Read about spouse scholarships and more at:
NMFA's Military Spouse Education Resource Guide



Job Skills You Didn't Know You Had
Click here to read this eye opening article by MSCCN's Deb Kloeppel!



Successful Interviewing
Click here for another great article by MSCCN's Deb Kloeppel!



Articles Appearing in Military Spouse Magazine
Pre-Interview Preparation ~ 10 steps to getting hired by Deb Kloeppel

Virtual Office Work Ethics by Deb Kloeppel and Becky Brillon

Relieve Work Stress ~ Five ways to refresh the way to see your job by MSCCN



Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault in the Workplace

MSCCN's President and CEO, Deb Kloeppel,
introduces the newest addition to our
growing resources for spouses:

Pam Giesick,
Sexual Assault Response Coordinator,
U.S. Naval Weapons Station Charleston, SC

MSCCN is so very fortunate to have in our support network an expert whose
dedicated life surrounds the support, counseling, and mentorship of women
and children who have experienced sexual assault and sexual harassment
within the military.

Because MSCCN is not shy about tackling tough issues in the workplace and
home front, we wanted to provide MSCCN's applicants and loyal corporate
partners, the benefit of Pam Giesick’s vast experience and expert approach to
prevent and cope with sexual harassment and sexual assault in the workforce
and home front. She will provide future articles on the subject for MSCCN applicants.
Click here for her article on Techniques of Dealing With Sexual Harassment.



Anne Wight's Guidelines to Job Search

Written and compiled by one of MSCCN's
own, Anne Wight, these guidelines are an
invaluable resource for job seekers!

They lead you from "beginning your search" to
"resume writing, interviewing and negotiation".
There is also an excellent list of job related
links that you will want to check!
Click Here for the Guidelines



Here are some of excellent articles by Anne:

A Must Do

Military Family Centers

Older Workers and Technology

Mission: Career

• Do NOT be late.
  This may seem obvious, but three out of every ten applicants run one to five
  minutes late for corporate interviews. Corporate recruiters always remember
  the late applicant, but they never get the job. You can never provide a good
  enough excuse for being late. Consider if three out of every ten applicants
  are historically late for interviews, showing up 12 minutes early for an interview
  will put you ahead of at least 3 applicants!
  
  
• Do NOT ramble.
  Keep your answers to "just the facts." Please, do not share intimate personal
  information with corporate recruiters. Bottom line, ramblers don't get hired.
  If you consume a corporate recruiter's time on extraneous information, you'll
  appear selfish and self-centered, even if you are not. Recruiters envision
  ramblers taking time away from co-workers in an office setting.
  
  Time is money to a corporate recruiter. Remember this when you have the
  urge to tell them your life's story. They don't care whether you get along with
  your mother-in-law or commander's wife. They only care if you can do the job,
  while working as a team member inside their corporate work groups.
  
  
• Do NOT hurry when completing your job application.
  Arrive early and give the application proper attention it requires. This is the
  No. 3 killer of job chances. The military's Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
  manual contains a master application that is a comprehensive reference to
  complete prior to filling out applications. Sloppy and rushed applications
  substantiate your lack of attention to detail. A quality writing pen is one of
  the primary tools of the trade for a job seeker. Ensure you have a good one
  and bring a back up. Bring a business card with your name, address, e-mail
  address and cell phone number on it. Don't give them your home phone.
  
  
• Recruiters do NOT like screaming kids or barking dogs in the background
  when they call your home for a follow up phone interview, or to let you
  know you landed the job.
  Give them a phone number free of distractions. The fewer distractions you
  have during conversation the better off you'll be. Also, make the recruiter
  aware of any speech impediments you have. If you stutter, tell the corporate
  recruiter up front that you stutter. Tell them not to be embarrassed for you
  and ask them politely to allow you to finish your sentences. Nothing upsets
  someone who stutters more than someone finishing their sentences for them.
  Plow through the sentence you're having problems with and you will earn the
  respect of the recruiter.
  
  
• Do NOT have your cell phone on during an interview.
  A ringing cell phone during an interview proves you don't think ahead. Military
  spouses are natural organizers and "think-ahead" people. These two factors
  will place you way ahead of the competition.
  
  
• Do NOT request altering the work schedule to accommodate your
  schedule as an applicant or as a new hire.
  You can negotiate the altered work schedule when you're established as a
  detailed worker. Asking for time off during your interview process or while on
  corporate probation is a risky move.
  
  
• Do NOT tell the corporate recruiter you have other offers pending when
  you come in for the first interview.
  An employer wants to think they are important to you. There will be plenty of
  time to discuss other offers you have pending, if in fact one is made to you.
  
  
• Do NOT speak negatively against your former employer, even if they
  deserve it.
  Corporate recruiters look for happy, enthusiastic, positive people. Gossip is
  gossip. Corporate recruiters are trained to detect a disloyal or disgruntled
  applicant.
  
  
• Do NOT wiggle in your chair when asked a question you are not
  prepared to answer.
  Simply look the recruiter in the eyes, smile, nod your head and say, "May I
  take a moment to think about that question?"
  
  
• Do NOT answer a question you don't understand.
  Recruiters are trained to detect misleading or on-the-spot answers. Look the
  recruiter in the eyes, smile, nod your head and say, "I want to be certain
  that I heard the question properly. Could you repeat the question?"
  Recruiters value a detailed applicant.
  
  
• Check out the company's web site.
  Company web sites offer valuable information about the values, culture and
  philosophy of an organization. Arm yourself with as much "intelligence" about
  the company before your interview.
  
  
• Know the name and title of the person who is interviewing you. <
  If you are unsure about who will conduct your interview, call ahead and ask
  politely to get the information!
  
  
• When signing-in at the human resource desk, ALWAYS shake the hand
  of the receptionist when you introduce yourself.
  HR receptionists always let corporate recruiters know if you came in smiling,
  angry, rushed, frazzled, rude, or polite. Don't underestimate the "power" of
  the receptionist who announces your arrival to the corporate recruiter.
  
  
• Are you willing to work required overtime?
  Your answer to this question is always a resounding "yes".
  
  
• Never tell a corporate recruiter what you can't or won't do.
  Restrict your answer to what you will do.
  
  
• When asked to provide one of your faults, do NOT say you work too hard.
  Recruiters hate this answer. A good answer is, "My kids would have a ball
  with that question." Recruiters love an applicant with a sense of humor.
  
  Then be honest. "I miss my support system back home. As a military spouse
  I have trained myself to be much too independent." That's the perfect answer!
  Recruiters also love independent thinkers!
  
  

Don't forget to visit a nearby military Family Center for personalized assistance!

Talk to us!!  E-mail comments, suggestions or updates to Ask Us.