Hey folks, I know that you will go through some debriefing or training or whatever that will spell out the easy steps of getting into a real career. I’m sure it will include getting a college degree, having a sparkling resume and applying to a bunch of jobs. With a hint of “networking” thrown into the mix.

If it is so easy, how come there are so many people that can’t quite get into a dream career path? And I’m not talking about the sluffers - I’m talking about folks that have done the “1-2-3″. Take me, for example - I have an undergrad in CIS and an MBA. I have had middle/senior management positions, and my resume bleeds results. But I couldn’t get a job. And I didn’t go to school for all those years just to be unemployed!

Here are a few examples of this… at Barbara Ehrenreich’s blog there are some great comments about who is ending up unemployed - these are highly qualified white collar folks… out of work - unemployed attorney’s… wouldn’t you think this would be a great career path?

So what’s the answer? I think it is a major paradigm shift. Its clear that the cradle-to-grave days are gone… geez, can you find anyone that offers a sweet pension, like our parents got in the olden days? Did you know that the average job change will occur every 2.8 years? Did you know that the folks that get ahead are the ones that know how to network? And how meaningful is that college degree now… even my MBA is becoming a dime-a-dozen.

There is not a 1-2-3 anymore. You need to develop a sophisticated career strategy. What you want and how you will accomplish it. Your military service is a big part of that, but don’t slack off. Learn more about what you could and should be doing to achieve the success that you are ultimately looking for. Stay tuned on this blog, and subscribe to http://www.JibberJobber.com/blog for daily job seeker tips. I guarantee nobody cares about your career more than you do - or more than you should.

So I’ve never been in the military. I went to school on an Army base outside of the country, and my father-in-law just retired from the Airforce. And my wife’s cousin is in the national guard (got back a few months ago from Iraq). But not me - I’m just a keyboard pounder
That’s why I got an e-mail from someone in the Marines telling me that Marines are not soldiers - rather, they are Marines (and be sure to put it in uppercase). So for all of the e-mails I sent out, the press releases, etc., let me apologize, and set it straight. In the past when I said “soldier”, what I meant was:

Marines for the Marine Corp,
Sailors for the Navy (and Coast Guard?),
Soldiers for the Army, and
Airmen for the Air Force.

And I’m not completely sure about that - I wonder if there are exceptions. But it doesn’t matter - no matter what you are, you are serving my country, my children, and our future, and I appreciate it!

The offer still stands for all soldiers, all Marines, all Airmen and all Sailors! Go to JibberJobber and click on the Military Special Offer button.