Download pdf - NMSN Fall 2015 eMag

M A G A Z I N ENovember 5 2015 Vol 2 Issue 2

NMSN

bull COMMON BUSINESS ENTITIES bull THE MORE YOU KNOWbull A CONVERSATION WITH PAM ALLEN bull UTILIZING BLOGGERS

Register NOW for the

5th AnnualMilitary Spouse

Summit

November 13-14Springfield VA

Register online atMILSPOUSESUMMITCOM

Visit us online at httpnationalmilitaryspousenetworkorg About Us | Join Today | Editorial | Advertise2

PRESIDENTrsquoS LETTERSue Hoppin

MEET THE EXPERTS

COMMON BUSINESS ENTITIESRachel Brenke

GETTING IT ldquoWRITErdquo ON YOUR RESUMEJanet Farley EdM

THE HOUSE IS MESSIER AND I DONrsquoT CARECarol Fishman Cohen

FIRST IMPRESSIONS DO MATTERJoyce Neave

PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARDAmy Schofield ACRW

THE MORE YOU KNOWMatt Zemon

TRANSITIONSue Hoppin

USE YOUR BRAINCarol Bowser JD

WORKING WITH HEAD HUNTERSJulie Waters

UTILIZING BLOGGERSGreta Perry

THEN AND NOW A CONVERSATION WITH PAM ALLENShelley Kimball

T A B L E O FCONTENTS

3

4

8

12

14

20

23

25

29

32

34

38

40

No part of this publication can be reproduced stored or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the Publisher


Spend some time thinking about your personal and professional goals Write them down and start chipping away at them Otherwise yoursquore going to turn around one day and realize that 5 10 20 years have passed and yoursquore in the position of cobbling together that resumeacute and trying to figure out how to break into the workforce If you take little steps along the way yoursquore going to put yourself in a much better position to re-launch your career when yoursquore ready to work outside the home full time Our experts are prolific writers on this subject but if I had to boil down their advice and insights into 5 tips this is where I would start

bull Keep your resumeacute and LinkedIn profile updated at all times You never know when opportunity will present itself and you want to be readybull Take advantage of opportunities to fill in your resumeacute gaps whether itrsquos through strategic volunteering or part time jobs that develop skills and knowledge that you may need to round out your resumeacutebull Join organizations to affiliate with like minded people and keep up with trends in your field bull Set goals and write them down At least once a year take a look at those goals and adjust them as needed to reflect your long term goals and ambitionsbull Never stop learning Attend networking events and take advantage of professional development opportunities to grow and stay current in your field

To the last point if yoursquore in the DC area or close by I hope yoursquoll join us at our 5th Annual Military Spouse Career Summit Whether yoursquore a volunteers job seeker entrepreneur or just a milspouse looking to network with other career minded military spouses this is the event for you We always have a great mix of military spouses married to currently serving veteran AND retired servicemembers as well as a positive environment so itrsquos a fun way to hone your skills gain some new insights and expand your professional network This year wersquore thrilled to be joined by Katherine Berman and Sophie LaMontagne the co-founders of Georgetown Cupcake Theyrsquoll be sharing their business experiences and lessons learned then sticking around for a cupcake receptionmeet and greet Itrsquos sure to be a great time We hope to see you there For more information or to register check out milspousesummitcom Hope to see you there

Connect with us on Facebook NMSNetwork and on Twitter NMSNetwork

By now everyonersquos settled the kids in school and schedules are starting to normalize somewhat The back to school rituals are well on their way Itrsquos time to start thinking about YOU and your goals As parents wersquore quick to prioritize everyone else ahead of ourself Donrsquot do this Your goals and ambitions are just as important as everyone elsersquos needs

Sue Hoppin


M E E T T H E

EXPERTS

SUE HOPPIN

Sue Hoppin is the founder and president of the National Military

Spouse Network a consultant on military family issues and the co-

author of ldquoA Familyrsquos Guide to the Military for Dummiesrdquo Before

founding the NMSN Sue served as the first deputy director for

spouse outreach for a military affiliated non-profit with a 375000+

membership She is a recognized subject matter expert on military

spouse and family issues and has spoken to audiences nationwide

ranging from installation career events to leadership training

sessions and national conferences She holds a bachelorrsquos degree in

international studies from the University of Denver a masterrsquos degree

in international relations from the University of Oklahoma and an

executive post graduate certificate in nonprofit management from

Georgetown University

CAROL BOWSER

Carol Bowser is the president of Conflict Management Strategies Inc

and is an expert in workplace conflict --what creates it and how to

resolve it While she HATES arguments she loves maintaining sanity

and increasing production by jumping into conflict to fully resolve it

ldquohellipWhat I really like is listening to peoplersquos stories and working outside

the legal system to repair workplace relationshipshelliprdquo She received her

law degree from Seattle University School of Law and her Mediation

Training through Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution Carol

is a speaker trainer and consultant for employers on how to avoid

workplace conflict


RACHEL BRENKE

Rachel Brenke is an author photographer lawyer and business

consultant for photographers and bloggers She is currently helping

creative industry and blogging professionals all over the world initiate

strategize and implement strategic business and marketing plans

through various mediums of consulting resources and legal direction

See more httpwwwthelawtogcommeet-rachel-the-law-togDisclaimer I am a lawyer but Irsquom not your lawyer View my entire

disclaimer HERE

CAROL FISHMAN COHEN

Carol Fishman Cohen is a globally recognized expert on career-

reentry strategy She is co-author of Back on the Career Track A

Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms Who Want to Return to Work and

co-founder of iRelaunch (wwwiRelaunchcom) the comprehensive

resource for everything related to career reentry tools strategies

events products and services A strong advocate for the unique

value that returning professionals bring to the workforce and for the

employers that hire them iRelaunch has connected with a national

network of over 13000 people through more than 185 return to work

programs and presentations Contact infoirelaunchcom

JANET FARLEY

Janet Farley serves as a NMSN subject matter expert and she is

the author of The Military Spousersquos Employment Guide Smart

Job Choices for Mobile Lifestyles (Impact Publications 2012) For

more military spouse employment tips and thoughts follow her

Smartjobchoices on Twitter


JOYCE NEAVE

Joyce Neave is an authority on fashion and style As founder Joyce

has been empowering clients for over twenty years As the owner

of That Mom Inc and now JOYCE NEAVE style group her work

has been featured in the Washington Post the Washington Times

Washingtonian Magazine and Bethesda Magazine among others

Joyce has been featured on WUSA9 News highlighting her wardrobe

consulting practice and providing viewers with valuable insights

Joyce styles both women and men and is a consultant for several

media companies associations newspapers and online magazines

Joyce and her team keep clients current with fashion trends while

maintaining a classic timeless look

GRETA PERRY

Greta Perry owner of Kickify rdquoPumping Up Your Web Presencerdquo has

branded herself both on and off-line with her positive energy intuitive

use of technology and networking successes She is available for

consulting or speaking for businesses and brands of all sizes Greta

is never far from the internet and can be contacted at Gretakickify

com Facebook Twitter kissmygumbo kickify freetweetadvice

LinkedIn Google + or wwwkickifycom

AMY SCHOFIELD

Amy Schofield founder of Schofield Strategies [httpschofieldstrategiescom] works one-on-one with individuals around

the country who are interested in personal branding and resume

writing services Schofield Strategiesrsquo most popular services include

editing and tailoring resumes to certain fieldsspecific positions

writing resumes from scratch military-to-civilian transition resumes

creating cover letters and thank you letters and developing

optimizing LinkedIn profiles Amy is the author of two e-books

ldquoResume Writing 101 Tips and Techniquesrdquo and ldquoOptimizing LinkedIn

for Your Job Searchrdquo [httpschofieldstrategiescome-books-resources]


