As February draws to a close, we’re sure some of you are rocking it—your ducks are in rows worthy of their own parade. You’ve organized and decluttered. You’ve mastered a schedule that allows you to check off every item from your to-do list and still try that new dessert recipe you posted on Pinterest.

The rest of us completely love you. We are not at all envious. Not even a little bit.
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(Really.)

Ok, not really.

All of this significance is tied to that calendar rolling over from one year to the next. Once the ball has dropped, the champagne is gone, and the party is cleaned up, many of us are left feeling deflated (that party didn’t clean up itself, and there’s a long year ahead). It’s enough to give anyone performance anxiety.

We’ve seen lots of people give up resolutions in favor of a word of the year. One single word, meant to inspire and guide them through whatever the new year might bring.

If you’ve found your word, rock on. Hold tight to it, and do great things. We’re cheering you on. If you’re still looking for a way to put this year into context, keep reading.

MSCCN’s Emilie has her own plan for how to restart 2018—Sabrina Hersi Issa’s monthly personal inventory day, a day meant to hold you accountable. A day when you make appointments, when you set goals, when you check in on the goals you’ve already set.  A day to take the time to see where you are, where you’re headed, and where you really want to be.

Are you ready to make some plans too?
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If so, you can read more about creating your personal inventory day here. ​

We know we are a few weeks late, but we feel like we have to talk about this year's Super Bowl.

​On February 8th, the Philadelphia Eagles returned home to a victory parade after a Super Bowl win against the New England Patriots. Their victory was unexpected, incredible, and possibly the very definition of an upset.

Seriously?  Did anyone think that the Eagles had a chance against the Patriots?  I’ve looked online to see predictions… and nearly every story predicted a New England victory. But the Eagles embraced their underdog status, and their dedicated fans clung to hope, shouting, "Fly, Eagles, Fly." 

After a wild NFL season of unexpected outcomes overshadowed by political outrage, it seems like this win was a fitting end—a reminder that heroes emerge when everything stacks against them. No matter how you felt about the NFL, football, or either team… there is something magical about the underdog winning.

Consider this, the Patriots had Tom Brady (AKA, the GOAT) in peak form, and the Eagles had… a backup quarterback who has played a few forgettable seasons with many teams to only recently return to a team that drafted him as a backup.  He started the season struggling; he had previously left the sport.  He didn’t get his first start until the 15th game of the season after starter Carson Wentz tore his ACL… And yet, Nick Foles ended his season as a Super Bowl MVP.

It’s a story book ending to a season that, despite its major challenges, had encouraging moments of good—like the Buffalo Bills making the playoffs for the first time in 17 years and donating money to Andy Dalton’s Charity. 

Whether you went to bed glowing with excitement from an Eagles victory, saddened by a Patriots loss, or trying to narrow down which commercial was truly the best, this Super Bowl victory was a great motivation for all of us (yes, even if the Eagles aren’t your team). 

We all feel like underdogs from time to time… especially in the job search process.  It’s important to remember that your journey will be full of peaks and valleys.  Believe in yourself.  Do what you have to do to keep moving forward, and have faith that eventually you will catch the right break.

~Amy

It’s Friday—we’re so close to the weekend we can taste it, and we are counting the hours until we’re off the clock.
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Was this a good week? You know, one of the ones where you got the good parking space the day it rained when you didn’t bring an umbrella? Was it a week that slipped by so fast you aren’t quite sure how you got here (but you’ll take it)? Or was it one of those weeks that has you looking for blankets, because it’s time to build a fort (no jerks allowed)?

Whether you got that parking space or are holed up under the covers, we’re here for you.

Solidarity, friends.

But since it is Friday, and we are waiting for the weekend, we thought we’d share a laugh—because sometimes you have to laugh or you’d cry. And goodness knows there’s a lot of that when it comes to the job market. So, grab a snack, take a moment, and if you can, send a laugh back our way. I’ll be the one in the blanket fort. If it’s a good laugh, I might even share my leftover Valentine’s chocolate. Might.

They got me… they really got me.

Somehow, I was born with the talent of finding a way to put my foot in my mouth. Maybe it’s genetic, maybe it’s just a gift. Either way… I’ve got it. And in one particular interview, I seemed to have it in spades.

The interview didn’t start out well. I was prepared, I knew my stuff… and the interviewers spent the first ten minutes schooling me in how their sports program dominated that of my fiancé’s alma mater. Not the golden start I’d hoped for. I spent ten minutes wondering when we were going to get to the bit that actually applied to me… and then we got there.

It was a simple enough question.

If it were at a party, I would have answered it without a second thought, and then gone to grab that interesting appetizer I’d passed on the way in.

What book do you dislike?

I could have tried to spin my answer.

I mean, “dislike” is a strong word… there’s some good in most things I’ve read. While I might not be as interested in the plot or the characters, all books are teachable in terms of language, structure, blah, blah, blah…

But I didn’t.

