Oplign, LLC’s Post

💫 Transition Tuesday 💫 Veteran attrition rates are extremely high in the civilian sector. Especially in the first 12-24 months. Lots of reasons for that. 1. The Veteran is adjusting to major life changes 2. The Veteran has a poor understanding of their skills and a matching position No secret here, life and jobs are a lot different on this side of the uniform.🫡 But yesterday in our weekly VETS Coffee Chat at JPMorgan Chase & Co., we talked about another reason. 🧐 We discussed how in the military, every 18-36 months we were assigned somewhere new, doing something new. Here that movement/professional development is largely on the individual. HRC (Human Resources Command for my non-Army friends) isn’t here to reassign us. We need to develop our path and network our way to our desired goals. It may not be a straight shot to get there but sitting 🪑 and waiting to be rewarded for our quiet/hard work leads to frustration. You have to advocate for yourself. Start navigating the organization’s maze right from the start, don’t wait 2-3 years when you are looking to move. So don’t just put your head down and work hard, get out there and learn the whole business- shaking hands 🤝 and making new friends along the way! Thoughts? 🤔 #veteran #leadershipdevelopment #professionaldevelopment #networking #mentorshipmatters #network #transitioningmilitary #militarytransition #linkedin

Show up to go up! Every day, transitioning out of the military gets a bit easier... But the tough part? You have to show up every day and put in the effort. That's where it gets hard. Define your definition of a meaningful, lucrative post-service career. Show up daily, put in the effort, and stay persistent. Let us help you. Vets2pm.com/training #militarytransition #dodskillbridge

⚠ To anyone who's transitioned from the military, you know it can be a bit of a whirlwind. Having served over 20 years and currently navigating my own transition from the Army, I can confirm—it's stressful 😅 ! But here's the good news: there are allies all around, and some fantastic programs that connect you with companies and expand your network. Over the past month, while searching for my next career, I’ve met some truly amazing people. I just want to take a moment to say thank you! I know we’re all busy, and the fact that you took the time to mentor, coach, and provide feedback does not go unnoticed. Ray Jokie with Lockheed Martin 🛰 Kyle Kinder, Winston Lam, and Andrew Vance with McKesson ⚕ Joseph "Joe" King with Wells Fargo 🏦 Marcus Castilla with ROGER Bank 🏦 Cody Ledbetter with O'Reilly Auto Parts 🚗 Thank you! For those making the transition (or will be soon), I highly recommend programs like FourBlock and Hiring Hiring Our Heroes. Also, get comfortable with platforms like LinkedIn. A former leader Eric Lopez once told me that social media can expand your impact and reach—don’t be afraid to reach out to strangers! The right people will respond. My career search journey goes on, but I am trusting the process and putting in the work! #VeteranTransition #Army #Networking #FourBlock #HiringOurHeroes #Grateful #CareerJourney #LinkedInTips

ATTENTION EMPLOYERS: Hire Veterans - Drive Performance - Grow Revenue Sara Blewett McNamara, MSOD and I have combined our IP's into one of the most powerful talent solutions in the veteran transition space and it couldn't have come at a better time. The #veteranready playbook is a new and elevated standard of employer excellence that represents a value innovation whose time has come. Our unique value proposition is simple: When you hire veterans the right way, you will drive organizational performance and grow your revenue over time. Building a resilient, quality program is key. INSIGHT: "If you build it, they will come." Field of Dreams. When you start with #skillbridge as your center of excellence first to include commitment from executive sponsorship with resources, you will also attract the rest of the military connected community to include veterans, National Guard/Reserve, student veterans and military spouses. Interested in becoming a #veteranready employer who builds a cost effective, high value, high touch, veteran hiring program that scales? Reach out to Sara Blewett McNamara, MSOD or myself to learn more. #deeplearning #dodskillbridge #humanresources #strategy

