Do you agree with these 4 Networking Tactics for Veterans?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 18:55:04 -0400

Most people know that networking is the critical foundation of any job search. Unfortunately, most people – including veterans – are terrible at professional networking. Beginning with a basic misunderstanding regarding the purpose of networking, most job seekers either do not attempt the effort or poorly execute it. Any job seeker who expects to be successful must learn the four steps to effective networking and relentlessly practice them with vigor and resourcefulness.

The good news for veterans is that, because of their service, most Americans are eager to help them succeed in their job searches and careers. However, veterans themselves are solely responsible for their job-search success, and those who learn to network effectively will be the ones who find it.

Networking, or what academics call "leveraging social capital," is the art of using human interaction to obtain the information and access that will lead to the achievement of one's goal. Professional and productive networking can be summarized into four major abilities or practices. The utilization of these four abilities will not only advance veterans in their professional lives, but they may well advance them in other areas, too. Here are the four practices:

1. Know yourself and know your goal.

2. Inventory your connections.

3. Know what you want from others.

4. Bring a mutually supportive posture.

Let's examine each of these in turn:

1. Know Yourself and Your Goal

The first step to effective networking is to know clearly who you are and what you seek to accomplish. The more precise you are, the more efficient and effective your networking campaign will be. One way to communicate your essence and goal to others is to create an effective elevator pitch.

For example, telling someone "I am looking for a good IT job in Chicago" is not helpful. On the other hand, telling someone "I am a creative individual who loves quantitative problem solving. I excelled at a number of technical assignments in the Navy, and now I seek to break into the cybersecurity field in the Chicago area" is an excellent example of a concise and clear goal that people can understand and act upon. In this second statement, not only is the job seeker revealing a clear goal, he's also defining his talents and background, which highlight his qualifications.

2. Take Inventory of Your Contacts

We have all heard the adage: "It is not what you know but who you know." Many cynically retort that that is the problem – they don't know anyone. But they might be surprised to find that they know more people than they realize.

When preparing for a job search, the candidate must organize all her professional and personal contacts. One can use a computer spreadsheet or a pad of paper, but the key is to record every single adult person they know. This may be hundreds of contacts or even thousands. Your former soccer coach, old military unit buddies, Aunt Bessie's bridge club members, that guy you always talk to at the dog park – it does not matter, they all go on the list. You never know how "that guy from high school" might know a key hiring decision-maker at your dream job company.

Next, you must organize these individuals by thinking through what and who they might know. Tag each one with identifiers, such as " IT industry," "lives in Chicago" or "worked at XYZ Company." Once you have completed this laborious task, you need to prioritize all the members of your list according to their relative usefulness. Some will be top priorities, and others you may never find time to contact, but you will have a comprehensive place to start.

3. Connect with People

The best way to network is face to face. The next best thing is a phone or video call. On the other hand, a simple LinkedIn connection, if not followed by personal contact, is useless.

When meeting with people, know exactly what you seek from them. For example, most job candidates are seeking introductions, information or feedback. Be clear when you reach out to people, and name drop others you have met along the way. For example: "Mary Jones at XYZ Company told me during a recent meeting that you were the most knowledgeable graphic designer in Louisville. I left the Army last year, and I am researching how to become a Web designer. I would love to meet with you to get your advice."

Do not ask for a job. Simply – and sincerely – seek to improve your knowledge and your access. Even if there is not a job opening at that time, you will have new knowledge and possibly new connections. You will also have a strategy for moving forward.

Every interaction is an opportunity to practice your networking skills. Even a job rejection is an opportunity for feedback. Instead of simply accepting the rejection, use the opportunity to find out why you were not the right candidate. Saying something like: "Thank you for letting me know I did not get the job. May I please get some candid feedback? Since I left the Air Force, I have been very focused on finding a marketing communications job, and I would like to learn who else I should meet." This request shows that you are serious about improving yourself and your connections to qualify for the positions you seek, and it also shows that you are open to criticism and can admit when you require additional assistance. There are very few employers who would not make time for such a request.

4. Understand Mutuality

Networking is a two-way street. The premise is not "what can you do for me?" but rather "what can we do for each other?" This may seem odd when there is an obvious power imbalance. After all, what can an executive vice president learn from a transitioning petty officer? You never know. It might be insight into a business problem, a connection to another job candidate or a fresh perspective on a personal matter. The important thing is to always offer to help: "You have been so helpful to me, Ms. Smith. Is there anything I can do for you now or in the future?"

Related to this sense of mutuality is the dedication to keeping your contacts informed of your progress. This is a basic and essential courtesy that works to your advantage. Most networking candidates meet with a contact, maybe send a thank-you note, and then never follow up again. Instead, keep all your contacts informed as to your progress during your search, after it concludes and even as your career develops. You don't know where your next opportunity will arise, but it will most likely come from the network you've built and maintained.

