The Sassy One in HR

Birds of a Feather – Professional Associations

Everyone likes to connect with people that have similar interests and abilities, not just for fun, but work too.  There are professional societies, associations and groups for almost every occupation, job, business and pastime.  Make sure you know how to make the best use of them.

Joining the Flock - Getting Jobs

If you were trying to replace yourself in your current job, where would you turn for candidates?  I would turn to my colleagues in my profession.  Conversely if I am looking for a job, that is where my search would begin, even if I don’t yet know those colleagues.  Professional groups make it easy to seek out those people who can help you.  Go to the local association meetings.  Even if you don’t know which association or group you should be looking for, you can start with something generic like a Rotary Club or a Chamber of Commerce meeting.  Most people there will either know where you should turn next, or they know someone who will know.  Aside from the face to face meetings and getting to know the other professionals in your city, there is typically a place to find targeted job postings.  There may also be a place to post your resume so members of the group can look you up when they have an opening available.  If the group doesn’t have a job board or resume bank then don’t be shy about handing out your resume at a meeting.  (Make sure it is on one page!)

Feathering that Nest - Keeping Jobs

Once you are in gainfully employed, you probably want to stay that way!  Keeping up to date with the latest and greatest in your profession is absolutely vital to your success.  Whether it is interior design or human resources you need to remain informed about the latest trends, practices or laws.  Professional associations and societies typically publish a newsletter, magazine, blog or website (or all of those things).  Discussion about the practical applications of those changes and how they will affect business is a valuable teaching tool.  Pay attention and participate in those discussions because there is always something to learn from your colleagues.  HR and benefits is constantly changing landscape of legislation and legal decisions.  I would not be doing a good job and protecting my company if I wasn’t getting updates and information from my professional society. 

The ‘V’ Formation - Giving Jobs

Back to the original question….if you are about to PCS and need to replace yourself, where would you look for someone just like you?  Perhaps there is a military spouse that has your set of skills.  Awesome!  Helping out one of our own would be fantastic!  But if that won’t work out, you need to find a person with similar expertise.  Hiring from within your organization may be an option, or perhaps you can poach from a competitor.  You are more likely to find someone you consider to be qualified through a professional association.  Now forget about YOUR area of expertise, let’s say you are an accountant and your firm has a need to hire a public relations specialist.  You and all of your accounting friends don’t know any PR people, but there is an organization for PR people that you can access.  Posting positions on the websites for both local and national associations is much less expensive than a posting in the paper, and most of your responses will be from qualified professionals.

It’s a Different Flock

Your personal life is full of military jargon, acronyms and regulations, and it is comfortable.  Our relationships with other military spouses are invaluable.  The lessons, advice and help that are passed from spouse to spouse are part of what make our community so special.  Your professional networks allow you to step away from all of that, and will allow you to stretch yourself and move outside the cocoon of military life in which we sometimes live.  It lets you be around some other people for a while.  (Other people who don’t automatically ask you what your husband flies!)  I feel strongly that my profession gave me the ability to grow as a person separately from my husband and the military.  It made me more of who I am and a much happier person than I was as a trailing spouse.

A Whole Different Animal – Personal Networking

You have a past….. we all do.  Use it!  Recently I was talking to one of my college friends about her business and the subject of administering a 401(k) came up.  I was able to learn a little more about my profession from a different point of view.  With the availability of social media it is easier than ever to be in touch with all of those old friends and acquaintances.  You may find that your best friend from seventh grade is in the same profession as you and lives in the city where you are about to move.  Even if you stole her boyfriend in the eighth grade, I bet she has forgiven you and she can help you out with an introduction at the next association meeting.  Or maybe that friend is in a different profession, but she knows someone who would be able to assist you.  Would you be happy to pass a name or a resume along?  Surely someone would be happy to do it for you.

Originally published for the National Military Spouse Network (NMSN)