The older, wiser version of me sees this question for what it is: a conniving “gotcha” question meant to put a young applicant in her place. I know now, this is the moment where you make like a cartoon bunny and tiptoe around the subject, giving your best spin or non-answer.
Seeing as I was neither older nor wiser, I did what I usually do: I opened my mouth and assumed they wanted the truth (they’d asked for it).

I hate All Quiet on the Western Front. Hate it. I would never teach it if I didn’t have to.

I think the sports enthusiast grinned. It was like he was back on campus, and my fiancé’s college team was ripe for the trouncing. He could taste victory… even if it wasn’t remotely appropriate.

Oh, really? Well… That’s on our reading list for this position.

I think they may have even sniffed. I could be confusing their reaction with that of Dame Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey, but somehow, I think not.

I tried to backpedal. I claimed that my dislike for the text would help me to relate to the students, that I could teach anything.

By the time I left, I knew for sure my sympathies would have been with the students… I might have thought about writing something myself on the bathroom walls.

Years later, I can see that this wrong answer probably saved me from teaching a book I hated and working with people I wouldn’t have liked—though I always like to imagine I would have ended up like the English teacher version of Jack Black in School of Rock. I could have been a legend.

Happy Friday, y'all! May this be a weekend of not putting our feet in our mouths. 
Jamie

We’re calling today “Hot Job Wednesday!”
 
Why? Well, first, because there’s no day of the week that starts with “H” and “Hot Job t(H)ursday” just seems like we’re grasping at straws.
 
And, second, because we have employers who want to hire military spouses into these Hot Jobs. 

​What is a Hot Job you ask?
 
It’s a job that’s closing fast—like in the next two weeks (though some are open until filled). So, like the fresh baked bread at your local bakery, "come and get ‘em while they are hot."
 
And, it’s a job that our Recruiter Connect team is excited about. It’s a job that, you could say, is creating a lot of buzz around the (virtual) office!
 
So, without further ado, here are our current HOT jobs!
 
Project Engineer, Mechanical Design (Requisition # 211106BR)
 
Do you have a BS in a Technical Discipline or equivalent experience? Do you have five years of experience in mechanical design, vendor interaction for parts fabrication, engineering management, or technology or product transfer?
 
If so, this Project Engineer, Mechanical Design position might be for you!
 
The company is looking for a candidate with a strong background in mechanical design, with broad knowledge of materials, fabrication methods, and an excellent understanding and recall of engineering fundamentals as well as the ability to deploy those fundamentals into successful designs.
 
Sound like you? Connect with an Employment Specialist to target your resume.
 
Academic Support Associate (Requisition #210547BR)
 
Are you interested in joining a university team? Do you have experience in the university admissions process?
 
This university is looking for a candidate with two or more years of proven experience interpreting, implementing, and advising regarding policies and procedures in an education and/or business environment as well as education in a related field.
 
You’ll be responsible for reviewing, analyzing, and interpreting University academic policies and procedures to make admission related decisions, which includes, but is not limited to, admissions/matriculation, general education requirements, articulation, grades, transcript evaluation, program/version changes, as well as, waivers, and non-system supported requests for students, campus representatives, corporate personnel, and other higher education institutions.
 
You can learn more by looking up the requisition number at https://www.msccn.org/job-seeker-registration.html
 
Work from Home Customer Service Representative (Requisition #211190BR)
Do you live in Chicago, IL, or the immediate surrounding area? Do you have a minimum of 2 years of customer service experience focused on resolving customer concerns and handling difficult conversations?
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If so, check out this REMOTE customer service representative job, where you’ll thrive if you

• Can utilize effective problem-solving techniques to resolve customer needs with confidence and empathy
• Value teamwork and personal honesty and integrity
• Can navigate across multiple computer systems and program applications
• Enjoy analyzing and resolving a variety of complex issues

​If none of these positions match your skills, check out the following:
Requisition # 211066BR: Loan Consultant I
Requisition # 210543BR: Product Marketing Manager
Requisition # 210826BR:  Executive Assistant
Requisition # 210543BR:  Product Marketing Manager
Requisition # 210725BR:  Retail Sales Representative
 
Still looking? Reach out to an Employment Specialist today to see what other opportunities are available to you!

Need some #MondayMotivation? Look no further than today's celebratory Presidents Day!

Let’s take a look at what careers and jobs some of our 45 presidents had prior to their position in the White House because you never know where you might land. Sure, you may start out as a Peanut Farmer, but you might end up in the highest office of the land.

Before his presidency, George Washington was a land surveyor and a farmer as well as the General of the Colonial Army.

Like Washington, Abraham Lincoln was a land surveyor. He also would go on to become a self-taught lawyer prior to his presidency.

James Garfield and Chester Arthur were both school teachers at one point. 

Warren Harding served as a newspaper publisher and editor, while Herbert Hoover was an engineer. 