JULIE WATERS

Julie was born and raised in Washington State She graduated from

the University of Washington with a BA in English and earned an MS

in Human Resources Management from Troy University She is also

a certified Professional in Human Resources Over the last 13 years

Julie has held various Human Resource positions starting her career

at FHC Health Systems in Norfolk Virginia then moving to Landrum

Professional Services in Pensacola Florida Cambridge Health Alliance

Physicians Organization in Cambridge Massachusetts and the Military

Officers Association of America in Alexandria Virginia where she

served as the Director of Human Resources Julie currently resides

in Spokane Washington where she is the Human Resources and

Operations Manager for a law firm

MATT ZEMON

As President and CEO Matt Zemon brings more than 20 years of

operations billing and customer service experience to American

Support American Support was created to help video voice and

data companies succeed by operating efficiently consistently and

with excellent customer service making life better for our clients

employees and families while supporting our country Matt has

been named one of the Triangle Business Journalrsquos 40 Under 40

winners and one of Business Leader magazinersquos Top 50 Catalyst

Entrepreneurs


COMMON

Business Entitiesby Rachel Brenke

When running a business it is important (and cost effective) to spend time establishing a solid infrastructure for your business This means understanding applicable laws identifying risks and setting policies and procedures A qualified business attorney can advise you on best practices for your business There are several types of business entities which are commonly used for business formation

The choice of entity depends on your objectives and the tax and legal aspects of the entity - set aside some time (and funds) to review your goals with your legal and tax teams before launching and you

will set your business up for success

SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP

A Sole Proprietorship is a one-owner business created at a county or city level that does not have a formation separate from their personal individual Sole Proprietors are the default structure when formation documents are not filed but business owners are engaged in business This type of structure is typically filed on a personal income tax return and a Schedule C This structure has no liability protection shield between personal and business assets but is the easiest and cheapest way to form a business


PARTNERSHIP

A partnership is two or more people in business together A partnership can be implied in law so it is often a legally risky form of business entity It is usually better to form an entity to define the business relationship A partnership is required to obtain city county andor state licenses It pays taxes on its income which is attributed to the partners according to the terms of their written or oral partnership agreement The IRS has tax forms for partnerships (Form 1065) Individual partners receive K-1 forms declaring their share of the income which is reported on 1040 Schedule E Partnerships can be default created by action as a operation of law but should always be accompanied with partnership agreements to outline all responsibilities monies debts and other important details

CORPORATION

The corporation is considered to be a separate legal person under the law It is run by a board of directors who appoint officers to run the day to day business affairs It is owned by shareholders Shareholders are either common or preferred Preferred shareholders usually have more rights than common shareholders Preferred shareholder rights are specified by the corporate charter and directorrsquos resolution It is the most common entity used by public companies Standard corporations are often referred to a ldquoC corporationsrdquo a reference to Section C of the Internal Revenue Code

where their tax treatment is defined The IRS has tax forms for corporations (Form 1120) Individual shareholders receive K-1 forms declaring their share of dividend income (if any) which is reported on 1040 Schedule E This results in a ldquodouble taxrdquo The income is taxed at the corporate level and then on the individual level Except for the rare federal charter all corporations exist under the authority of state law and federal law generally defers to the state statute to determine the power and rights of corporations

S CORPORATION

A Subchapter S Corporation is exactly the same entity as a corporation or a ldquoCrdquo corporation The entity is defined by state law The ldquoSrdquo and ldquoCrdquo designations are for federal tax law purposes only The ldquoSrdquo designation comes from the name of the subchapter of the Internal Revenue Code which defines its tax treatment An S corporation was the first entity designed to help small business avoid the double tax C corporations must pay (at the corporate

Donrsquot avoid taking the legal bull by the horns

simply because you are unaware

of the process


level and then at the shareholder level if dividends are paid) Because it has been in existence for over 50 years the rules and regulations enacted by Congress and the IRS are complex

The S corporation election taxes the shareholders for the profits of the corporation even if no dividends are paid Losses are passed on to the shareholder but can only be deducted to the extent of the amount paid for the stock (called ldquobasisrdquo) Generally S corporations are complicated and have hidden risks Limited liability companies are a better choice for most small businesses The IRS has tax forms for S corporations (Form 1120S) Individual shareholders receive K-1 forms declaring their share of all income which is reported on 1040 Schedule E If the S corporation had income the shareholders must pay tax even if they received no distribution from the corporations This is called ldquophantom incomerdquo

Corporation structures are more time and administrative intensive that other types of business but can bring great tax benefits depending on specific business situations

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

The best and most popular form of business entity is usually the limited liability company It is taxed like a partnership (no double taxation ndash see above) is very flexible and has legal advantages that are not available to corporations (eg no ldquopiercing of the

corporate veilrdquo) If the business will have multiple owners it is best to have a lawyer set up the LLC property and accompany the formation with an operating agreement to manage possibilities such as death retirement divorce and conflict LLCrsquos also have the benefit of being filed on a personal income tax return (1040 Schedule C) like a Sole Proprietorship but have the option to elect a Corporation taxation through the IRS for additional tax benefits without the corporation administrative duty requirements

HOW TO CHOOSE

Choosing a structure for your business may be a difficult decision but is not one to avoid simply because it is overwhelming The first step is to examine the structures provided above and ask yourself the following questions

What is my financial budget for formationHow important is liability protection to my business and the nature of the businessWhat is my long-term goal with the business

These questions will help to shape your business formation plan A small business attorney can help you work through your plan and liability protection desires while a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) can weigh in on the tax benefits for your specific tax situation

Business formation may be overwhelming but legally required and an important process to running a business Donrsquot avoid


Rachel Brenke is an author photographer lawyer and business consultant for photographers and bloggers She is currently helping creative industry and blogging professionals all over the world initiate strategize and implement strategic business and marketing plans through various mediums of consulting resources and legal direction See more httpwwwthelawtogcommeet-rachel-the-law-tog Disclaimer I am a lawyer but Irsquom not your lawyer View my entire disclaimer HERE

taking the legal bull by the horns simply because you are unaware of the process Professionals are available to assist you in your business decisions but always be sure to communicate fully your intentions and long-term goals to reach the best decision with these professionals as possible


GETTING IT ldquoWRITErdquo ON

Your Resume

by Janet Farley Ed M

There are things in life we like to do such as spending quality time with our families travelling to new and exciting places and spending hours shopping when everything is on sale and everything fits us

Then there are those things in life we donrsquot exactly like to do like PCS every few years or hear a doctor say ldquothis wonrsquot hurt a bitrdquo Somewhere on that list of things we donrsquot exactly like to do has to be spending countless hours updating our resumes for new jobs

In the name of enhancing your time management skills and in landing the job you really want letrsquos discuss how to get it

write on your resume Pun intended

IT LIVES

Before you launch into edit mode accept one reality about your resume It lives It is not a static document that you review every few years when it suits you

Your resume is a living breathing document that you take good care of so it can take good care of you when time is short and opportunities are present This means you need to give it more than a passing thought on a fairly regular basis

Best suggestion Pick a schedule any


schedule and stick to it

For example make a pact with yourself to review your resume every year on the day after your birthday Or plan to review it every six months Whatever you decide be consistent and have it on your calendar as a must do item

