Adisa Hargett-Robinson, Author at Military Times

Opening a business? Get your game plan together!

Adisa Hargett-Robinson — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 18:43:55 +0000

Your favorite NFL team wouldn’t take the field without a game plan. Well on second thought, if your favorite team is the Cleveland Browns, they might. If it is … sorry, dude. They suck. But the same way every other NFL team wouldn’t start the game without a detailed plan, you shouldn’t start your business without a detailed plan. Here are some things you should be thinking about ahead of time, if you don’t want your new business to be the Cleveland Browns of startup companies. (Getty Images)
In business, as in game shows, your friends can be crucial lifelines. And because you’re a veteran, those friends include some big government agencies with lots of resources! The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Veterans Business Development works with resource partners – Small Business Development Centers, Veterans Business Outreach Centers, Women’s Business Centers and the entrepreneurship group SCORE – to provide vet entrepreneurs special help. This includes training, one-on-one business counseling and networking opportunities that can help you start, grow, and remain competitive in the marketplace. (Richlegg/Getty Images)
Be honest: How many hours have you spent preparing for fantasy football drafts? Comparing one running back to another, struggling to decide between the inconsistent big-play wide receiver and the dependable short-yardage tight end? You only had bragging rights and maybe a few bucks (don’t worry, we won’t tell) on the line for those. With your new business, your finances and entire working life hang in the balance. Don’t skip the research. Look up everything you can about the market and industry you are getting into, as well as general business best practices. A couple places to start are ‘The Lean Start Up Method’, http://theleanstartup.com/ and ‘The Business Model Canvas’, http://theleanstartup.com/. These resources will help you to learn about your customers and build a business model. (Spxchrome/Getty Images)
Once you have determined that your idea is feasible as a business, the next step is to make an action plan. The first draft should focus on testing your business. If your business plan will require you to make big, up-front investments right away, that could be a red flag. You should connect with your local Veterans Business Outreach Center, which can assist veterans and active duty service members in developing and maintaining a five-year business plan. (Andresr/Getty Images)
You should not buy a new car without taking a test drive first. The same goes for your business plan. Look for ways that you can test whether your business concept works that don’t require you to spend a lot of money. Start small: Base your business at home rather than renting office space, partner with established businesses or sell your products online. Doing so will not only let you test your business for viability, it will also help you start building awareness of your brand … and maybe even start generating some revenue. And before you know it, your new business might be doing so well that you’ll be test driving that shiny new convertible! (Karelnoppe/Getty Images)
[SUBJECTS] seen at the H&R Block Budget Challenge Guntersville Recognition Ceremony, on Friday, January 16, 2014 in Guntersville, Ala. (Photo by Jeff White/Invision for H&R Block/AP Images)

Video: The college application shortcut you need to know about

Adisa Hargett-Robinson — Sat, 17 Feb 2018 22:46:32 +0000

Applying to college can be time-consuming and repetitive. But there’s a trick that can make the process much easier for you. Watch the video to learn more!

Video: Zen AF

Adisa Hargett-Robinson — Sat, 17 Feb 2018 22:18:18 +0000

Transitioning from military to civilian life can be stressful. Here are some tips to help you find your zen!

Video: What’s up with service dogs?

Adisa Hargett-Robinson — Sat, 17 Feb 2018 22:12:32 +0000

Service dogs help many veterans. Check out this video to learn a little more about what they can do and how they’re different from a family pet.

The Labor Department delivers for vets!

Adisa Hargett-Robinson — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 19:06:39 +0000