Your Task

Effective networking is not just a job-search tactic but a way of life. The best networkers never have to conduct formal job searches, because they are so well-connected and attuned to those connections that opportunities find them. This level of network connection is something all veteran job seekers should aspire to achieve.

By using the four habits of effective networking, this goal is easily an obtainable one. And once you have achieved your own goals, resolve to help your veteran brothers and sisters as they too transition to successful civilian careers.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Sep 14 at 2015 6:58 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 18:58:27 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I am in agreement, these tactics are vital for a formal and successful transition into society. I am currently using them Sweet

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2015 7:08 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 19:08:29 -0400

I'm a bit skeptical of these rules. People know when you're "networking" and they're turned off by it. Your best bet is to just be genuinely helpful to the people you meet in every walk of life. Pay it forward and you never know when it will benefit you.

I fell into my current job that way. A former company commander asked me to come in and share some of the insights I'd picked up at another agency. I put together a short briefing -- expecting to just help them out with the issues they were working on. And, the next thing I knew I walked out of that office with a job offer.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 14 at 2015 7:09 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 19:09:48 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs Here is a quick review with my comments in [brackets]
1. Know yourself and know your goal[s]. [Know your strengths and your weaknesses, which weaknesses can be strengthened and which ones will not likely be able to be overcome]
2. Inventory your connections. [Not only conduct an inventory of your connections; but, understand which ones can directly help you indirectly or directly reach your employment objectives]
3. Know what you want from others. [may be useful, know what you want from your employer - what is essential and what could be delayed or ignored for the time being as you pursue your goal of employment.]
4. Bring a mutually supportive posture.
5. Add - research the industry and specific companies you are interested in. Being knowledgeable about the goals, products, competitors, supporting companies and supported organizations shows you have done your homework and are better positioned to bring something to the company you want to join.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 14 at 2015 7:26 PM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 19:26:21 -0400

I would add:

Sell yourself by emphasizing your military experiences that would be helpful in the job you are being considered for. Also stress any leadership or management schools you attended while on active duty. Also mention your travels to other countries & what you learned from these countries which add to your overall knowledge and experience.

And summarize by saying how you can help this company attain their business goals with your creativity and imaginative ideas..

I think what is important is to remember you are marketing yourself so this requires considerable thought and preparation. And of course having a positive attitude can be infectious..

Response by SSG Ricardo Marcial made Sep 14 at 2015 8:48 PM

SSG Ricardo Marcial — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 20:48:10 -0400

1. Know yourself and know your goal.
I made reference earlier here, have your "elevator pitch ready". if you're targeting a specific group or company do a little research on them before you go in to say anything. Incorporate that into your conversation, it will get you more than a few minutes of their time.

2. Inventory your connections.
Again, I have said this here, "are you a known candidate" who you know and who they know are just as important. Volunteer work, social events (pick your topic, plenty to chose from). Get a business card made with your contact information on it, it's not a challenge coin but it's just as impressive. Something you said or did will hit them when they get a chance to look over the 30-50 cards in their pocket when they get back to the office.

3. Know what you want from others.
Yes they know you're networking, looking for something from them and in return your offer what. Give them a reason to listen to you.

4. Bring a mutually supportive posture.
Come prepared, there is no such thing as coming unprepared to a networking event. Who will be there will be available before the event, make your choices and prepare yourself. Presentation, dress for the occasion. Communications, speak civilian English, leave the jargon for your buddies. Stay focused, yes there are other people there you want to talk to but the person in front of you is the most important person in the room at that moment.

Hope this helps, good luck.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2015 9:32 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 21:32:59 -0400

I believe that all of these support the Army values. So yes I do agree.

Response by SFC John Cruzat made Sep 14 at 2015 10:39 PM

SFC John Cruzat — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 22:39:32 -0400

This works!

Response by SFC John Cruzat made Sep 14 at 2015 10:44 PM

SFC John Cruzat — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 22:44:26 -0400

Awesome exercise!

Response by SFC John Cruzat made Sep 14 at 2015 10:45 PM

SFC John Cruzat — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 22:45:15 -0400

Awesome exercise!

Response by SFC John Cruzat made Sep 14 at 2015 10:47 PM

SFC John Cruzat — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 22:47:23 -0400

Potty Training

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 8:58 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 08:58:29 -0400

#1 thing is just to spend time with people having meaningful conversations. Deliberate networking is usually pretty transparent and therefore not very valuable. Learn to be comfortable and talk to people on a wide range of subjects. Then apply those 4 tactics from a friendly, non-networking, point of view and you'll have a lot more success.

Unless we are talking about industry conferences, job fairs, and the like.