You owe it to yourself Within the scope of one year your skills have grown You have new professional experiences that need to be captured on your resume if you intend to remain competitive

Yoursquoll realize the true benefit of routine maintenance when you want to apply for a job and you donrsquot need to spend an insane amount of time updating your resume

TARGETING YOUR RESUME FOR A SPECIFIC JOB

You have found the perfect job and now all you have to do is convince the employer to give you an interview A killer resume targeted specifically to that job may well be just what you need to make that interview a reality

Gather all the information you possibly can about the job you want What skills are they seeking Credentials Experiences Highlight those keywords you see in the announcement You may even know someone on the inside who can offer you unpublished details

Compare the job you want with the content on your existing resume Do you

see an obvious fit or not Look critically at your resume as though you were the employer Would you hire you

Enhance the fit Assuming you are not already a perfect match for the job on paper then work to get as close to that point as you can skill by skill

Letrsquos say you are applying for a budget analyst job but yoursquove never been a budget analyst You have however worked in job where you had some significant fiscal responsibilities

Your mission then becomes showing how what you have done in those other jobs is akin to what you can do in relationship to the job you want

For example the job vacancy announcement says you have to be able to develop and coordinate budget submissions and justifications Maybe you didnrsquot do that every single day in past jobs but you did do it or something like it annually in one of them Expand upon that point in the appropriate work narrative

To effectively update your resume and target it to the job you want repeat that process for every skill desired by the employer

You will either be able to directly or indirectly address the skills or not Whatever you write in an effort to show the fit to an employer be able to back it up 100


Janet Farley serves as a NMSN subject matter expert and she is the author of The Military Spousersquos Employment Guide Smart Job Choices for Mobile Lifestyles (Impact Publications 2012) For more military spouse employment tips and thoughts follow her Smartjobchoices on Twitter

Throw the thesaurus away Donrsquot reach for fancy words Use the same ones that are used in the job vacancy announcement or within that industry to show your familiarity with the career field assuming you have it

Length matters Consider the employer before you expand your resume past two pages If you are targeting a job within the federal government go into adequate detail and donrsquot stress over how many pages it takes Stress over the content The average federal resume is four to five pages long If you have a ten or more page resume then you probably said too much

If you are targeting a job in the private sector keep it to no more than two pages unless instructed otherwise by the employer

Highlight the skills you have to offer Donrsquot get caught up in all the skills abilities or experiences that you donrsquot have Instead sell what you do have Itrsquos you If yoursquore not happy with what you have to offer then that is a different situation requiring different action


THE HOUSE IS MESSIER AND

I Donrsquot Careby Carol Fishman Cohen

Ten years ago when Vivian Steir Rabin and I were doing the research for our career reentry strategy book Back on the Career Track (Hachette 2007 Amazon 2011) we conducted over one hundred in-depth interviews to understand every detail about transitioning back to work after an extended career break At the time we focused primarily on moms returning to work after career breaks for child care reasons Both Vivian and I returned to work after our own career breaks home with children but we didnrsquot want to rely only on our experiences The discussion of managing day to day logistics upon returning to work brought out excellent and sometimes humorous responses From

household cleanliness to lack of personal time to the realities of carpools and childcare return-to-work moms give us frank and helpful advice

HOUSEHOLD CLEANLINESS

ldquoMy house is messier and I donrsquot carerdquo

ldquoYoursquove got to let go of domestic perfectionrdquo

ldquoI feel that if I am working things that are undone at home really donrsquot bother me as much Like those pictures that have been leaning against the wall for the last two years that need to be hungrdquo


The chorus of voices citing the lowering of household cleanliness standards came across loud and clear When moms returned to work they decided to be less picky about how clean their houses were and they were much happier for it

ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE

ldquoSince I went back the household stuff is definitely more out of control Now we all rush out of the house at the same time and there is no one to clean up the dishes and food left on the table Beds are unmade Therersquos no one to go around and straighten up and clean This is especially hard when my mother-in-law is visiting She tends to judge me by how I keep or do not keep up the houserdquo

MEAL PREPARATION

ldquoI do a lot of Crock-Pot cooking One night a week we have sandwiches for dinner One night a week we have what we call lsquoSonoma Nightrsquo a cold meal of with cheese fruit bread boiled eggs cold veggies leftovers We barbecue a lot Sometimes the kids make dinner on their own with canned soup frozen dinners and fresh fruitrdquo

ldquoWe have a lot of pasta for dinner now or eggs or even cereal and fruit when I canrsquot get around to making anythingrdquo

CHILDCARE

ldquoI needed coverage from 445 to 600 pm

every day which was the gap between when the kids got home and when I got home I found two thirteen-and-a-half-year-old girls in my neighborhood who were best friends to provide this coverage They guaranteed that one of them would be available to cover this time slot every day They were there without fail every afternoon for two years I could never have done this without themrdquo

CARPOOLS

ldquoWe were in lots of carpools and with six kids both of us drove them Our deal with the other parents was OrsquoBriens would do the morning carpools and other families would do the afternoon Sometimes Irsquod be at a corner dropping off three of the kids and Irsquod see Tom whizzing by with his car poolrdquo

(Note This quote is from Ruth Reardon OrsquoBrien Conanrsquos mom who has the most amazing relaunch success story from the 1970s This quote was from an interview of Reardon OrsquoBrien by Heather Peddie in an account originally for the Stanford Law School Womenrsquos Legal History Biography Project

I also interviewed Ruth Reardon OrsquoBrien)

Yoursquove got to let go of domestic

perfection


How returning to work feels ldquoin the momentrdquo (quote from a relauncher one month before she went back)

ldquoIrsquom feeling tremendous uncertainty a tremendous urgency before I get everything in place before I start work again Now Irsquom realizing all the roles I really had [We had a family meeting] I told the kids they owed the family 30 minutes of helping-out time every dayrdquo

(Note This relauncher has now been back at work

for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT

ldquoWhat I sacrifice is personal time My out-of-work peer relationships are gone I never see my women friends anymore Exercise is really reduced or gone Thatrsquos an okay trade-off for me right now Some of my social needs are met at the officerdquo

ldquoIt takes a monumentally important event for me to be out on a weeknight I say no to almost every evening request for my time whether it be a fund-raising event dinner with friends or a college alumni get-together I will admit I made an exception for the Paul McCartney concertrdquo

KIDS GAINING INDEPENDENCE

ldquoWe told the kids they were each responsible for making dinner one night a week This included coming up with the ingredient list in time for our once a week grocery shopping trip on Sundays It didnrsquot matter if boiled pasta and water

were being served as long as something was planned At first my seventh grade son balked but he later became quite possessive of lsquohisrsquo dinner nightrdquo

ldquohellipI was nervous about how they would manage without me Fed up one morning I decided to takehellipinaction I stayed in bed and let the children run through the morning routine themselves Well the kids (ages 13 and 10) made their breakfasts and lunches themselves and left on their own It was a lesson to me It was as if someone turned the light on I realized that a 10 year old making her own breakfast and going to the bus by herself can be a good thing Shersquos developing competencies she wouldnrsquot have developed if I were always around I think about it in terms of competencies developed in the absence or presence of parentsrdquo

ldquoDonnarsquos decision to go back to school and then to take a position as an ESL teacher caused drastic changes in the routines of her son and daughter She worked only four hours a day Monday through Friday but she had to leave for work right after her sonrsquos wake up time (Her 14 year old daughter left for the school bus before her son woke up) Her 11 year old son had to make his breakfast set the alarm lock the house and get himself to the bus all on his own He was only in fifth grade Her friends couldnrsquot believe she would let him do this but Donna felt he was mature enough to handle itrdquo

