By CAREEREALISM Staff
When you meet Anthony Dineen, he looks like your typical fun-loving college junior. He’s confident, all smiles and the twinkle in his eye tells you he knows how to have fun. That’s why both myself and his fellow interns at CAREEREALISM were more than a little surprised to learn he had enlisted and served in Iraq in order to pay for college.
Anthony is one of thousands of the young men and women who have risked their life overseas. Yet, what many people do not understand is how these individuals return home with their perspective on things like college and work, profoundly altered. In fact, for some, integrating into the civilian workforce after duty is not an easy task. As his manager, I can tell you Anthony hasn’t had that problem. So, we asked him to share with us his thoughts on how an experience like serving as a Marine in the war at such a young age has made him a different, and perhaps, better student and future employee.
Do you think you are getting more out of your college experience as a result of your time in Iraq?
In a broad sense, yes. I think I am getting much more out of college after my deployment. I went through seven months not knowing if I was going to get another chance to be a college student again. Now that I got that chance, I’m enjoying every experience that much more. Also, the small things don’t bother me as much anymore.
Did your interests/priorities change when you came back?
They changed a few times. I had no idea what I wanted to do before I deployed. When I was there I thought I wanted to be an English Major, and now I have settled into my Political Science degree and I am really enjoying it.
Has your motivation and work ethic changed, and how, after coming back from Iraq?
The work ethic has always been there for me. I have always gotten things done when they needed to get done. I have always been a driven individual, but once I came back I had an altered idea about life. When I think about getting through some work, or applying to a job, or just about anything, I think to myself “what’s the worst thing that can happen?” It certainly won’t put my life in danger when I apply for an internship or some other event, so I go at it with a full steam. If I get turned down, or I don’t get the best grade in the class, I might be disappointed but it certainly won’t hurt my feelings. Life goes on.
How do you envision your time would have been spent, had you stayed?
I most likely would have changed majors a few times and possibly ended up with something I might’ve regretted. But who’s to say that?
Do you see joining the Marine Corps as a chance to better your career opportunities?
Yes, the Marines are just like any other social networking facility that you can think of but 100 times better. The guys I know would do anything for me and I for them, so if I ask them to possibly help me with a career move they won’t just make an effort, they will do everything in their power to help me out. Also, being able to put the United States Marine Corps on your resume is huge. That one line says more things about an applicant than any other one liner I can think of. I am telling a possible employer that I have leadership traits, my commitment is a given, I can function properly in a group setting; I am competent, honest, dependable, etc. The list goes on. These are traits that are imbedded into all U.S. Marines.
Where do you see yourself going after graduation, and how do you think that your previous choices will help you in the long run?
I am hoping to become a field agent with the FBI. I would also love to work with the DEA or work as a U.S. Marshall. Joining the U.S. Military obviously helps with the application process to the federal agencies, or even work with a company like Raytheon that works with the government, but in the long run I am counting on what I have done in school to get me to where I want to go.
What type of skills did you learn that you believe may help you in finding a job that’s right for you?
This is a complicated subject to explain, but I’ll give it a shot. My Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) is 0311. I’m a grunt, or an infantryman. The skills I learned in the Marines are all combat-related. The infantry doesn’t teach computer skills, or other specialty skills that can be transferred over to the civilian world. What I did gain besides the warfare related aspects are things like perseverance, determination, loyalty, tact, dependability. My education from UNH along with these traits will help get me to where I want to be.
Do you think you will run into any difficulties finding a job with your background or do you think it will be easier?
Well that question has been asked before, and not to me but to veterans after unpopular wars like the Vietnam War, and Congress passed legislation protecting veterans against job discrimination. So an employer can’t turn me down solely on the fact that I am a veteran. Besides that I would think that having this type of background would only beneficial in finding a job.
Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choices over again? i.e. cost benefit analysis, or did the means justify the end in the changes you’ve experienced.
I am very proud of what I have done for my country and I don’t regret the choices I have made with my military career. I didn’t choose to enlist just so I could put it on my resume; I wanted to serve my country. I do wish there was a way to not loose so much time on my degree but that wasn’t possible at the time.
Name 1-2 things you would like to say to someone that is facing the decisions you had to make about not going to college right away. Or rather, any words of wisdom?