Harry S. Truman, in addition to being a farmer and a soldier, was a haberdasher who helped men get fitted for and find clothing.

Five Star General and President Dwight Eisenhower served in another presidential position, overseeing Columbia University. Gerald Ford served in the Navy, was a lawyer, and played football.

And Jimmy Carter? Well, in addition to being a sailor, writer, and 39th president of the United States, he was a peanut farmer.

Happy Presidents’ Day!

And remember, like President Lincoln supposedly said, "Whatever you are, be a good one!"

After working with MSCCN's Jenna Weakly for three months, Jade accepted a position as a Social Media Specialist!

Hiring Challenge: Based on the number of job applications I completed each week and the subsequent number of responses I received from recruiters and hiring managers, I realized that my resume did not reflect the range of my qualifications, credentials, and experience. I knew that I needed help to fix these issues.

Assistance Received: When I started working with MSCCN, I received assistance regarding online job search techniques, tips, and tricks, and my employment specialist also made sure to review and edit my resume and LinkedIn® profile. She also helped me with my interview preparation and we completed a mock job interview.

Results: By working with MSCCN, I was able to create a more professional resume and gained greater confidence during the interview office. Beyond those skills, by the end of the process, I also received a job offer.

Value of Experience: Not only is the job market more competitive than ever before, but the interview process is so lengthy that it is easy to lose confidence and get discouraged. My employment specialist, Jenna, nudged me along, edited my resume, and gave me helpful feedback on my interviewing skills. The result: I felt prepared and well-equipped going into my interviews, and I was able to get a job.

Are you ready to be our next success story? Start the process by registering for our free services at MSCCN today! 

I'm not a Romantic, but I will commandeer Valentine's Day to talk  about LOVE as it relates to the job hunt. 

You see, too many people apologize for themselves. They downplay their positive attributes and cast doubt on their true abilities and talents. And many of them do it in interviews.

Take for instance the following exchange:

Interviewer: “I see here you won the yearly sales award in your last position. Tell me about that.”

Interviewee: “Oh, well, yeah, it’s really a small award. There weren’t a lot of other candidates for the award, but yeah, I received it. I only sold five percent more than the guy who came in second.”

Interviewer: <awkward silence.>

Would you hire that candidate? 

Maybe you would. Maybe the rest of the interview was phenomenal. Maybe the applicant has a unique skill set or stellar resume.  Maybe you’d interpret the applicant as merely being “humble.”

Here are SIX tips for making the interviewer love you:

1. Be truthful. You shouldn’t make stories up in which you are the hero. Each of us should be able to come up with at least two career related stories (based on our resume) that show the outstanding candidate we are.
2. Be Specific. Don’t speak conceptually or theoretically. Talk about real and concrete instances. 
3. Don’t exaggerate. If you successfully sold 5,000 widgets; don’t claim to have sold 10,000. A real, but small success is better than a hyperbolized success. 
4. But don’t understate. Don’t downplay the value of what you did. If it is a success, call it one.  
5. Take credit where it’s due. Don’t attribute success to a group if you accomplished it on your own, and don’t pass over the central role you played in a successful group.
6. Speak in plain language.  Want to come off as arrogant? Use two dollar words when a fifty cent word will do. Successful, but approachable people can connect with others through common language. 

As we’re celebrating Valentine’s Day, there’s no better time to show yourself a little love: make sure you aren’t selling yourself and your accomplishments short in the interview. When sharing your accomplishments, make sure that you are focusing on positively representing what you can bring to an organization.

It's not bragging in an interview; it's showing a version of your self that the employer would LOVE to have on their staff! 
Happy Valentine's Day!
​Jamie

 
Welcome to the New Age! 
We at Military Spouse Corporate Career Network are starting 2018--because everyone knows 2018 REALLY STARTS in February—right!

​Welcome to our new, 21st century technology (or is it 20th?): our blog!

Our new blog will focus specifically on the employment needs and career goals of our military spouse, caregiver, and dependent community. We’ll still bring you information in our quarterly MSEJ, but here, we are hoping to engage more regularly and frankly with you.

You’ll hear from us (Amy, Jamie, and Emilie) as well as MSCCN team members, our partners, and other SMART professionals, military spouses, caregivers, and dependents!

If it’s job and career-related, we’ll cover it. 

         Looking for tips about resume writing?
         Want to hear about some of the most amazing job opportunities we’ve found?
         Looking to laugh about interviews gone awry?

You're in the right place.

You’ll find all of that and more here!

We want to share what we know and what we are learning, and we also want to hear from you. At MSCCN, we're on your team. We are cheering you on, commiserating when you're down, and walking alongside you the whole way.

​We want to know about your successes, your struggles, and your lessons learned. So, let us know what you know, and what you need to know. We're listening.

Interested in writing for our blog? Contact Jamie at j_boyle@msccn.org.

See you on the interweb!

Your MSCCN Blog Team,
Amy, Jamie, and Emilie