I hope you find these quotes and anecdotes as inspiring and instructive as


Carol Fishman Cohen is a globally recognized expert on career-reentry strategy She is co-author of Back on the Career Track A Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms Who Want to Return to Work and co-founder of iRelaunch (wwwiRelaunchcom) the comprehensive resource for everything related to career reentry tools strategies events products and services A strong advocate for the unique value that returning professionals bring to the workforce and for the employers that hire them iRelaunch has connected with a national network of over 13000 people through more than 185 return to work programs and presentations Contact infoirelaunchcom

I do This wisdom could only come from moms who have lived through a return to workmdashno sugar-coating here For more advice and information about returning to work after a career break consult the resources at iRelaunchcom



FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Do Matterby Joyce Neave

You never know who you are going to meet Think of yourself as a walking billboard The way you present yourself is how people connect to you Do your clothes fit you well Are they clean and pressed Studies show that people have confidence in individuals who take pride in the way they dress This does not mean that you have to break the bank to look good It means that your clothes are the right size and tailored to fit your body It means yoursquore dressed appropriately for the situation For example it means that you wear closed toe shoes to a job fair and save the flip flops for the beach


Businesses want to hire people who will represent their company well Ask yourselfrdquo Do I reflect their brandrdquo What you wear to work shows how you feel about the company Do you show up fresh and ready to do your job Do your clothes convey that you are part of the team Everyone wants to express themselves and be heard In a business setting this is achieved by your ideas not your clothing Companies have reputations Intelligent well-mannered well dressed employee make the company look good Save your creative dressing for the weekend

Dressing well and appropriately tells the world that you are a good decision maker that you have good judgment This will not only build peoplersquos confidence in you at the work place but in every setting Most importantly you will feel good about yourself

TIPS ON PRESENTING YOURSELF WELL

bull When shopping for your work attire itrsquos best to simplify Basic suiting in solid colors should be made well and tailored to fit your body

bull Take care of your clothing by dry cleaning your suits In between trips to the cleaners try steaming your suits with an electric steamer You can purchase a free standing or hand held steamer This will take out the wrinkles and keep your clothing smelling fresh

bull Shirtstops should be free of tears snags stains and should always smell fresh Cologne will not take away body odor or food smells and definitely not the smell of smoke It will only smell worse

bull Practice good personal hygiene Bathe regularly use deodorant brush your teeth and visit your dentist for regular cleaningsBe well groomed Nails should be trimmed and clean If you wear polish chipped polish should be repainted or removed Hair should be groomed and clean when you arrive at work


bull Shoes should always be clean polished and heels and soles should be repaired when needed

bull Keep jewelry to a minimum and avoid jewelry that jingles

bull If yoursquore working in a more conservative setting tattoos and piercings should be covered in the work place until yoursquore more familiar with the culture of the company and get a better handle on whatrsquos acceptable

This is a topic that is worth revisiting often Why Because it can change your life Though that sounds dramatic itrsquos actually true First impressions DO matter Following these tips will get you in the door Once yoursquore in your hard work and best efforts will speak for themselves

Joyce Neave is an authority on fashion and style As founder Joyce has been empowering clients for over twenty years As the owner of That Mom Inc and now JOYCE NEAVE style group her work has been featured in the Washington Post the Washington Times Washingtonian Magazine and Bethesda Magazine among others Joyce has been featured on WUSA9 News highlighting her wardrobe consulting practice and providing viewers with valuable insights Joyce styles both women and men and is a consultant for several media companies associations newspapers and online magazines Joyce and her team keep clients current with fashion trends while maintaining a classic timeless look


PUT YOUR BEST

Foot Forwardby Amy Schofield ACRW

Military spouses may be faced with numerous employment challenges Multiple moves typically result in searching for new jobs possible gaps on resumes and potential certification issues Because of this military spouses often times have a difficult time obtaining employment making it even more important for military spouses to put their best foot forward on their resume

BELOW ARE TEN RESUME TIPS TO HELP YOU GET IN THE DOOR

1 Adapt your resume to each position yoursquore applying to

2 Make sure you understand what each employer is looking for and that your resume clearly highlights the specific skills and experiences that the employer is seeking

3 Review your resume to ensure you are highlighting your strongest accomplishments that set you apart from other job applicants

4 Address any gaps As a military spouse you may have additional gaps from moving around so ensure you address these gaps Volunteering is one great way to address any potential gaps


5 Choose quality over quantity It is generally better to send 10 tailored resumes than to apply to 100 jobs using a general resume

6 Know how to get past applicant tracking systems Use proper key words for the type of job you are applying to

7 Never use your email address with your current employer on your resume (And speaking of email addresses make sure that the one you are using is professional)

8 Do not include your physical street address city state or zip code if you are applying to a job in your new duty location and you do not have an address there yet (So ONLY include your address if you are applying to a local position)

9 Before sending your resume proofread it And then proofread it again Be sure your resume is 100 error-free

10 Honesty is critical Never never never lie on your resume

Remember the goal of your resume is to put your best foot forward ndash let the employer know why they want YOU over another job applicant Make sure you place more emphasis on your actual job accomplishments tailor your resume for each position you apply to use industry lingo and proofread (and then proofread again)

Amy Schofield founder of Schofield Strategies [httpschofieldstrategiescom] works one-on-one with individuals around the country who are interested in personal branding and resume writing services Schofield Strategiesrsquo most popular services include editing and tailoring resumes to certain fieldsspecific positions writing resumes from scratch military-to-civilian transition resumes creating cover letters and thank you letters and developingoptimizing LinkedIn profiles Amy is the author of two e-books ldquoResume Writing 101 Tips and Techniquesrdquo and ldquoOptimizing LinkedIn for Your Job Searchrdquo [httpschofieldstrategiescome-books-resources]

Adapt your resume to each position

yoursquore applying to


THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon

Every entrepreneur starts his or her business from square one- just like you Once started all of their time and energy goes into to growing the business

As the entrepreneur-in-residence for the National Military Spouse Network I am always looking for ways to help military spouses start or grow businesses An important resource for me has been the Entrepreneursrsquo Organization (EO) This organization provides small accountability forums and knowledge sharing for entrepreneurs around the world (For those of you with $1 million or more of annual revenue check them out)

This month I am offering some suggested reading for military spouse entrepreneurs They are written by thought leaders that were introduced to me through EO and cover a variety of topics that can help entrepreneurs of any size Getting back to square one letrsquos start with the beginning of a business Sound planning can make or break a new company but it doesnrsquot have to be daunting The three sources I cite on this subject offer great suggestions and tools Eric Ries is the creator of The Lean Startup and he offers a process to empower entrepreneurs to make better business decisions faster His scientific


approach to creating and managing startups streamlines the process The Startup of YOU focuses on the human side of entrepreneurship Reid Hoffman Co-founder and Chairman of LinkedIn and Ben Casnocha an Entrepreneur and Author cover the mindset and skill set that are needed by todayrsquos startups The Business Model Generation by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur takes a colorful and visual approach to strategy and planning Their Business Model Canvas is a simple but effective template that allows you to create a customized model of your business whether it is a startup or a going concern

Once you are confident about your plan the management elements needed to execute it should receive your thoughtful attention Once again there are many sources of information that can be helpful Mastering the Rockefeller Habits What You Must Do to Increase the Value of Your Growing Firm by Verne Harnish gets back to the fundamental best practices you can use to gain focus and align employees and vendors His one page Checklist and a number of other resources and helpful videos are available online