The U.S. Department of Labor isn’t there to help pregnant women through childbirth; its purpose is to aid people who need help landing a good job. And because you served in the military, the department will give you exclusive benefits that aren’t available to everyone else. From job fairs to apprenticeships to protections for reservists, the Labor Department can help you with almost everything. But if your water breaks, please go to a hospital.(Andrew Mathews/PA Wire)
Be honest: Did you ever cut in line at school growing up? Well believe it or not, you can keep right on cutting in line as an adult, with the full support of the U.S. federal government! Veterans get priority service at more than 2,500 American Job Centers across the country. These job centers can hook you up with a local job or help you get the training you need to land it. They also can help with your resume, give you tips on networking and whip your job interview skills into shape. Disabled vets, as well as those facing economic difficulty or employment challenges, can get additional help as well. (SolStock/Getty Images)
You can learn how to do a job by being taught by someone with experience. Or you can learn on the job. Or you can do both at the same time, with an apprenticeship. Former President Obama called for the number of apprenticeships to be doubled, as these can be a great way to prepare for a new career. Registered Apprenticeships allows veterans to learn a trade and use their GI Bill benefits to receive a tax-free monthly stipend. The department has many resources to help you find high-skill, good paying job opportunities through such apprenticeships. (Molly Anne Greendeer/Navy)
And what would the workforce be without women? #Thefutureisfemale. The Department of Labor has a renewed emphasis on female veteran employment. As part of this, it created the Women Veterans Initiative, which is dedicated to identifying their employment challenges, find ways the department can help and bring more public attention to the issue. (Jenifer Calhoun/Public Domain)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks which companies are hiring near you to help you find a job, the same way that Tinder can keep you posted on which hotties are single near you to help you hook up! Based on the labor data, the department tailors training and employment services for the needs of the area. Then, they conduct an annual employment report on veterans to figure out what’s working and what needs some tweaking. If only Tinder dates were so well-vetted! (Martin Dimitrov/ Getty Images)
The department’s Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program has grants to connect veterans with the training they need for success in civilian careers. The grants fund a range of supportive services, including job placement, career counseling, life skills and money management mentoring, as well as helping homeless vets find a place to live. (Damian Dovarganes/AP)
Before you can start looking for jobs, you’ll have to have some idea of what industry you want to work in and what kind of career you want. If you’re still thinking through that, the Labor Department’s website, My Next Move for Veterans, could be a big help. The site has information on job duties, skill requirements, salary ranges – basically everything you need to know for over 900 different careers. You can find careers through keyword search, by browsing industries or by searching for civilian careers that are like your job in the military. Veterans can also take advantage of the O*NET Interest Profile, which allows you to create a personalized profile based on your interests and level of work experience. (Stephen Brashear/AP Images for U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation)
First the bad news: You can’t use this card to buy a flat screen TV. But it can help you land a great job that’ll fill up your bank account and let you buy that 65-incher with cash! The Labor Department’s “Gold Card” services for unemployed post-9/11 veterans include assessments of your interview skills, the development of a custom plan to help you land a job, career guidance and counseling, access to job banks and portals, and a dedicated case manager who will follow up with you monthly. And best of all: you don’t have to pay any interest rates or annual fees! (Getty Images)
If you’re juggling a civilian career with continuing service in the National Guard or reserves, the Labor Department – backed by federal law – guarantees you job protections. Your civilian employer can’t punish you for serving your country. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act require that returning service-members must be quickly returned the same position that they would have attained had they not been absent for military service, with the same seniority, status and pay, as well as other rights and benefits. If you think your rights were violated, you can file a complaint with the Labor Department. (Nan Wylie / U.S. Air Force photo)
Information contributed by U.S. Department of Labor Blog. Find more at blog.dol.gov. (Photo by Jeff White/Invision for H&R Block/AP Images)

Upping your LinkedIn game

Adisa Hargett-Robinson — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 18:30:23 +0000

You’re not going to land a hot Tinder date if you don’t create your account, upload some duck-face selfies and start swiping. The same is true with LinkedIn: You have to get on the site, fill out your profile with all your key employment information and start reaching out to people you know. Networking and job opportunities will only start coming your way if you’re active and engaged on the site. Then once you get that dream job, you can turn your attention to Tinder to find new friends to celebrate with. (Wachiwit/Getty Images)
Everyone’s favorite Friends knew about #squadgoals. One component of their strong bond was that they were always there for each other (it was even in the theme song). Your friends should be there for you when you send your LinkedIn connection request. They should be the first people you reach out to on LinkedIn, because they know you and will most likely add you. Additionally, adding your friends gives you access to everyone they are connected with, and their connections could potentially help you get a job. That’s how friends become best friends. (Reed Saxon/AP)
What would Michael Jordan have been with without the Chicago Bulls? Just a guy who never met his full potential and probably never got his own line of shoes. What about LeBron? He couldn’t have won those championship rings without the Miami Heat or Cleveland Cavaliers. You need the team, and you need to join groups on LinkedIn. Each group is a new team that allows you to meet with other professionals in that area. By joining that group, you will be able to learn more about that group’s focus. No one can advance on their own, and the group that you join will help you grow and advance professionally. (AP)
Have you ever looked at a product online and then had Facebook show you an ad for that exact same item 5 minutes later? Click on a bunch of those recommended products and you may find yourself broke. Click on a bunch of LinkedIn’s recommended connections and you may find yourself with an awesome new job! LinkedIn will make suggestions for who you should add based on who you added in the past. Browse LinkedIn’s suggestions of “People you may know” on your “My Network” page to further expand your network. (Getty Images)
Information contributed by Corporate Gray Blog. Find more at http://blog.corporategray.com/. (Getty Images)

