LinkedIn Groups Group: Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Career Networking Subject: Why You Need a Mentor This week’s MOAA career building announcement comes from Emily Rand, our career resource specialist. “What do you want to do?” is the first question I ask anyone in career transition. Generally, if someone knows what they want to do, they’ll tell me what they’ve already been doing, and if someone doesn’t know what they want to do, they’ll tell me about new fields they’re interested in. Though oftentimes when someone is transitioning from the military, the response is simply, “I don’t know.” This doesn’t surprise me. Military folks spend their entire lives doing a little bit of everything. So, when it comes time to narrow down their interests, it’s a hard decision. Whether you’re continuing in a field you’re comfortable with or interested in something new and unfamiliar, one thing to consider when choosing your next career is working with a mentor. A mentor can be many things. A friend. A coach. A supervisor, or a peer. But in career transition, a mentor is also someone who can help you envision what you want from your next career by sharing their experiences, facilitating connections, clarifying processes, and providing advice and words of encouragement. A few things to consider when choosing a mentor: • Look for someone who works in the field you’re interested in. If you were a communicator in the military, and would like to stay in the communications field, think of your current connections. Is there anyone who you’ve worked closely with that you trust? Is there anyone who has inspired you? If you’re venturing into a new field, think of friends or colleagues who work in that arena, then reach out to them. • Be open to new possibilities. The term “mentor” used to convey someone older. But nowadays, a mentor is more so someone you can learn from. Don’t discount experience, but don’t rule anyone out because of their age. • If you’re looking for a mentor outside of your network, consider companies with established mentorship programs (if you’re currently employed, ask your employer if there is a program in place). To provide an additional mentoring resource, MOAA and American Corporate Partners (ACP) have partnered to offer a valuable, professional mentorship opportunity to a select number of eligible MOAA members. If selected, you will be linked with a corporate mentor from some of the nation’s top corporations and universities – Bloomberg, Boeing, Disney, Goldman Sachs, Harvard University, etc. - for a yearlong mentorship program. ACP is a nationwide mentoring program that matches corporate mentors with veterans who have served on active duty since 9/11. ACP mentors will provide customized career counseling and networking assistance to those seeking to work in many sectors including but not limited to finance, health care, manufacturing, and starting or building a small business. In-person mentoring is available in 16 major cities across the country and a national program offers connections through various communication tools. To learn more, visit acp-usa.org, or apply online (ACP Protégé Application) by November 29th. To be considered for this partnership, enter “MOAA” in the referral section of the application. Don’t forget to follow MOAA on social media to learn more about exciting career transition opportunities: Twitter - @MilitaryOfficer; Facebook – https://facebook/OnePowerfulVoice ; Pinterest - pinterest/militaryofficer/ . Finally, if you’re located close to the Colorado Springs area, MOAA will host a currently serving and veteran-focused career fair on November 14 at the Antlers Hilton from 10:00 to 2:00. Expect to meet a range of regional and national employers and consider participating in one of our professional development seminars. Military spouses are invited to join our Military Spouse Employer Forum beginning at 12:00. See moaa.org/career for more details. Posted By Jim Carman
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 11:08:46 +0000