Hiring great people isnrsquot easy but it doesnrsquot have to be hard Geoff Smart and Randy Street wrote a fantastic book called Who that can help anyone make better hiring decisions

Once you have hired employees donrsquot forget to spend time on your company culture Define what the company stands

for and what is expected of every member Peak How Great Companies Get Their Mojo from Maslow by Chip Conley is a great look at what motivates employees customers bosses and investors He provides ideas on how to use that knowledge to strengthen relationships Those relationships are at the core of a strong and profitable business

When it comes to generating business there is a lot of advice out there about promotion Seth Godin has written a number of great books including Purple Cow New Edition Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable which identifies what makes a productcompany noticeable in a sea of marketing messagesIn Double Double How To Double your Revenue and Profit in 3 Years Or Less Cameron Herald addresses the three steps to success Planning Building and Leading As the former COO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK he played a key role in building a great company One key element for his company was generating free media exposure through an inexpensive public relations strategy which he describes in detail in Double Double

A well-known trait common to

Sound planning can make or break

a new company


As President and CEO Matt Zemon brings more than 20 years of operations billing and customer service experience to American Support American Support was created to help video voice and data companies succeed by operating efficiently consistently and with excellent customer service making life better for our clients employees and families while supporting our country Matt has been named one of the Triangle Business Journalrsquos 40 Under 40 winners and one of Business Leader magazinersquos Top 50 Catalyst Entrepreneurs

entrepreneurs is a thirst for learning I hope these reading suggestions will quench your thirst for a little while



TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin

Toward the end of August I had the honor of participating in the morethanaspouse Facebook party hosted by the National Military Family Association By the time the party was over I had answered nearly 300 questions on everything from careers entrepreneurship to transition An hour wasnrsquot quite long enough to share all the tips and thoughts about successful transitioning out of the military lifestyle so I wanted to follow up with a wrap up and throw in some other tips gleaned from our own transition a little over two years ago

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION (LEARNED THE HARD WAY)

Donrsquot kid yourselfmdashyoursquore BOTH transitioning Your service member spouse is leaving the military and you are leaving the active duty lifestyle Therersquos a lot of fear and anxiety that comes with that The good news is itrsquos normal Take it easy on yourself and understand that this is a very stressful time overall Do what you can to be proactive

Attend the transition seminar together Up until now yoursquove been the ultimate intel gatherergatekeepermdashtransition is no different Yoursquod be amazed at how much information is thrown at you during those seminars It doesnrsquot hurt to take the team approach and compare notes at the end of


the day

Understand your benefits The Survivor Benefit Plan is just the tip of the iceberg You should review your other benefits such as TriCare and dental to make sure you understand how your new coverage will work once you transition

Make sure your finances are in order Many people recommend having six monthsrsquo living expenses readily available for post transition life Try to have at least three to four monthsrsquo worth of living expenses available to alleviate undue stress This means start as early as you can to put away that fund If you maintained residency in a state that didnrsquot tax personal income tax while on active status but are now establishing residency in one that does it can be jarring It takes some time post transition to get used to the fees and taxes of settling into your new state of residency Wersquore a little over two years into our transition and just now feel like wersquove acclimated to our new financial reality It takes time And itrsquos stressful The only way to mitigate that stress is to be prepared

Take advantage of all the employment resources on the installation while you can Many of the resources and programs yoursquore used to are not available to retirees or veterans and their dependents so make sure you get those appointments and counseling sessions in while you can

Update your resume Even if you have no interest in working you never know when an opportunity might arise and you want to be ready Donrsquot wait until you need it to get your resume ready Be proactive

Order networking cards Companies like Vistaprint are constantly running sales so you can get hundreds of networking cards for a song Not sure where yoursquoll be living post transition No worries just leave the address off Yoursquoll want to have networking cards handy as you start meeting people

Start or update your LinkedIn profile LinkedIn is a great way to stay in touch with all of your contacts in a professional manner

Start attending career fairs together a couple years before the transition You

Yoursquore BOTH transitioning Your service member spouse is leaving the military and you are leaving the active duty lifestyle Therersquos a lot of fear and anxiety that comes with that The good news is itrsquos normal


want to get that dress rehearsal in before it counts Consider it a reconnaissance missionmdashitrsquos good to get the lay of the land and figure out how to interact effectively with recruiters before it counts Itrsquos also a great way to gauge what kind of opportunities are out there and what employers are actively seeking to hire veterans and military spouses

Network network network Network not just for that next career opportunity but also to find your ldquotriberdquo Find those people who have recently transitioned who can offer some fresh insights because they have just gone through it Theyrsquore going to become your new lifeline because they have successfully navigated the transition Theyrsquoll be a great reminder for you ndash there IS life after the military Yoursquore going to be stressed scared and anxious but it will pass

These are just tips to get you started If you have any to add drop them in the comments of the blog post If yoursquore going through transition soon think about joining us for the our summit [link to wwwmilspousesummitcom] in November particularly the Networking event on the 13th that will be focused on a Successful Transition Service member spouses are more than welcome Itrsquos a great low threat environment where you can relax and speak to military friendly employers and others who are either going through the transition themselves or have recently successful transitioned Hope to see you there

Sue Hoppin is the founder and president of the National Military Spouse Network a consultant on military family issues and the co-author of ldquoA Familyrsquos Guide to the Military for Dummiesrdquo Before founding the NMSN Sue served as the first deputy director for spouse outreach for a military affiliated non-profit with a 375000+ membership She is a recognized subject matter expert on military spouse and family issues and has spoken to audiences nationwide ranging from installation career events to leadership training sessions and national conferences She holds a bachelorrsquos degree in international studies from the University of Denver a masterrsquos degree in international relations from the University of Oklahoma and an executive post graduate certificate in nonprofit management from Georgetown University


USE YOUR

BRAINby Carol Bowser JD

The BRAIN technique takes the best negotiation collaboration and problem solving techniques and literally puts them at your fingertips 5 fingers 5 points Here we go

B = BENEFITS

TThink of all of the benefits to you in taking a specific course of action I mean all of the benefits emotional spiritual professional and financial If the idea impacts your work what are the potential benefits to the employer What are the potential benefits to society as a whole Quickly write all of the benefits down

R = RISKS

Think of all the risks associated with that same course of action Again these are all types of risks time emotional risks financial risks risks to the family risk to an employer or to a team

A = ALTERNATIVES

What are alternative courses of action that could achieve the same or nearly the same results This is the time to write down even the wildest least feasible ideas If you canrsquot think of alternatives describe the situation to someone who is not involved and write down their ideas You


arenrsquot at the place to make a decision yet so donrsquot worry about committing to any alternatives You are merely brainstorming

I = INTUITION

Now it is time to check in with your gut What does your gut tell you Do you like the idea Are you having a bad or uneasy feeling about it Your intuition is a valuable tool Donrsquot discount it

N = NOTHING

Yes nothing What would happen if you did nothing What would happen if you delayed a little Nothing is an option It may not be a viable option or it may be the best option Sometimes maintaining the status quo is perfectly fine

After running thought the BRAIN analysis you are ready to present your ideas You can confidently say ldquoI have thought of the Benefits Risks and Alternatives in the situation Did a gut check and here is where I landrdquo