Here’s what you need to know about virtual job fairs

Adisa Hargett-Robinson — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 17:56:48 +0000

You can buy groceries online, find a date, look for an apartment – why not start your new career online too? Online job fairs are becoming increasingly popular and could one day become the standard for job fairs. Like any other career fair, they allow job seekers to interact with employers directly. Unlike traditional career fairs, you don’t actually get to have a face-to-face conversation. That doesn’t mean you can just roll out of bed, boot up your computer and get job offers rolling in without doing some work beforehand. Here are some tips on how to prepare for online job fairs. (Peopleimages/Getty Images)
To get deals on Black Friday, some people camp outside stores hours in advance, map out which sales start when and strategize which bargains to go after first. The people who just roll up to the mall without a plan probably aren’t going to get their hands on that super-discounted TV. The same is true for online job fairs. Figure out the details in advance. For example, you may need to reserve a spot through early registration. Fail to do so and and you could miss the deadline to attend or end up spending the entire career fair in the virtual waiting room, getting you nowhere. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Just because you don’t have to dress up or leave your house to attend the career fair doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare. It actually means you should prepare more. It’s crucial that you research the company beforehand because there will be little small talk. The conversations will be straight to the point. Be prepared with answers for when recruiters ask why you’re interested in their particular company, what specific work you want to do, what applicable skills you have and other questions. (Eenevski/Getty Images)
Since the job fair is online you must join a booth to access each employer. Like a regular job fair, you have to approach the employer, they won’t approach you. You will need to join a booth to be put in a queue to chat with a recruiter. You can wait to chat in multiple booths at once, and you will be placed in the first available chat. Once you are in a chat, your position in the other booths will be held while you are chatting. (VM/Getty)
Information contributed by Corporate Gray Blog. Find more at http://blog.corporategray.com/ (Getty Images)

How to go to college without going broke

Adisa Hargett-Robinson — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 19:28:45 +0000

Tuition at colleges and universities is through the roof, and many graduates are saddled with loads of student loan debt. But this doesn’t have to be you! Your military service will afford you different opportunities to shrink, or possibly even eliminate, your school costs. We’re not just talking tuition here, your housing and books could be covered as well. Save more money on your degree now, so that later you can buy a new car, travel the world and most importantly not spend years losing a chunk of your paycheck to paying off your student debt. (Pixelfit/Getty Images)
So you’ve probably heard of the GI Bill, but I bet you didn’t read the fine print (who ever does?). This is one time you want to! It was modified after 9/11 and has some cool benefits you definitely want to know about! The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers the full in-state tuition at public universities and more than $20,000 annually at private universities. It also comes with a housing stipend that will typically give the student about as much money as the school receives for tuition. You can use the GI Bill to fund your education, as well as that of your children or spouse. Talk about #EducationGoals! There are some limitations and rules, so read the small print so you can take advantage of it. (Alyssa M. Akers/U.S. Air Force)
There are benefits not just for you but your spouse as well! Gotta love bae. The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program provides up to $4,000 for military spouses who are pursuing an associate degree, license, certification or credential for employment. Why should your spouse pay for something if it can be free? Keep in mind that there are limitations to this program. For example, the spouse’s service member must be active duty, higher ranks are not eligible and the program of study must be completed within three years of the start date. (InnaPoka/Getty Images)
Spouses and children of veterans are eligible to receive education and training benefits through the Dependents Education Assistance Program. If awarded, up to 45 months of financial benefits are offered and they can be used for any number of educational programs, including degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship and on-the-job training. Isn’t that just the best thing ever? (Zinkevych/Getty Images)
Have you ever paid a cover charge at a bar or club and then watched someone walk into the same place without having to pay a cover because they were a VIP or knew someone you didn’t? Well, you’re the VIP now! Veterans are eligible for lots of unique scholarships that aren’t available to people who never served. The various scholarships and grants have different requirements, and they may vary based on branch. But bottom line: They are giving you free money. Now that is literally the best thing ever! (Getty Images)
Each branch of the military has its own education benefit resources. Active duty service members can take advantage of tuition assistance that will pay for their classes, within certain limitations that sometimes vary from one branch to another. The best thing to do is to contact your local branch’s education assistance program for more information. (Tom Fawls/Getty Images)
Don’t forget about education benefits provided by states. These can benefit you, your spouse, even your children. As with the branch-specific assistance, each state’s assistance varies. Some states offer more help than others. You could be looking at a full-ride scholarship for your entire degree … or absolutely no help from the state. You’ll have to track down your state’s financial aid program or website for more information. But it’s worth the time. If there is any free money out there for you to go to school, wouldn’t you want to find it? (Viorika Prikhodko/Getty Images).
Information contributed by Corporate Gray Blog. Find more at http://blog.corporategray.com/ (Staff Sgt. Chad Simon)

