Sledgehammer in hand, I squared off to face the water-damaged wall.

I raised it to my shoulder, set my aim, and swung with all the might a twelve-year-old girl could muster. The hammer struck the wall, but the only evidence of its contact was a resounding boom. I hadn’t budged it an inch.

A boy in his late teens had been watching. He sauntered over, with a half-smile and southern drawl, saying, “Let me take care of that for you.”

As he reached for the sledgehammer, I stepped back and swung as hard as I could. Bam! A hole appeared in the wall, debris fell to the floor. I turned to him, smiled, and said, “Thanks, but I’ve got it.”

Why aren’t there already more women in STEM fields?

One explanation may be that girls aren’t encouraged to pursue STEM the same way that boys are. In educational and home settings, adults reinforce the concept that boys have a better grasp of math and spatial skills, while girls are naturally better when it comes to verbal skills.

Yes, it’s true, there are plenty of jokes and memes out there about how much women talk, and how much they talk to each other. But the question is, are children born with inherent spatial and communication skills, or are they fostered by society based on our gender?

Studies show high-performing boys and girls achieve similar scores in STEM subjects, so it’s entirely reasonable to say anyone can learn STEM skills or become an effective communicator if they’re in an encouraging and empowering environment.

While we can work hard now to ensure boys and girls have an equal opportunity when it comes to STEM skills and the ability to communicate, we don’t just need more balance in STEM fields in the future. Instead, we need more women like you in these roles now, and there are organizations out there that are ready to help you along the way.

• The International Consortium of Minority Cybersecurity Professionals’ mission is “To achieve the consistent representation of women and minorities in the cybersecurity industry through programs designed to foster recruitment, inclusion and retention.” ICMCP offers multiple programs, including Cyber Security Scholarships, the Mutual Match Mentor/Protégée Program, Networking Opportunities, and Technical Training Workshops. Their initiatives are making the tech industry more inclusive for women and other minorities.

• The National Center for Women and Information Technology is a “national non-profit focused on women's participation in computing” and they work to help organizations “recruit, retain, and advance” women in tech fields. They have formed alliances with national organizations, including workforce and education connections, while providing resources and programs to encourage and support women in tech.

• The Microsoft Software & Systems Academy for Military Spouses was created as a solution to reduce the percentage of unemployed and underemployed military spouses. The inaugural class began in September, and promises participating spouses valued technology skills that can be translated into tech jobs.

• The Society of Military Spouses in STEM advocates for military spouses in STEM careers by building networks, mentoring, increasing jobs, internships, education, and scholarship opportunities.

Playing the lottery is a small gamble. You can buy a ticket and hope for the best, even if you know winning the jackpot is unlikely. Betting on yourself, however, is a trickier proposition (even if the payout has better odds).
 
What would it take to consider placing a bet on yourself? What would it take for you to exchange your employee status for being your own boss?
​
Becoming your own boss may be one of the most frightening and exhilarating career decisions you will ever make. If you’re looking for motivation, or even a quick gut check, read on and decide if it’s time to ante up and go all in.

The Right Time to Roll the Dice
If you’re looking for a magical, no-risk, perfect moment, I’m afraid you’re already out of luck. There will never be a perfect time! There’s always a reason to wait—a rocky economy, a fluctuating industry, or an unsettled personal life. If you really want to start your own business, you don’t need to wait for the perfect time. You just need to wait until you’ve developed a solid, well-researched plan.

There’s one thing that the creators of Apple, Amazon, and your favorite bakery down the street have in common: all of these businesses started with a few brave souls, a solid idea, and a willingness to gamble on themselves.

Your Ace: a Business Plan
Before you start spending, begin with a detailed business plan. Dedicate a notebook, a file on your computer, and a significant amount of time to creating your business model, setting goals, and stating how you will deliver on your dreams. Make sure you include:

• The service/product your business will provide
• Research regarding industry trends
• Why customers need your product/service
• Your business and management structure
• Marketing and sales strategies to reach customers
• Immediate financial needs
• Financial projections for the future (and contingency plans)

Count Your Chips
We’ve all heard it takes money to make money, but that doesn’t mean you have to financially go it alone. While you may need investors (make sure you have a lawyer go over any contracts), you should also make a notable contribution to your business. According to QuickBooks™, it may not even take as much as you think—over 40% of small businesses started for less than $5,000.