Words of wisdom… keep your nose to the grindstone and just get it done. My life has many different aspects to it and gets pretty complicated at times, so for someone else in the same boat, I would tell them to keep at it and to not give up. There’s going to be many times when you just want to quit and go home. The reality is that you have to look at it in terms of the long run. If you think you can’t go on anymore, if you hit one of those bad times, pretend you made it through and years have gone by. I’ll bet you could easily laugh about whatever is troubling you now over a drink with your friends. I do this to put things into perspective and it makes things a lot easier for me. Try it out, it might work for you too.April 09, 2009
By CAREEREALISM Staff
When you meet Anthony Dineen, he looks like your typical fun-loving college junior. He’s confident, all smiles and the twinkle in his eye tells you he knows how to have fun. That’s why both myself and his fellow interns at CAREEREALISM were more than a little surprised to learn he had enlisted and served in Iraq in order to pay for college.
Anthony is one of thousands of the young men and women who have risked their life overseas. Yet, what many people do not understand is how these individuals return home with their perspective on things like college and work, profoundly altered. In fact, for some, integrating into the civilian workforce after duty is not an easy task. As his manager, I can tell you Anthony hasn’t had that problem. So, we asked him to share with us his thoughts on how an experience like serving as a Marine in the war at such a young age has made him a different, and perhaps, better student and future employee.
Do you think you are getting more out of your college experience as a result of your time in Iraq?
In a broad sense, yes. I think I am getting much more out of college after my deployment. I went through seven months not knowing if I was going to get another chance to be a college student again. Now that I got that chance, I’m enjoying every experience that much more. Also, the small things don’t bother me as much anymore.
Did your interests/priorities change when you came back?
They changed a few times. I had no idea what I wanted to do before I deployed. When I was there I thought I wanted to be an English Major, and now I have settled into my Political Science degree and I am really enjoying it.
Has your motivation and work ethic changed, and how, after coming back from Iraq?
The work ethic has always been there for me. I have always gotten things done when they needed to get done. I have always been a driven individual, but once I came back I had an altered idea about life. When I think about getting through some work, or applying to a job, or just about anything, I think to myself “what’s the worst thing that can happen?” It certainly won’t put my life in danger when I apply for an internship or some other event, so I go at it with a full steam. If I get turned down, or I don’t get the best grade in the class, I might be disappointed but it certainly won’t hurt my feelings. Life goes on.
How do you envision your time would have been spent, had you stayed?
I most likely would have changed majors a few times and possibly ended up with something I might’ve regretted. But who’s to say that?
Do you see joining the Marine Corps as a chance to better your career opportunities?
Yes, the Marines are just like any other social networking facility that you can think of but 100 times better. The guys I know would do anything for me and I for them, so if I ask them to possibly help me with a career move they won’t just make an effort, they will do everything in their power to help me out. Also, being able to put the United States Marine Corps on your resume is huge. That one line says more things about an applicant than any other one liner I can think of. I am telling a possible employer that I have leadership traits, my commitment is a given, I can function properly in a group setting; I am competent, honest, dependable, etc. The list goes on. These are traits that are imbedded into all U.S. Marines.
Where do you see yourself going after graduation, and how do you think that your previous choices will help you in the long run?
I am hoping to become a field agent with the FBI. I would also love to work with the DEA or work as a U.S. Marshall. Joining the U.S. Military obviously helps with the application process to the federal agencies, or even work with a company like Raytheon that works with the government, but in the long run I am counting on what I have done in school to get me to where I want to go.
What type of skills did you learn that you believe may help you in finding a job that’s right for you?
This is a complicated subject to explain, but I’ll give it a shot. My Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) is 0311. I’m a grunt, or an infantryman. The skills I learned in the Marines are all combat-related. The infantry doesn’t teach computer skills, or other specialty skills that can be transferred over to the civilian world. What I did gain besides the warfare related aspects are things like perseverance, determination, loyalty, tact, dependability. My education from UNH along with these traits will help get me to where I want to be.
Do you think you will run into any difficulties finding a job with your background or do you think it will be easier?
Well that question has been asked before, and not to me but to veterans after unpopular wars like the Vietnam War, and Congress passed legislation protecting veterans against job discrimination. So an employer can’t turn me down solely on the fact that I am a veteran. Besides that I would think that having this type of background would only beneficial in finding a job.
Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choices over again? i.e. cost benefit analysis, or did the means justify the end in the changes you’ve experienced.
I am very proud of what I have done for my country and I don’t regret the choices I have made with my military career. I didn’t choose to enlist just so I could put it on my resume; I wanted to serve my country. I do wish there was a way to not loose so much time on my degree but that wasn’t possible at the time.