Volunteering: Help yourself by helping others

Adisa Hargett-Robinson — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 20:47:44 +0000

Volunteering can be a great thing to do, for many reasons. Of course, it is an opportunity to help others, improve the world around you and get some warm fuzzy feelings. Approached thoughtfully, volunteering can also provide many benefits for your career aspirations. At the very least, it’ll make you stop watching Netflix for an hour. You don’t want to be this guy; he doesn’t he look like he’s having fun. (David Clark/Getty Images)
Most companies want you to have tons of experience but don’t want to hire you to get the experience. Confusing, right? One way to get that experience is by volunteering! Many organizations, especially nonprofits with small budgets, have volunteers on staff. Because they rely on volunteers, these groups are often more likely to give an inexperienced person a chance. Be open-minded when evaluating opportunities. For example, if you need experience with human resources, you may not find an organization in your area looking for an HR volunteer. But you may find one looking for a volunteer coordinator. While the two positions may sound different, they could help you build up similar skills, such as recruiting talent, on-boarding newcomers, and resolving issues and grievances. (OcusFocus/Getty Images)
I don’t care what Drake says in the song “No new friends.” Knowing the right people can open up the opportunity you’re looking for. This can be particularly helpful for transitioning service members, who often are changing career fields, relocating to a new area or both. Many organizations who use volunteers have national and international networks. Someone in the local office could provide a lead on a job in a different part of the organization or a different part of the country. Volunteering at a nonprofit could put you shoulder-to-shoulder with a hiring manager, company vice president, or even the CEO. Meeting them in an out-of-office setting gives you a chance to see and be seen without the pressure that often comes with a job interview. Talk about a win-win! (Robb Cohen/Invision/AP)
Sorry, Allen Iverson. We’re talking about practice again. Think of volunteering as the final practice before the big game. It can help you hone your abilities or even teach you a new set of skills that will be useful at that future corporate job, all in a low-pressure environment. You can try new things, take risks, work through failures and learn. Even if you mess up so badly that the volunteer organization fires you, you won’t get a pay cut! (Tom Mihalek/AFP/Getty Images)
Volunteering might not get you a fat paycheck, but it can provide you with a lot more than it would appear on the surface. And if it doesn’t help you with anything discussed above it will at least get you of that couch! (Natasaadzic/Getty Images)
Information contributed by Veterans of Foreign Wars. Find more at https://www.vfw.org.

Mentorship 101

Adisa Hargett-Robinson — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 17:27:33 +0000

No one got anywhere without the help of someone else. I mean, where would Daniel, be without Mr. Miyagi? He wouldn’t be the Karate Kid; he probably wouldn’t be with Ali; he may have gotten a beat down from John Kreese. But Mr. Miyagi, great mentor that he was, stepped in and taught Daniel everything he needed to know. The lesson here is everyone needs a Mr. Miyagi mentor in their lives. Mentors are helpful during your transition, and the relationship can often last much longer. Like any relationship, it doesn’t form overnight. Here’s what you need to know. (AP)
Frozen’s Elsa not only sang everyone’s favorite song to sing in the shower – sorry, we just couldn’t “Let It Go” – she also reminded people that relationships take time to develop. What’s true for marriages is true for mentorships. You can’t just pick a mentor out of thin air. You must give some careful thought to what your needs are and who would be a good match to help you with your goals. You need to take time to evaluate what you really want and how a mentor can help you get there. (AP)
Everyone knows Eminem is one of this generation’s top rappers, but don’t forget how he got there: with a lot of help from his mentor, Dr. Dre. He even wrote the song “I Need a Doctor” about their relationship. Once you have decided on your mentor, it’s time to make moves. Decide on a schedule with your mentor – whether it be weekly phone calls, monthly dinners or daily emails – and stick with it. Talk to your mentor frequently and keep track of where you started, where you want to be and where you have gotten so far. Set a time frame for where you want the relationship to go, and make sure its realistic. Nothing happens overnight. (Chris Pizzello/AP)
Everyone’s favorite teacher, Mr. Feeny, from the show Boy Meets World, was a big part of his students’ lives. His role wasn’t limited to the walls of the classroom. This relationship spanned seven beautiful years on screen (and forever in our memories). Once your relationship is well-defined and you talk with your mentor regularly, you can form a relationship with honesty, trust and longevity. (Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP)
Information contributed by Corporate GrayBlog. Find more at http://blog.corporategray.com/ (Getty Images)