MSCCN Blog

Career Corps, Workforce Development Program

11/7/2019

Living the nomadic and unpredictable life that the military often brings, you are probably facing some gaps in your resume. Perhaps you’ve managed to have a steady career but you’re looking to change directions in your career path, or you’re transitioning out of the service, and you want to have some “civilian” experience. Do you need a reference for your job search or industry relative experience?

If any of these scenarios sound like what you’re going through, we have the PERFECT solution for you! Career Corps!

This is our workforce development program available to you, at no cost. This program will place you on one of our established teams where you can learn the ins and outs of the industry. This program is done 100% remotely and is flexible around your schedule.

How does this program benefit you?
By joining our Career Corps program, you will get valuable experience in Human Resources, Social Media, Writing, or Employment Services. You’ll work on a team, and get direct mentorship through your supervisor, who will then be a great reference for you. And if positions are open within the organization, our Career Corps members have preferred job placement through the hiring process.

Does this sound like the program for you? We can’t wait to work with you, click here to get started!

0 Comments

What’s in a (good) boss?

10/16/2018

0 Comments

On this #NationalBossesDay, we know that being a good boss means more than wearing a title. But what are the defining features, and how do you acquire them?

Today is a time set aside to celebrate our bosses (if you’re working as a freelancer or as an office of one, make sure to give yourself a round of applause).

I’ve been fortunate in my career to have bosses I actually wanted to celebrate, so I have positive associations with this day. While there’s plenty of time to talk boss horror stories, especially as we get closer to Halloween, today I want to reflect on what makes a great boss and how we can apply these traits to ourselves as we move up the ladder.

Whether you’re looking to start a business, already have a few employees, are interviewing a company, or have a management role, it’s critical to know what makes for a good boss.

If you’re interviewing, you want to get a sense that you’ll be working for someone you like and respect. If you’re the boss, you want to know that your employees trust and value you, rather than muttering about you in the break room. If you’re on your way up, you want to know which traits to emulate and which to weed out.

When push comes to shove, there are three major traits that separate the good bosses from the bad.

1. A good boss is a “partner-boss.”

In an article for the Washington Post, Christopher Ingraham profiles a new working-paper from Canadian and Korean economists. Their research suggests that bosses may have a larger role in employees’ lives than we thought. When an immediate supervisor serves as a “partner-boss” rather than a demanding, distant “boss-boss,” employees are far more satisfied in their lives. Partner-bosses have the ability to foster a sense of community and team building that adds not only to the company, but to the lives employees live after work.

2. A good boss is a “Daring Leader,” not an “Armored Leader.”

In Daring to Lead, researcher, speaker, and author Dr. Brené Brown shares her most recent work regarding leadership and vulnerability. According to Dr. Brown, good leaders have to be “daring” rather than “armored.” Instead of focusing on“being right,” good leaders focus on being curious, and “wanting to get it right.” Good leaders create an office culture based on shared commitment and purpose, rather than designating tasks and punishing from a position of power. Check out Dr. Brown’s article on LinkedIn® to preview more from Daring to Lead.

3. A good boss is a human boss… who recognizes that their employees are human too.

The adage “You should treat the janitor with the same respect you’d show the CEO” is an adage for a reason. If you’re in a position of power, you don’t generate respect by remaining aloof and remote, or disrespecting those beneath you. Instead, you achieve respect by knowing and respecting your employees or the people on your team.

In the busyness of everyday life, it’s easy to walk past someone without acknowledging them—especially if you feel like their job doesn’t intersect with yours. But when you think about it, every member of the office impacts how the team functions.

If your office is dirty, it’s going to hamper your concentration (and offend your nose).
If the members of the social media team don’t have clear direction, then it won’t matter how brilliant your marketing campaign or content is… your pages are going to look like a mess.

If you’re in charge, get to know everyone on your team. Know their names, their interests, and their larger career goals. Encourage their passions, give them opportunities to rise, and know that your ability to take the long-view of their employment trajectory will yield rewards for your team in the short-term.

Looking for more information about being a better boss and leader?

Look no further than Captain Michael Abrashoff’s book, It’s Your Ship. In this memoir, Abrashoff chronicles his time commanding the USS Benhold, showing real-world examples of how he was able to take that ship from being one of the worst to one of the best.

This is one of my favorite leadership titles, because I love the way Abrashoff focuses on listening to his subordinates, recognizing and using talent, and creating a place where everyone takes ownership and pride in their workplace.

On this Boss’s Day, whether you’re being celebrated or hope to be celebrated one day, decide to be the type of leader who invests in and inspires their colleagues.

Story by Zaneta Padilla

**Title Image created by John Lester, permission for use by Creative Commons. No changes were made to this image.

0 Comments

What a Mentor Can Do for You

5/1/2018

0 Comments

What a Mentor Can Do for You and How to Find a Good One
Setting out on your professional path is an exciting adventure.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you had access to a Scout? Someone who has already been out there and explored the terrain, identified the risks, and found a successful path forward?

A mentor can provide you with the support you need to move forward professionally and personally.
It’s really easy to feel alone and isolated in the job search and in your career. Sometimes, we feel like no one else has EVER done this before. A mentor can help you connect to the realities of the job search and your career path. They can help you cope professionally and personally with the frustrations and work through rough patches to achieve your goals.

Additionally, a mentor has experiences that can help you make good choices in your own career. Their expertise can help you to make decisions about education and training, career paths, and how best to navigate your profession. They may also have experience balancing their life with their work in ways that can help you better understand and reach work-life balance.

In other words, a mentor has experiences and perspectives that can help you live a better life and improve your career opportunities.

Identifying a Mentor
Mentors come in many forms. Usually, they have at least one common trait with you; they might also be associated with the military. They might have the same background as you, or they might have made a career decision just like you are considering.

A mentor also usually has more experience with the career, lifestyle, or issue for which you are seeking advice. They might be a leader within your community or organization or a friend who has “been there and done that,” whether “that” means juggled kids and a career, switched careers, or started a new business. Cast your net wide when considering who might be a good mentor for you. However, all mentors should have the time, energy, and willingness to commit to the mentor-mentee relationship.

Mentoring also requires that you, the mentee, first understand what you hope to achieve through a mentoring relationship. Do you want someone to review documents for you? Help you practice your interview or public speaking skills? Provide you with networking opportunities or job leads?

Whatever you hope to gain from a mentor, you have to identify and communicate those goals to your mentor. Then, you and your mentor can set the terms of your relationship and enact a plan to achieve your goals. You may meet regularly to discuss your goals, participate in job shadowing, get oral feedback on presentations or writing, or meet with business connections.

Whatever the activity in which you participate, you and your mentor can move you towards your career goals…together.

Need help finding a mentor? Talk to your Employment Specialist. They can help you determine your goals and your ideal mentor.

Story by Jamie Boyle

0 Comments

MSCCN Blog

Career Corps, Workforce Development Program

What’s in a (good) boss?

What a Mentor Can Do for You

Deb Kloeppel,
Founder & President MSCCN

Authors

Archives

Categories

MSCCN Blog

Career Corps, Workforce Development Program

What’s in a (good) boss?

What a Mentor Can Do for You

Deb Kloeppel,Founder & President MSCCNAuthors

Archives

Categories

Deb Kloeppel,
Founder & President MSCCN

Authors