Name 1-2 things you would like to say to someone that is facing the decisions you had to make about not going to college right away. Or rather, any words of wisdom?
Words of wisdom… keep your nose to the grindstone and just get it done. My life has many different aspects to it and gets pretty complicated at times, so for someone else in the same boat, I would tell them to keep at it and to not give up. There’s going to be many times when you just want to quit and go home. The reality is that you have to look at it in terms of the long run. If you think you can’t go on anymore, if you hit one of those bad times, pretend you made it through and years have gone by. I’ll bet you could easily laugh about whatever is troubling you now over a drink with your friends. I do this to put things into perspective and it makes things a lot easier for me. Try it out, it might work for you too.Learn how to land a career you love
Here are five tips for managing your time for academic—and professional—success.
1. Talk
Does your college offer courses that work with your life rather than against it? You'll have a better chance of attaining your life goals if they do. So, talk with the admissions counselor and/or your advisor and find out if courses are available online as well as in class, whether courses are flexible, and whether you can complete your program at your own pace. Many campuses offer help with time management, so try to find out what support is available. You could even consider setting up a peer mentoring program to give and get support from fellow students if your college doesn't have one.
You should also talk to your employer. Assess when busy periods are likely to be, and try to avoid big assignments at the same time. Show commitment and consideration, and you'll probably get your boss's support. If you can, look for assignments where you can exploit your professional experience; it's a more efficient use of your time.
2. Prioritize
Busy, successful people understand what they can do each day, how they use their time, and what can realistically be accomplished. Learn from their techniques and you can do the same. Record your daily activities to find out how much time you really have. Assign a specific time to important tasks rather than hoping they will happen at some point. Get smart when prioritizing tasks so that "clean the attic" does not have the same weight as "write term paper." Build in buffer time for the inevitable interruptions. And set time limits for each task to stop it spreading into the rest of your day.
Once you have your schedule, beat procrastination by breaking down massive projects into manageable blocks. Work is usually the best way to get working, so start with small tasks to get the ball rolling. Finally, once you're in the zone, note any good ideas that pop up and move on. That way your ideas for your company's sales conference won't distract you from your revision—and you won't forget them.
3. Delegate
John C. Maxwell, author of How Successful People Think: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life, put it best: "If something can be done 80% as well by someone else, delegate!" Clear out the clutter of unnecessary tasks and make more room for more important activities. Evaluate your commitments, discuss realistic goals with friends and family, and then learn to make use of other people.
It can be hard to let go sometimes, but you don't have to do it all. There are almost certainly tasks in your daily routine that can be done easily by others, even if your only available resource is a willing spouse or child.
4. Focus
Stay in the here-and-now and focus on one class at a time. If you complete one or two courses, you'll be motivated to take another. Equally, don't put too much pressure on yourself to complete your degree within a certain timeline.
Success is the biggest motivator, so acknowledge a job well done but don't allow yourself to be distracted when things don't go according to plan. Learn from mistakes and then move on. Remember that learning is a cumulative process: you won't be judged by one project alone and you don't have to be perfect every time. Sometimes, good enough is just that.
5. Sleep
Extra-strong coffee is not a long-term study aid! When schedules fill up, sleep is often the first to be sacrificed. But lack of sleep actually makes your task much harder: your mental health, physical health, stress levels, and schedule are all affected.
Make sure you take time to look after yourself. It doesn't take long for the constant round of class, study, work and more study to take its toll on your ability to perform. Plan time to relax and be social—and treat it like every other commitment. It will improve your productivity overall.
Time management isn't a skill you pick up right away. Ironically, it too takes time. But the good news is that more and more students are managing to earn a degree while working full-time. The even better news is that the time management techniques you learn when balancing your various commitments can be applied throughout your career to enhance your chances of future success.
Want more career tips?
Check out our FREE resources page and Live Events Calendar.
Or, join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!
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This post was originally published at an earlier date.
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The short answer: employer branding can actually help job seekers find the right job (and company) for them.
If you're looking for a job, here are three specific reasons why you should pay attention to employer branding in your job search.
It Helps You Get To Know A Company Better
As you browse job postings and find employment opportunities that pique your interest, it's important to research a company before applying for a job. Employer branding makes it easier for you to research a company and find out what they do, who they serve, and what it's like to work for them.
Companies with a strong employer branding strategy focus on creating and sharing content about their organization on many different platforms, including social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Job seekers can easily get a feel for a company's culture through browsing their accounts on these platforms, getting a better idea whether they'd like to work for them or not.
