TAP aids in career transition

  • Published
  • By Monica Mendoza
  • 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  Sometimes in life, and in job hunting, it comes down to a 30-second commercial - your commercial, employment experts say.

So, you better be ready.

Liz Wilson, career transition trainer for Inverness Technologies and a Department of Labor contractor, taught a five-day Transition Assistance Program to assist job-seeking and career development strategies to military members who are retiring or separating at Peterson, April 12 to 14.

A person looking for a job should be prepared to share their 30-second commercial with the man on the elevator, the lady in line at the store or their kid's soccer coach, Ms. Wilson, said.

"In your 30-second commercial you should say who you are, what you bring to the table, list your strengths, your skills and what you are looking for," Ms. Wilson said. "In any market you should be networking. But, when there are not as many jobs to go around, you want to find out about those job opportunities as soon as possible."

Each month about 40 military personnel nervously walk into the five-day TAP knowing that they are standing at the edge of a new phase in their careers - civilian employee. Last week's particular group of retiring and separating military members face a current workforce with a national 9.7 percent unemployment rate and a Colorado unemployment rate of 7.7 percent. Some Airmen have found themselves on the civilian job hunt earlier than expected under the recently announced 2010 force management guidelines.

Sherri Kitchens, TAP manager, estimates 100 Airmen on Peterson Air Force Base are affected by the force management guidelines.

On April 12, when the military members took their seats in the first day of TAP, they were uneasy, quiet and nobody was smiling.

"They seemed troubled," Ms. Kitchens said.

By the end of the second day, spirits had lifted. In two days they talked about the job market, they discussed strategies on how to meet potential employers and they even dreamed a little.

"They were smiling, there was some hope," Ms. Kitchens said.

In this tough job market, TAP is even more important, Ms. Kitchens said. In five days, she's got to give to military personnel information they need to get a job. She pulls in industry experts, Colorado Springs human resources directors, image consultants, employment experts and former military personnel who have been out there in the civilian world and landed a job.

Five years ago in Colorado Springs there might be 25 applicants for one job. Today, there are 100 applicants for one job, Ms. Kitchens said. The job scene encourages people to be creative, to think outside their comfort zone and to consider relocating. And, it's not all doom, Ms. Kitchens said.

She sends out about 100 job postings from 50 or 60 agencies a week to former TAP participants -- some jobs are so hot, they have not yet been posted on job sites.

"There are jobs out there," Ms. Kitchens said. "Everybody in that room is going to get a job. How quickly they get a job depends on them - if they are willing to move or willing to take an entry level job."

In TAP, Ms. Wilson teaches strategies on salary negotiation and behavior style interviewing - a style of interview where the employer asks a person to tell them about a time they solved a problem or challenged the boss. They talk about professional organizations, job fairs, veterans' events and community resources, including the Pikes Peak Workforce Center. The group discusses communication and how words used in the military are different than in the civilian world. They work on their resumes and they embrace their anxiety, Ms. Wilson said.

"Any change is stressful," Ms. Wilson said. "One way to reduce stress is to take care of yourself, through your nutrition and exercise and keep your routines."

Military personnel sometimes don't give themselves enough credit. But, employers want prior military members, Ms. Wilson said. She helps them list their strengths and skills and how those skills transfer into civilian positions. More importantly, Ms. Wilson is helping them see the possibilities.

Tech. Sgt. Laurie Lykken, Air Force Space Command vice commander executive assistant, is doing some serious thinking outside of the "career box" as she prepares to separate after serving 12 years.

"I have options," said Sergeant Lykken, who wants to find a job that combines her information technology and client support experience. "(Ms. Wilson) has helped me as far as thinking about expanding my horizons."

In TAP, the group practices interviewing with human resource directors from across the job spectrum, including Odyssey, Ciber, Boecore, and Anser Corporation. By the time a person leaves TAP, they have 70 contacts in their network, Ms. Kitchens said.

In 2009, Peterson's TAP panels, which include past TAP members, industry leaders and the Department of Defense representatives, was given an Air Force "Best Practice" award.

Recently, Ms. Kitchens sent e-mails to 2009-2010 TAP participants to check in on their job hunt. Of 90 respondents, 72 reported that they had found a job and this report makes her smile.

"I say to them, 'You've got a second chance now. You can start over. What do you want to do?'" Ms. Kitchens said. "Make it count."

- The Airman and Family Readiness Center offers the five-day Transition Assistance Program once a month and the workshop is open to military personnel who are retiring or separating and their spouses. For details, call 556-6141.

 

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