose to participate with us and greatly anticipate a successful year.

Military Student Day @ 1-2 PM EST

Featuring Military MBA's Executive Director Greg Eisenbarth

CollegeWeekLive, the world’s largest online college fair, along with the Pat Tillman Foundation, the Leadership Scholars Program, and Marines For Life is proud to be hosting Military Student Day on December 1st. Military Student Day is an event for active, reserve and transition military personnel, veterans, their spouses and families. It will provide information you need to get into college and obtain a higher education. CollegeWeekLive Military Student Day will connect soldiers with school admissions reps and current military students giving them the chance to chat live to get all of their questions answered. During the event, live video presentations will also provide audience with information about using the GI Bill benefits, winning scholarships, creating college applications, improving standardized testing and more. The event is totally free and can be accessed from anywhere around the world with your computer.

Sign-Up Now so you don't miss "Military MBA" at 1PM EST featuring Military MBA's Executive Director Greg Eisenbarth.

Why Coach K has success?

Congratulations to Coach K on win 903! It is no surprise that he is a graduate of West Point. A former military officer, he transitioned effectively into a national leader in ethics, college sports and business education. All of these experiences have contributed to his success as a coach.

He continues to develop the Center on Leadership & Ethics (COLE) at Duke University, which works closely with The Fuqua School of Business. Fuqua is a member school of Military MBA. Earlier today, they provided us with the following information on their relationship to Coach K and COLE.

Coach K is an executive-in-residence with Fuqua and its Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics (COLE). He embodies what we mean by Leader of Consequence – adaptive, ethical, entrepreneurial, and team-oriented leader who is able to make an impact in whichever organization(s) that they enter. Being a leader of consequence is an expectation for every student in our MBA program.

Every class of our Daytime MBA students has a chance to engage with him. For example, for this year’s entering class of MBA students, he was the keynote at orientation – the program that sets the context and expectations for our students in terms of what it means to be a Fuqua leader, and is a part of our integrative and intentional end-to-end leadership development experience for every MBA student. He sets the context and tone for why ethical leadership, leader development, and teamwork are critical aspects of their MBA experience. He also engages with our COLE leadership Fellows – 40 second year students who are peer selected and given intensive leadership training to serve as peer coaches and team facilitators for every first year student and first year student team.

Aside from that, he also engages with COLE on a variety of projects. For example, COLE is working on an academic piece around his leadership. He is also highly engaged with and is an anchor part of our annual Coach K Leadership Summit.

Go here to learn more about Duke's MBA programs.

Veterans Get Employment Boost

According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Senate should vote this week on a tax break for companies that hire veterans. The extra incentive here for lawmakers is that the observance of Veterans Day happens this Friday. Look for it to be approved and ease lingering concerns over employment of veterans.

Considering that almost 100% of veterans who have an MBA degree are placed -and get hired before traditional MBA grads -when they complete their education, this tax break would add further incentive for employers to hire Military MBAs. Go here for more information on our employment data surveys.

Take that 8 a.m. class

NY Times study shows students enrolled in early classes earn higher grades in college. This is a no-brainer for military students who are used to getting up early. The consensus opinion on this study is that most college students believe there is a correlation here, but it is not a cause-and-effect relationship.

This falls under the category of "doing practical things to ensure a student's success". We posted more practical advice earlier this year when we recommended that students should enroll in a computer science class if it fulfills a requirement, doesn't destroy your schedule or delay graduation.

MBA Schools in Los Angeles Deliver

There are some outstanding MBA Schools in the LA area, including powerhouses such a UCLA Anderson and USC Marshall. UC-Irvine is also known for recruiting military students.

During a recruitment trip last week to L.A., we also met with the Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University and the Argyros School of Business and Economics at Chapman University. Both of these MBA Schools understand value of recruiting military students (i.e., officers, NCOs and personnel). However, rather than give lip service to the needs of veterans, they are carefully setting up student services and programs to accommodate military MBA prospects. Both schools participate in Yellow Ribbon School program and seem more intent on delivery and demonstrate less emphasis on promotion. Because of excellent coverage in the LA area, it is a great market for anyone with a background in the military to earn an MBA degree.

New Fields of MBA Employment

A new Millennial Career study conducted online for American Express by Harris Interactive, reveals that two-thirds (68 percent) of recent grads and students are not working or working at a job that is not in their field.

According to CareerBuilder, 54% of workers who were laid off in the last year and found new jobs entered different fields from where they had previously worked.

A 54%-to-68% majority of people are finding jobs in new fields of employment. While Military MBAs should try new fields of employment; they should also chose both their MBA degree programs and areas of emphasis carefully. You don't want to limit yourself or paint yourself into a corner.

Consider dual degrees and find application for your MBA in other career fields that are hiring. This approach can augment any employment pursuits now happening with employers who traditionally hire MBA grads such as investment bankers and consultant firms and make you more employable. Your military skills, leadership background and experiences will only further help you standout during your search for jobs and a career.