It Shows You How A Company Treats Their Employees
While you can get a decent amount of information about how a company treats their employees from sites like Glassdoor, employer branding takes it a step further. Every piece of content a company pushes out for their employer branding strategy, from educational articles to fun videos, provides job seekers with a snapshot of the company culture and the types of employees who work there. With employer branding, employees are encouraged to talk about their experiences at work. If job seekers want to find a job at a great company that cares about their employees, they should listen.
Nobody wants to work for a company that treats their employees poorly. By paying attention to a company's employer brand, you'll learn a lot about what it would be like to work there. You don't want to realize you made the wrong decision on your first day at work.
It Makes It Easier For You To Create Your Interview Bucket List
Paying attention to employer branding will help you create and manage your interview bucket list. As a professional, you should always have an interview bucket list, a list of 10-20 companies you'd love to work for. Companies with strong employer brands will have a higher chance of landing on your interview bucket list because you'll be able to find enough information about them and decide whether they're the right company for you.
What are their values and beliefs as an organization? Do you feel connected to their mission? Are you passionate about what they do? A company with a strong employer brand will help you figure out the answers to these questions very easily so you can conduct an efficient and effective job search.
As you look for a job, remember the importance of employer branding. The companies that spend time building their employer brands are often the companies that have great company cultures, benefits, and other things they're proud of that are worth showing off. The ones that don't—well, that sends quite a different message.
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Here are seven great tips on writing LinkedIn invitations from our approved career experts:
1. Be Honest
"Explain why you want to connect with the person," says Amanda Haddaway, author of Destination Real World: Success After Graduation For New And Soon-To-Be College Graduates. "Just say something. There's nothing worse than receiving a LinkedIn request with the standard, generic format and not having any earthly idea who the person is or why he/she wants to connect with you."
Dorothy Tannahill-Moran of Next Chapter New Life says honesty is the best policy when trying to connect with someone, especially if you're looking to do some serious networking. "If you want to work for their company," Tannahill-Moran says, "don't be shy about admitting that they are working for your targeted company and are looking for insights about that company. Open communication is always best."
2. Tell Them How You Know Them
"I get a lot of requests and I always appreciate a brief mention of why the person wants to connect," says Jenny Yerrick Martin of Your Industry Insider. "Whether they saw my post on LinkedIn Groups, found me through my website, or know someone who knows me in real life, that extra step usually gets me to accept the invitation."
3. Find Something In Common
When trying to to find something in common with your potential connection, Haddaway suggests asking yourself these questions:
- Is it a mutual career field or interest?
- Do you have connections in common?
- Are you connected through LinkedIn Groups?
Here's a request example offered by Debra Wheatman of Careers Done Write...
Dear Jane: I see that you are a member of X Group. I am also engaged with this group and would like to share some ideas with you. Please accept my invitation to connect.
This example is short and sweet, but it gets the point across effectively.
4. Make It Personal
"One-size-fits-all invitations are a waste of time," says Cheryl Simpson of Executive Resume Rescue. Always personalize your invitation to connect in some way, she advises. Mention a shared group membership, note a common contact, or point out similar backgrounds, education, or experience. If all else fails, tell the prospective contact what you hope you both will gain from the connection.
5. Be Enthusiastic
"If you're approaching the CEO/founder of a startup on LinkedIn, as part of a job search, you want to start and end by showing your enthusiasm for their business," says Kathy Ver Eecke of Working For Wonka. "Your expertise, background, and skill set should take a backseat to your enthusiasm and passion for their business. You want to get their attention and break the ice? Lead with that and you're in."
6. Reference Their Profile
Ben Eubanks of Upstart HR suggests taking a moment to check out your potential connection's profile and referencing something in it.
Example: "Hey, Mike! I saw on your profile that you attended XYZ University. I have a good friend who went there and have heard great things about it. I'd love the opportunity to connect with you. Thanks! Have a great day."
"Reaching out without offering some reason is a quick way to get your message relegated to the 'spam' folder, and LinkedIn will eventually suspend your account if you hit the limit of those responses," he says.
7. Thank Them
Arnie Fertig of Job Hunter Coach says it's important to thank the person in advance for agreeing to connect. Not only that, but you also want to offer to help him/her in any way possible and encourage them to call on you. That way, your potential contact feels like they can benefit from the connection. It's all about providing value. Remember, you get what you give!
The next time you're trying to connect with someone on LinkedIn, follow these seven tips. You'll grow your professional network faster than you think!