Now if someone comes to you with an idea you can help yourself come to a well-reasoned decision by having that person walk you through the BRAIN analysis For example ldquoOk so you want to do (fill in the blank) can you walk me through the benefits of that What do you see as the Risks What alternatives did you think of What does your gut say What might happen if we put off the decision for a little whilerdquo

BRAIN allows everyone to be heard have their say and come to a decision

Carol Bowser is the president of Conflict Management Strategies Inc and is an expert in workplace conflictmdashwhat creates it and how to resolve it While she HATES arguments she loves maintaining sanity and increasing production by jumping into conflict to fully resolve it ldquohellipWhat I really like is listening to peoplersquos stories and working outside the legal system to repair workplace relationshipshelliprdquo She received her law degree from Seattle University School of Law and her Mediation Training through Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution Carol is a speaker trainer and consultant for employers on how to avoid workplace conflict


WORKING WITH

Head Huntersby Julie Waters

Headhunters can be a valuable tool in your employment search Since I personally have never had the opportunity to work with a headhunter when prepping for this article I sat down with Corinda Behler-Howe Branch Manager for Office Team a division of Robert Half International From their own website Robert Half International ldquospecialized staffing divisions place professionals in the finance and accounting information technology legal administrative and marketing and creative industriesrdquo Office Team specializes in placing highly skilled office and administrative support professionals

JW Letrsquos start with the basics What is a headhunter

CBH On a very basic level a headhunter is a person who can help you find a job On a deeper level a headhunter or recruiter is one more resource to help you in your employment search As recruiters have connections with organizations looking for the right applicant working with them helps expand your pool of opportunities

JW What types of professions typically run through a headhunting firm or placement


agency

CBH Agencies specialize in finding the right fit like those hard to find candidates with specific requirements as communicated by the company so yoursquoll find that they are looking to fill jobs in all types of professions

Headhunters were traditionally used for direct placement positions hiring employed people away from their current companies but now they are more associated with temp to hire or contract positions Though agencies do not typically handle entry level placements there are plenty of those positions available at a professional level to include C-level positions

JW Where would I find a headhunter or recruiter

CBH The same places you would look for jobs the internet phone book your local chamber even the base placement office Your best bet however is a networking event that correlates with the types of positions in which you would be interested For example the ASWA (American Society of Woman Accountants) if that is your specialty

JW How does a headhunter do the job And what about the timeline

CBH It is a recruiterrsquos job to build relationships on both sides of the process On the job seeker side it would begin with interviewing perspective candidates to find the right fit for an organizationrsquos needs Keeping in mind that each communication with the candidate is part of the interview all phone calls e-mail exchanges even your interaction with the receptionist is part of the big picture process Getting to know the candidates and building that relationship will make for a better placement Irsquove found that cultural fit is just as important as specific experience

As far as the timeline I donrsquot think there is a ldquonormalrdquo process anymore It depends on the flexibility of both the applicant and the company it depends on how deep into the process the company wants the headhunter to go Some just want an initial screening and interview and then the company decides to do multiple rounds of interviews Others want the recruiter to narrow the pool down to the final few candidates Using a headhunter firm or agency puts that old school feeling back in the mix that face to face personal touch of the process being about the person not the resume

JW What does the fee structure look like

CBH Predominantly the candidate does not pay a fee The recruiter gets compensated by the company If it is a temp to hire


or a contract position there is an hourly billing rate and a placement fee For direct placement a fee is negotiated between the agency and the company

As a follow up to talking with Corinda I had a discussion with a friend of mine who has been ldquohuntedrdquo Michele Chapman is Director Sales Operations for Philips Healthcare North America She has a Bachelorrsquos Degree in Organizational Leadership from Penn State Michele is a military brat whose father was career Air Force It was an interesting experience for her because in her case it was a call from a headhunter that came out of the blue

JW How did the headhunter find you

MC She found me on LinkedIn The recruiter cold-called me after I had listed my experience and skills

JW What did you like best about the process And what did you like the least

MC I liked that they had a specific job that fit my skills instead of me trying to find jobs that would interest me What I liked leastmdashmy recruiter had poor follow up about the interview and after the interview

JW Given your experience if you can put yourself in the shoes of a military spouse would you recommend seeking out a

headhunter as a tool for their job search

MC Yes - as long as they donrsquot have any monetary obligation to the headhunter The headhunters are paid by the companies to place you and you shouldnrsquot be paying them It also shouldnrsquot be their only avenue to get a job They should be networking and seeking out opportunities independently

Michele just confirmed my perspective that using a headhunter recruiter or placement agency should only be part of your job search You canrsquot just drop off a resume and expect them to call you with your dream job You need to be proactive with them and continue your other methods of searching

Another important thing to take away from meeting with a recruiter is that he or she is a person in your new city who has an extensive network Even if you donrsquot end up using their services that person could still serve a valuable resource If there are long-term contract positions available in your area you will be more likely to find them through a placement agency access to those positions may only open up through contact with the recruiter

I would also recommend using an agency or recruiter that has been around for a few years If a person does a poor job of finding that elusive ldquofitrdquo they wonrsquot last long in the business The people that have been there for a little while are probably


Julie was born and raised in Washington State She graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in English and earned an MS in Human Resources Management from Troy University She is also a certified Professional in Human Resources Over the last 13 years Julie has held various Human Resource positions starting her career at FHC Health Systems in Norfolk Virginia then moving to Landrum Professional Services in Pensacola Florida Cambridge Health Alliance Physicians Organization in Cambridge Massachusetts and the Military Officers Association of America in Alexandria Virginia where she served as the Director of Human Resources Julie currently resides in Spokane Washington where she is the Human Resources and Operations Manager for a law firm Julie was lucky enough to choose a career that easily transfers between employers as her husbandrsquos assignments moved them from city to city She holds a special interest in career building for military spouses as she feels it is important to have something personal outside of our military lifestyle

pretty good at it


UTILIZING

Bloggersby Greta Perry

This post was originally written in 2011 for NMSN and it still is extremely relevant in 2015 Just this past week my personal online presence (blog and social media) has opened a gateway to do some work with TravelocitymdashI even have my own Travelling Gnome At the same time I am also contacting bloggers on behalf of an authorclient While this post has been mildly tweaked since the first draft the importance of bloggers and marketing has only increased over time

Blogs are an often overlooked entity for marketing and advertising a brand or product According to Wikipedia (one of the only sources with current blog info)

on 20 February 2014 there were around 172 million Tumblr[5] and 758 million WordPress blogs Large companies such as Sears and USAA have realized the value bloggers can bring to their companies and actively engage them Mike Kelly Executive Director USAA Stakeholder Management amp Mobilization stated in 2011 when this article was originally published that ldquoOver the last several years wersquove seen bloggers grow in influence and impact within the military community playing a significant role helping educate and inform USAArsquos military members and their families about valuable benefits and how they can make healthy financial decisionsrdquo Augie Ray


Executive Director USAA Communities amp Collaboration said at the same time ldquoOur members trust bloggers to be objective sources of information and so do werdquo

If companies who can afford high dollar traditional media ads place a significant amount of energy into the blogging community then others should certainly follow suit Whether someone runs a blog for fun or to supplement their income (few actually use it for their primary source of income) blogs are out there for you to use to your advantage if approached properly Taking out an ad or offering them a free product service for review or event tickets is the best way to establish a business relationship with a blogger Below are steps that will help you to achieve this successfully

Determine if you will offer something of value to the blogger andor if an ad is the preferred method of contacting themApproach with caution as it only takes a second for a blogger to delete your request and time to answer it You must stand out from the moment of contactDecide what your advertising budget is ahead of time Most blogs will want 6 months of an ad purchased at a time If they do not have any ads you could offer them shorter periods of time Most would love some money closer to the holidays so now is a great time to make offers