Response by CPO Jason Meier made Sep 15 at 2015 9:29 AM

CPO Jason Meier — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 09:29:49 -0400

Prior, during, and even after my transition to the civilian sector I learned that these four guidelines are the key to any success story. Just to break down each from a slightly different perspective than the previous comments:
1. Know yourself and know your goal.
Like mentioned earlier, you do need to know who you are and what your strengths and weaknesses are. Sit down and write them out. Remember while on Active Duty during reviews and evaluations, you had to list your strengths and weaknesses for your supervisor and they did the same from their point of view. Reflect on those evals to help you identify those. Knowing your goal or goals since you should never have just one. To be successful, you need to be goal driven, you need the "Why" for any given task for it to have meaning which will give you the drive to complete it.

2. Inventory your connections.
While networking, whether it is a one-on-one, or at networking functions, take note of all the people that you meet. Make notes on the backs of their business cards, if they have one, so that you can remember what they can do for you later or how you may be able to help them. Helping others will get you into the spot light faster than just taking notes.

3. Know what you want from others.
This kind of goes along with know your goals. What do you need to achieve your goal and how can others help you get there? Refer back to the networking notes and line them up with the things you need to achieve your goal whether it is to find a new job, starting up and new business, or advancing you in your current company. Networking is not only for those looking for a job, but one can network within their current company to move up the corporate ladder, if there is room to move.

4. Bring a mutually supportive posture.
As for mutually supportive posture, just be confident but not arrogant. Know what you have, what your experiences have taught you, what skills you can offer, and what you enjoy. Knowing what you enjoy helps with your motivation. Knowing that you are applying for something that you enjoy doing translates very well to the other person because it shows passion in the field. And most importantly, whether you are looking at a tech field or a public relations field, all fields revolve around people. Show that you enjoy working with others and that you can be an active participant in their corporate team.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Sep 15 at 2015 1:23 PM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 13:23:53 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I would add a fifth (though it may just be an expansion of number four): surround yourself with positive people. It is too easy to surround ourselves with "psychic vampires" that feed of negative emotion. These are the people who will ask how things are going, then tell you why the negative is so much worse than reality. These are the people who will try to bolster their own sense of self by reducing your sense of self. In a transition from military to civilian life, career change, job search, or even in military life, these are the people who thrive on misery, and can bring down the individual.

1) Knowing oneself is an ongoing adventure. I am not the same man today that I was yesterday. I am nothing close to the man I was fifteen years ago (when I was discharged from the Navy), and I would like to just slap the punk ass kid I was when I enlisted. So I would say that knowing oneself is more difficult than anything else on this list.
Knowing the goal is difficult in that it starts with understanding our strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has talents, things that come easy to us that we don't think about until it is pointed out to us. It is easier to understand out weaknesses than strengths as we (societally) are told that humility is a good thing. So between exaggerating weaknesses and not observing our strengths, it makes setting the goal complicated. Once we get past that complication, then it is easier to map out a path to finding success and/or happiness.

2) Connections are important. It is the good old six degrees of separation thing. They have to be the right connections. Networking for employment is not the same as social networking. Adding a connection who may be a friend, but is on a career path that doesn't suit your goals is going to lead to convoluted results. When Networking for professional growth, it is important to stay focused on the end goal above all else.

3)This ties in directly with number two. It is important to consider the symbiotic nature of professional connections. It is not just about how a connection is beneficial to oneself, but it is about how both are going to benefit each other. Mentoring, job hunting, training, personal skills all are important parts of advancing one's career. In determining if a connection is a good fit, the first thing to evaluate is how connecting is going to benefit oneself in advancing. The second thing to consider is how the connection is going to benefit. Knowing exactly what a person is looking for allows for a more impartial evaluation of a potential contact.

4) Once one determine's that a contact is beneficial, then it comes time to add that contact into the fold. This is where the rubber meets the road. Being a positive and supportive person is going to show one's connections that they are a valuable resource. Being a valuable resource can open doors that one may not even know existed.

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Sep 16 at 2015 12:05 PM

PO2 Peter Klein — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 12:05:26 -0400

The guru of modern networking, Dr, Ivan Misner, suggests that since you have one month and two ears that you use them proportionally. In other words, look to help others which will pay off for you. That philosophy of BNI has paid off for me. Go to BNI.com to find a chapter near you and find out how to really network.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Sep 16 at 2015 12:41 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 12:41:27 -0400

Networking is THE SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE way to get a job. If you know someone, and their company has a position, they will let you know before open advertising, and often put in good words for you, to help you get the job...

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Feb 20 at 2016 11:14 AM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 11:14:06 -0500

HERE IS THE LINK:

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2015/09/01/4-networking-tactics-for-veterans

Response by Doug Macdonald made Feb 27 at 2016 10:40 AM

Doug Macdonald — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 10:40:20 -0500

It has to be natural. Communication that's rehearsed comes across that way. Be true to your passion and the tribe will come.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 9 at 2019 8:23 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 20:23:44 -0400

This is a important skill to have!

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 12 at 2019 12:20 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 12:20:18 -0400

Well what do you think?