Even with that good news in mind, make sure to calculate:

• Your start-up costs
• Do you need an office, equipment, or storefront?
• What do you need to create your product/provide your service?
• What licenses, insurance, and taxes do you need to factor in?
• Do you need an accountant, marketing maven, or sales rep? Will you in the future?
• Have you saved enough money to cover living expenses until your business takes off?

Hedge Your Bets: Create a Support Network
Unlike slots, starting a business is not a solo venture. Professional relationships are vital to a successful business, and networking is the best way to create those relationships. Use LinkedIn® to build industry connections. Join a small business owners group locally or on Facebook, follow companies you admire on social media, attend conferences to learn more about your field. If you have friends who own businesses, take them out for a cup of coffee and learn from their experiences.

If you’re looking for further resources to help you decide if you’re interested in starting your own business, here are some great places to start:

• Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) offers Entrepreneur Boot Camps.
• VetToCEO assists with creating a business plan, marketing strategies, understanding finances, and building your business through networking.
• Milspo Project is a global network of entrepreneurs who share ideas, tips, and inspiration.
• The National Military Spouse Network (NMSN) is an organization committed to the education, empowerment, and advancement of military spouse entrepreneurs.
• Cornell University just announced free, online courses for women entrepreneurs to encourage and empower women to start their own businesses.

Here at MSCCN, we believe in your dreams. Go out, make a plan, and tell us all about your success stories!

​Story by Amanda Marksmeier 

Let’s all agree: networking is good for your career. 

It can help you learn about what jobs are out there-but might not be published (commonly referred to as the hidden job market), get the inside scoop on companies from people who already work there, troubleshoot career problems with other professionals, and stay relevant in your field. 

But what if you are uncomfortable connecting with others? How can an introvert network professionally?

There are LOTS of outlets that exist for networking—from live and in-person local networking groups to professional groups on LinkedIn® to professional Facebook pages, which can be a great venue for networking if you are new to and uncomfortable with the idea of networking.

We understand that live and in person networking isn’t for everyone. If you are an introvert—and you aren’t alone—then, the idea of going to a restaurant or other venue and meeting people for the first time face to face may be overwhelming. If the thought of meeting people face to face gives you the sweats, then NETWORKING ONLINE is a great option for you.

(It’s also a great option for those of you who are remotely located or want an international network instead of just a local one!)

You can join groups and SLOWLY join the conversation with little effort. You can connect easily and engage based on your own comfort level, and you don't even have to leave your house.

Consider adding one of the following  pages or groups to your Facebook account to connect professionally with others:

Military Spouse Corporate Career Network: Want to know about hot jobs? Follow MSCCN’s facebook page for information about jobs and opportunities for military spouses.

The Milspo Project: If you are looking for support in your entrepreneurial endeavors, check out The Milspo Project and connect with local networking groups in your community. 

The following are focused Facebook groups where professionals can connect as well:

Career Military Spouses 
Mil-Blogging Buddies 
Military Spouse Network 
Military Spouse PhD Group 
Military Spouse Professional Photographers 
Society of Military Spouses in STEM 

Happy networking!

Story by Jamie Boyle

Q: What do these three things have in common?  
A: The number of times that they occur naturally in our lifetime.

When is the last time you talked to someone on an elevator? Really talked to someone… instead of looking at your phone, wondering when you were going to lose service, or wondering why elevators always seem to go slower when your floor is close to the top. Come to think of it, when was the last time you were in an elevator, in this era of “take the stairs, it’s good for you” and escalators that fit one person per tread?

Even if you do find yourself in an elevator, and are looking around at your fellow elevator occupants with wide-eyed, opportunity-seeking interest… What are the chances that you’ll be riding an elevator at the exact same time as the person you desperately need to talk to so that you can get your next job? The person who could get you your dream job? 

Let’s step off that imaginary, dream of an elevator, shall we.

I’ve been to many job search workshops through the years, and most teach the fundamentals: networking, resume writing, interview prep, and elevator pitches. As a professional job search coach and trainer, I’ve been to multiple trainings.

​​I’ve written the material, practiced it, adjusted a thirty-second infomercial about myself… and truthfully: I never use my elevator pitch. 