Want more career tips?
Check out our FREE resources page and Live Events Calendar.
Or, join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!
If you want FREE career advice in your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily Dose!
Struggling to find the right job?
Check out Work It Daily's Incredible Companies page to see snapshots of companies hiring. Work It Daily also highlights job opportunities on a daily basis on TikTok.
This post was originally published at an earlier date.
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If your company hasn't considered using TikTok for employer branding, or you're on the fence about it, here are three reasons why you should incorporate TikTok into your employer branding efforts today.
Reach A New Audience
Think about your current employer branding strategy. You're probably reaching a pretty consistent audience in the various channels where you post and share content about your company. With TikTok though, you could reach a new audience every single day.
Depending on factors like hashtags, video content, and the sound you use, your videos will reach the audience most likely to interact with them, due to TikTok's insanely accurate algorithm. For example, if one day you post a funny video about your product to promote it and get people thinking about your brand in a new way, that video will reach users who have liked similar videos and content in the past. And then if on another day you post a video about your company's unique employee benefits, and mention that you're hiring, that video will likely reach a completely different audience, one that's full of job seekers.
Connect With A Younger Generation Of Talented Workers
Reaching a new audience might also mean connecting with younger job seekers. Although TikTok is for everyone, the vast majority of users are between the ages of 16-24. This means millions of recent college grads are using the platform—and are probably looking for their first "real" job out of school at the same time. Wouldn't you love to connect with young and talented job seekers and attract the right candidates to your open positions?
This younger generation is Gen Z, and in order to gain their attention and show that your company is modern and can keep up with the times, a TikTok account is almost essential. Nobody wants to work for a boring and outdated company! Think about how you can connect with a younger generation of talented workers with your current employer branding strategy. If there's some room for improvement, give TikTok a try.
Attract Job Seekers With Fun & Educational Content
The content you create on TikTok is what will determine how successful you are at achieving your employer branding goals. At the end of the day, TikTok is a great opportunity to attract job seekers who otherwise might not have thought about applying to your company for a job if they hadn't seen your videos or connected with your company in some way on the social media platform.
To attract job seekers, create fun and educational videos about your company, highlighting employee benefits, company culture, and unique job opportunities. Interact with commenters and followers. Consider what a job seeker's impression of you would be if they stumbled across one of your videos and checked out your profile. Is your company relevant? Why would someone want to work for you? What makes you stand out from other employers? Think about these questions when you add TikTok to your employer branding strategy to ensure your content is helping you attract job seekers.
As an employer, you need to stay on top of your employer branding strategy, using every tool out there to your advantage, or else other companies will attract more job seekers and you'll miss out on talented professionals of all ages. If you were unsure about the importance of TikTok in your employer branding strategy before, we hope this article motivated you to give TikTok a try. You'll attract the right job candidates (and have a lot of fun, too!).
Could your employer branding strategy use a boost? We can help!
Check out our employer branding services today and start attracting the right talent to your organization!
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What Analysis Tools Should I Use?
There are tons of business analysis models that can help you better understand your business, but some of the most effective ones are the SWOT and PESTLE strategic analysis models.
SWOT stands for:
INTERNAL FACTORS
Strengths and weaknesses represent your company's internal environment—things that are happening now. They represent things that you have control over and can change.
EXTERNAL FACTORS
Opportunities and threats represent your company's external environment—things that are happening in the future. They are things going on outside of your company and are not something you can control or change.
A PESTLE analysis can be done in conjunction with a SWOT to more deeply analyze the external section in the SWOT. It is more valuable than SWOT for longer term strategic plans. PESTLE stands for Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental.
- POLITICAL: Government policy, corruption levels, trade controls, import and export restrictions, taxation changes
- ECONOMIC: Exchange rates, disposable income levels, interest rates, unemployment rates, wealth distribution
- SOCIAL: Education levels, population growth rate, religious harmony, attitude towards health, social welfare programs, generational shifts
- TECHNOLOGICAL: New technology considerations, internet penetration, access to basic infrastructure, software privacy, technology competency of workforce
- LEGAL: Tax laws and regulations, labor laws and firing policies, copyright and anti-piracy laws
- ENVIRONMENTAL: Weather patterns, attitude towards recycling, attitude towards organic and green products
SWOT and PESTLE are simple tools that, when combined, provide a complete picture of your business environment for an effective strategic planning process.
Here are downloadable free templates and examples to get you started.
SWOT ANALYSIS TEMPLATE