Identify a blog whose audience reaches your targeted demographics age gender area of interest location

Have several graphic sidebar ads of varying sizes ready or just start by using a sidebar text ad

Carefully read over the blog to make sure you want your business affiliated with itNote how long they have been blogging and how consistent they areTake note if the blog currently offers individual advertisementsmdashnot just Google Amazon etc ads on their siteCheck to see if they have an existing ad or promotion policy

Check out the blogrsquos related social media presence as this may be of added value to your purchase You can often work social media promotions into your agreement There is a chance at some point that if the blogger likes your product or service he or she may write about it or promote it on other social media platformsmdashan unexpected benefit Good luck and remember first impressions with bloggers are of the utmost importance

Greta Perry owner of Kickify rdquoPumping Up Your Web Presencerdquo has branded herself both on and off-line with her positive energy intuitive use of technology and networking successes She is available for consulting or speaking for businesses and brands of all sizes Greta is never far from the internet and can be contacted at Gretakickifycom Facebook Twitter kissmygumbo kickify freetweetadvice LinkedIn Google + or wwwkickifycom


A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen

Two Coast Guard spouses from different generations shared their experiences trying to maintain careers while moving regularly one who kept her career intact while her husband served for nearly 40 years and the other still working to keep her career afloat

Pam Allen whose husband Thad Allen retired as the 23rd commandant of the Coast Guard maintained a career first as a math teacher then as an academic advising at the university level She decided to switch careers and go to graduate school to study college counseling and student development because she saw so many military spouses

struggling for employment Throughout those years she took part-time positions that turned into full-time positions as an advisor for university students to directing academic advising and career counseling centers

Shelley Kimball has been a Coast Guard spouse for 15 years and is trying to maintain her career while moving regularly She has worked as a university professor of media law both part time and full time as well as a researcher for nonprofits that serve military families

At the time of the conversation Allen was considering coming out of retirement to

by Shelley Kimball


take a new position with George Mason University in Northern Virginia developing a program that helps students get the most out of their university experiences by encouraging them to supplement their progression through school with work and classes that will give them better career opportunities As she was considering taking the job she said she was still experiencing many of the feelings she did when facing a new job as a military spouse

PA Irsquoll tell you the same thing happens right now in this decision that happens each time we had to move and find a new job and thatrsquos insecurities Itrsquos something I believe that a lot of military spouses have to conquer every single time They get better hopefully every time they get further on in their careers but itrsquos something that stops many people from going any further

SK I can completely relate Sometimes I feel like Irsquom pretending or Irsquom a fraud or is this really the job Irsquom supposed to have Or even applying to every job feeling like Irsquom not sure

For the current job I have I was drafting an email just cold calling saying my husband had orders we would likely be in the area and asking if there were any job openings When I was about to send that email I literally sat there telling myself ldquoYou just have to press send Just press send Be brave press sendrdquo Because I thought am I good enough Are they

going to laugh this off Am I the right fit So I just pressed send and the path started I ended up getting a job teaching at George Washington University from that email but it was scary

PA And for people that donrsquot have that confidence and I think everybody does to some extent but for some for whom this is really immobilizing you go and search for help to get that one step that you need in order to go to the next level

Back at the very beginning finding that next step wasnrsquot necessarily easy The Green Sheet [a hardcopy list of Coast

Guard information that was mailed out] was something we could get information from but trying to figure out how or who could give you that information was basically you stumbling along

SK Maybe thatrsquos the difference now between us In your time of doing this you were going to paper and trying to find human

Sometimes you donrsquot feel like you have a

choice but yoursquove always had a choice to take what

you were given and do what you can with it


beings where I am Googling Irsquom using LinkedIn Irsquom emailing And so for me itrsquos really probably 20 minutes at a computer to find my pathway But for you I donrsquot even know how long it would have taken you to track down even the person to send the letter to

PA Yoursquod go through papers and yoursquod look through the want ads Does anybody use the want ads now It was highly frustrating and unproductive

Becoming a career counselor I discovered all these resources that are out there that I didnrsquot know existed I bet you if you go and work with some of the spouses they donrsquot know itrsquos there They donrsquot know where to look Or they looked once and it wasnrsquot good for them so they never went back to look at it You just have to keep checking back Or you have to ask if you donrsquot find it because it probably is there and somebodyrsquos going to help you find the right place to look

Throughout both of their careers they have taken jobs at higher ends of their careers and then when a move came they would start back at the bottom

PA And when you do that you sit there and say ldquoHow do I tell people I used to be an associate director Why would they want to hire me in a lower positionrdquo And so with our military moving situation Irsquod have people send references of individuals that showed that I work with everybody else

Send letters from people who can tell you that as an advisor I work just as effectively as director

SK Irsquom having the same career experience I was director of the print program of the journalism department at a university then I couldnrsquot find a job at the next duty station

So I really had to change my perspective I feel like I broke apart my skill set I thought what do I enjoy If Irsquom sitting in my office all day what are the things Irsquom wishing I were doing instead of sitting at a desk Research and working more with military families were two of the priorities I guess I was gifted with unemployment because I started doing research for military family nonprofits and it filled that void for me

When we were getting ready to transfer again I really felt awful about starting over I was tired Thatrsquos when I sent that emailmdashjust be brave and press send And what came back was a part-time opening teaching directly in my field And so though itrsquos lower in stature to my old position Irsquom still so happy and satisfied Irsquom with the students teaching what I love

Maybe this will be the seed to the larger thing like your part-time jobs were And instead of saying no to the smaller position maybe something else will come

PA You should always do that And what you


bring each time Therersquos a life after all the moves

Both have tackled the question ldquoDo I reveal that I am a military spouserdquo

SK When you were applying for jobs and interviewing did you always say you were a spouse

PA That is a very interesting question Yes And not only that I made it an issue

What you get with a military spouse is consistency We donrsquot tend to flip from job to job because we are only here fore a few years

I would say in my cover letter quite often I am a trailing spouse and my husband is being transferred to this particular area and I am very interested in your position I would say this up in front because the worst thing is that they could get you in there and then they find out Irsquove always been up front

In some cases itrsquos beneficial One of the things I think everyone should say is what I bring to every new organization is the ability to look at it with new eyes I could bring in change I come with a wealth of information about all of the possibilities that are out there and hopefully we can work with what is there and make it a better organization Thatrsquos a pretty big selling point

SK Irsquom totally of the same mind My career has become such a patchwork I feet like I need to explain why I am always someplace different Itrsquos not a work issue itrsquos a life issue

PA You donrsquot appear to be hiding anything if you do that

SK I feel that too I feel dishonest if I donrsquot say

PA They are looking for dishonesty When you donrsquot put your times of work experience dates why arenrsquot you doing that You are trying to hide something Itrsquos better to put them down there And I help people write their resumes and I say if you change a lot if you donrsquot put the dates down there they say ldquoWhat is she trying to hiderdquo Itrsquos an honesty issue that I think is to your benefit

SK And what do you think are the most valuable parts of all of this What do you think are the strongest things to have when looking for a position as a spouse Experience honesty enthusiasm work ethic education Are there any that weigh more

PA Adaptability is probably what we have more than others We must be go-getters Wersquore out there getting a new job every


two to three years We must be able to adapt and do well Adaptability Change I think those are the things that you need to show say in a cover letter for those who are asking for cover letters And have somebody look at your cover letter Know how to say it and what to say and how to say it and not in 10 pages