In over 25 years of professionally networking, I’ve only tried my elevator pitch once. The awkward reaction I received caused my mouth to stop moving about ten seconds in, fading away mid-sentence. I spent the rest of the elevator ride looking at my shoes, waiting for the floor to swallow me whole.

Given my profession, it’s hard to admit that every nugget of wisdom thrown out at a captive audience at a job search training session isn’t pure gold. 

However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore the information and the approach behind an elevator pitch. Instead of looking at it as your opportunity to land a job offer in a very small space, see an elevator pitch for what it is: a way to craft an introduction that is professional, while also drawing attention to your end goal (a job!).

How to Develop a Powerful Introduction You Can Use Again and Again: A 3 Step Process

Our strategy is simple: 

Create your story one part at a time… get comfortable with part one before moving onto parts 2 and 3. This is how you develop a natural, authentic introduction that will work in real life … not just that magical elevator ride!
​

Part One: Draft one to two sentences that include your name, and an interesting fact relevant to the circumstances of the moment. For a job interview, it might be a skill, for a networking event, it might be your most recent project, or something that lets you get your line of work into the conversation. If you’re having trouble coming up with one, you can use this worksheet.

Example: Hi, my name is Amy Rossi. Did you see the game last night—the Human Resources fantasy football league will be going crazy this morning.

Part Two: One sentence that builds on the information you revealed in part one, keeping in mind that you need to listen to the person who’s speaking to you.

Example: Yeah, I work on a really dynamic team. Our latest project led to  fifteen new Veteran hires, which is a real passion for me; I’ve been working toward ending Veteran unemployment for the past seven years.

Part Three: One to two sentences that give them a sense of where you want to build yourself professionally.

Example: Over the past seven years, the Veteran hiring market has gone through some interesting changes. I’m really interested in growing training and entrepreneurship
 resources for Veterans in partnership with other companies—does your company work with Veterans?

Think about it this way, most 30 second commercials only have 15 seconds of actual text. The mind needs time to absorb and process new information. Don’t stress yourself out thinking that you have to distill your whole life and your vision for the future into one convenient, elevator-sized speech. Instead, focus on giving your audience what they need—what they can write down, remember, and call you about on Monday morning. 

Good luck!
Amy

​Story by Amy Rossi

Recently, I attended an event where I was lamenting with an acquaintance the sheer number of “things” going on in the community—events geared at military jobseekers. We agreed that it was exhausting trying to keep up.  Our conversation left me thinking about the quality of events I attend. Some have been great, but others, I leave, feeling exhausted and wishing I had stayed home. 

The reality is not all events are created equally.
​

And while the first line of defense is, of course, to identify and avoid poorly planned events, at some time or another, many of us will end up in the wrong networking place at the wrong time.  

It may come in the form of a too small, too warm room with too many people in it. It may come in the form of a well-intentioned, but pushy person who knows exactly what you should do with your career and what you should value (“Why would anyone go through so much schooling to be a stay at home mom,” he asks). It may come in the form of a sponsor with their own intentions for the event, intentions that don’t match the goals of networkers. 

At some point, you may experience a less than pleasant networking event. So, how does one exit a negative situation?

Share Your Love of Free Food.
Some individual walks up to you and introduces himself. He asks, “so what do you do?” You can engage, or you can respond—“I’m only here for the cheese and crackers” or “I heard there would be free wine.” You will send the message—I mean business—about food. ​

Be Aggressive. B-E-AGGRESSIVE.
Nothing is more uninviting then invading another person’s physical space, talking loudly, and wildly gesticulating to get your point across. Disagree with someone? Shout it from the rooftops! You’ll be removed from all future event invites for certain.

Talk Politics and Religion at the Same Time. 
Want some alone time? Spark a lively debate about the President’s latest tweets or HRC’s book. But don’t forget to mix it with your take on changing blue laws, stores closing on Sunday, and other important debates. 

All Joking Aside…
If an event is not your “thing,” don’t feel compelled to stay, and don’t sabotage yourself using one of the not so okay recommendations above. Politely bow out, head home, and enjoy your evening. One networking event absence (or two, three, or four) will not destroy your chances at achieving your career goals. 

Happy Networking!

P.S. If you have ever been guilty of one of the first three recommendations, rethink how you interact in a networking environment. It’s okay to be there for the free food, but I wouldn’t admit it aloud. 

​Story by Jamie Boyle