Exciting times ahead! I'm thrilled to share that I've officially launched my journey as a Cohort 2024-02 Hiring Our Heroes candidate. For those wondering, "What's this all about?" Let me break it down: Hiring Our Heroes is an incredible organization that connects the dots between veterans (and military spouses like us) and hundreds of companies eager to welcome our unique skills. This program amplifies our chances to dive into new careers we've envisioned during our transition from military life. Honestly, it's hard to capture the whirlwind of emotions I'm experiencing. After dedicating well over a year to planning and preparing for this moment, it still feels somewhat surreal. Programs like HOH, FourBlock, Candorful, and Veterati have been crucial in easing the stress and anxiety that come with making such a significant change. I'd like to take a moment to reflect on the journey that brought me here: o Two Decades in Service - Reflecting on my 20 years of military service fills me with immense pride. Going from a small town kid with uncertainty about "what I want to do when I grow up" to finding my place among incredible professionals who have provided guidance and structure at every turn, the military has profoundly shaped who I am and I will never forget that. o Unquenchable Thirst for Learning - My journey has been a testament to the power of education and personal growth. Balancing school, work, and family life has taught me invaluable lessons in time management and the importance of a strong support network supporting my efforts every step of the way. o Family and Friends - Speaking of an awesome network: None of this would be possible without my amazing wife Yuri, our three incredible sons, and a close-knit circle of friends who've had my back no matter how far we're stationed from one another and no matter how long its been since the last time we saw each other. My heart is full of gratitude for the life we've built together. o Personal Dedication - I hate "tooting my own horn"...I often shy away from self-praise because we don't usually do that in the military. We focus instead on the team, but it's important to acknowledge individual effort. Like my fellow servicemen and women, I've put my all into fulfilling my duties over the last 20 years and preparing for this new chapter has been no exception. I'm eager to bring this dedication to an organization ready to take a chance on me. To say I'm "stoked" to connect with and learn from the professionals I'll meet through this program is an understatement. My resume goes out this week, marking the start of what promises to be an exciting journey. To my fellow veterans and military spouses seeking opportunities, I encourage you to explore Hiring Our Heroes at https://lnkd.in/eRusn4f9 or connect with the wonderful Jamie Webb, my program manager. Remember, a wealth of resources is available to help you navigate your career path—you're not in this alone. #hohfellows #hoh

With over 20 years of #military experience and extensive work in facilitating military-to-civilian transitions by leading global veteran programs in major tech companies (#Fortinet and #Alteryx) and forming worldwide partnerships with over 20 #nonprofits (TechVets, Soldier On Australia, Hire Heroes USA, Blue Star Families, Institute for Veterans and Military Families - IVMF, Coding for Veterans, Women In Data™️, Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS), and many more), I can confidently affirm that #career and transition planning is crucial for success! Just as occupational training is essential for military service, ongoing career development is crucial for post-service achievements. The DoD-SkillBridge program is a remarkable opportunity to translate your military expertise into civilian careers. #SkillBridge connects your military training and experience with valuable civilian job opportunities as you prepare to transition out of service. If you have 180 or fewer days remaining before separation and at least 180 continuous days of active service, you may be eligible for SkillBridge. Plan ahead and maximize this benefit for a smoother transition into civilian life! 🚀 #MilitaryTransition #CareerPlanning #VeteranSuccess

In the military we #overinflate every accomplishment and take credit for everything done below us in the organization Out here? Yeah...it is only what you actually did or were closely engaged with #quinnsights So in my INSCOM G3 SGM role I ⭐did not⭐ lead the operations for 17,000 people in 45 countries I was an individual contributor that did some cool things listed on my profile But looking now...even the last 2x bullets are kind of suspect 🤷♂️ Because I didn't actually do that much for them #militarytransition Why is this important? Because if for some reason I did get to the interview phase and the hiring manager started asking me in-depth questions on my role in those last 2x bullets I wouldn't get that job Just like my retired CSM buddy that had the opportunity of a lifetime, but botched it because his answers for the accomplishments important to the hiring panel were: I gave it to my team and followed up Questions?

Highly recommend FourBlock to all transitioning vets. It is complete game changer in your transition experience!

"Hey Gregg,Wanted to let you know I got the FJO for the AF GS-11 position. Thanks for giving me the push!"  This isn't A I, it isn't a pretend resume expert or any other false pretentious wannabe SME that claimed to help veterans succeed in the USAJOBS PROCESS. It's me and my Quarter  century of working as a GS &NAF employee and 21 different jobs that puts vets in this position.  DAMN I'm good at what I do. And I only do it for vets. If your a vet and you want to compete fairly for a Federal job, you going to call a 30 something that's never been a GS or military member? Or you going to contact me? I'm a serious person dedicated to helping vets, but if you are "Woke"  Don't bother me until you grow up and figure it out for yourself. I help vets. No one can compare to me. Arrogance or fact? You decide as you keep failing to get Referred. Gregg K.