Is there a silver lining

SK Are there positive aspects to moving

PA I think itrsquos positive because you move It isnrsquot a negative It feels negative It feels really negative Believe me Irsquove cried when I didnrsquot get a response just like everybody else I went through the whole thing but moving actually is a positive If you donrsquot like where you are working you know you are eventually going on to the next possibly better job If you do like where you are working you still could be going on to the next better job with experiences the new organization wants Is it easy No Therersquos a lot of work involved in it And Irsquoll admit sometimes I was lazy I was just tired of working and putting myself out there But you have to work on sharing your passion and excitement to make the best impression

I am who I am because of what has happened In reality everyone is So yoursquove always had a choice all along the way Sometimes you donrsquot feel like you have a choice but yoursquove always had a choice to take what you were given and

do what you can with it

I think I learned this from my husband I asked him ldquoHow do you get to be an admiral And he says lsquoTake whatever job you have and make the best out of that job even though it may not be the one you want at that particular time Because the next step could be that opportunityrdquo

And it happens It does happen Even with military spouses

NATIONALMILITARYSPOUSENETWORKORG


PRESIDENTrsquoS LETTERSue Hoppin

MEET THE EXPERTS

COMMON BUSINESS ENTITIESRachel Brenke

GETTING IT ldquoWRITErdquo ON YOUR RESUMEJanet Farley EdM

THE HOUSE IS MESSIER AND I DONrsquoT CARECarol Fishman Cohen

FIRST IMPRESSIONS DO MATTERJoyce Neave

PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARDAmy Schofield ACRW

THE MORE YOU KNOWMatt Zemon

TRANSITIONSue Hoppin

USE YOUR BRAINCarol Bowser JD

WORKING WITH HEAD HUNTERSJulie Waters

UTILIZING BLOGGERSGreta Perry

THEN AND NOW A CONVERSATION WITH PAM ALLENShelley Kimball

T A B L E O FCONTENTS

3

4

8

12

14

20

23

25

29

32

34

38

40

No part of this publication can be reproduced stored or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the Publisher







Sue Hoppin


M E E T T H E

EXPERTS

SUE HOPPIN














CAROL BOWSER










workplace conflict


RACHEL BRENKE







disclaimer HERE

CAROL FISHMAN COHEN











JANET FARLEY







JOYCE NEAVE












GRETA PERRY








AMY SCHOFIELD











JULIE WATERS













MATT ZEMON









Entrepreneurs


COMMON





SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP



PARTNERSHIP


CORPORATION



S CORPORATION




of the process








HOW TO CHOOSE










Your Resume






IT LIVES





































ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE


MEAL PREPARATION



CHILDCARE



CARPOOLS





perfection





for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT














FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball
























































Sue Hoppin


M E E T T H E

EXPERTS

SUE HOPPIN














CAROL BOWSER










workplace conflict


RACHEL BRENKE







disclaimer HERE

CAROL FISHMAN COHEN











JANET FARLEY







JOYCE NEAVE












GRETA PERRY








AMY SCHOFIELD











JULIE WATERS













MATT ZEMON









Entrepreneurs


COMMON





SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP



PARTNERSHIP


CORPORATION



S CORPORATION




of the process








HOW TO CHOOSE










Your Resume






IT LIVES





































ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE


MEAL PREPARATION



CHILDCARE



CARPOOLS





perfection





for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT














FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































M E E T T H E

EXPERTS

SUE HOPPIN














CAROL BOWSER










workplace conflict


RACHEL BRENKE







disclaimer HERE

CAROL FISHMAN COHEN











JANET FARLEY







JOYCE NEAVE












GRETA PERRY








AMY SCHOFIELD











JULIE WATERS













MATT ZEMON









Entrepreneurs


COMMON





SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP



PARTNERSHIP


CORPORATION



S CORPORATION




of the process








HOW TO CHOOSE










Your Resume






IT LIVES





































ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE


MEAL PREPARATION



CHILDCARE



CARPOOLS





perfection





for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT














FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































RACHEL BRENKE







disclaimer HERE

CAROL FISHMAN COHEN











JANET FARLEY







JOYCE NEAVE












GRETA PERRY








AMY SCHOFIELD











JULIE WATERS













MATT ZEMON









Entrepreneurs


COMMON





SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP



PARTNERSHIP


CORPORATION



S CORPORATION




of the process








HOW TO CHOOSE










Your Resume






IT LIVES





































ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE


MEAL PREPARATION



CHILDCARE



CARPOOLS





perfection





for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT














FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































JOYCE NEAVE












GRETA PERRY








AMY SCHOFIELD











JULIE WATERS













MATT ZEMON









Entrepreneurs


COMMON





SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP



PARTNERSHIP


CORPORATION



S CORPORATION




of the process








HOW TO CHOOSE










Your Resume






IT LIVES





































ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE


MEAL PREPARATION



CHILDCARE



CARPOOLS





perfection





for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT














FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































JULIE WATERS













MATT ZEMON









Entrepreneurs


COMMON





SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP



PARTNERSHIP


CORPORATION



S CORPORATION




of the process








HOW TO CHOOSE










Your Resume






IT LIVES





































ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE


MEAL PREPARATION



CHILDCARE



CARPOOLS





perfection





for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT














FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































COMMON





SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP



PARTNERSHIP


CORPORATION



S CORPORATION




of the process








HOW TO CHOOSE










Your Resume






IT LIVES





































ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE


MEAL PREPARATION



CHILDCARE



CARPOOLS





perfection





for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT














FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































PARTNERSHIP


CORPORATION



S CORPORATION




of the process








HOW TO CHOOSE










Your Resume






IT LIVES





































ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE


MEAL PREPARATION



CHILDCARE



CARPOOLS





perfection





for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT














FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball

























































HOW TO CHOOSE










Your Resume






IT LIVES





































ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE


MEAL PREPARATION



CHILDCARE



CARPOOLS





perfection





for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT














FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball























































Your Resume






IT LIVES





































ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE


MEAL PREPARATION



CHILDCARE



CARPOOLS





perfection





for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT














FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball




















































Your Resume






IT LIVES





































ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE


MEAL PREPARATION



CHILDCARE



CARPOOLS





perfection





for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT














FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































































ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE


MEAL PREPARATION



CHILDCARE



CARPOOLS





perfection





for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT














FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



































































ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE


MEAL PREPARATION



CHILDCARE



CARPOOLS





perfection





for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT














FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball





























































ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE


MEAL PREPARATION



CHILDCARE



CARPOOLS





perfection





for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT














FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball




















































ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE


MEAL PREPARATION



CHILDCARE



CARPOOLS





perfection





for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT














FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball






















































for ten years)

TIME MANAGEMENT














FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball























































FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball




















































FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































FIRST IMPRESSIONS


















PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball

































































PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball

























































PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































PUT YOUR BEST




















THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball






























































THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































THE MORE

You Know

by Matt Zemon













a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



























































a new company






TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball























































TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball




















































TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































TRANSITION

by Sue Hoppin






the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































the day















USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball
























































USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































USE YOUR



B = BENEFITS


R = RISKS


A = ALTERNATIVES




I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball




















































I = INTUITION


N = NOTHING







WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































WORKING WITH







agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































agency

























pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball

































































pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball




















































pretty good at it


UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































UTILIZING















A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball




























































A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball



















































A CONVERSATION WITH

Pam Allen






by Shelley Kimball








































































































































































