MOAA s CAREER CENTER TRANSITION SERVICES (TOPS)

MOAA s CAREER CENTER TRANSITION SERVICES (TOPS)

OUTLINE Career Center Mission Transition Services State Networking Program Chapter/TOPS Initiative Chapter TOPS Program

CAREER CENTER MISSION Provide Professional Guidance and Support for MOAA Members and Spouses in Job Transition

CAREER CENTER STAFF Dick Crampton, COL, USA (Ret) Director Dan Koslov, COL, USAF (Ret) Deputy Linda Speed, CAPT, USN (Ret)- Deputy Brian Anderson, COL, USAF(Ret)-Deputy Amanda Bainton Associate, Career Fairs Emily Rand - Webmaster

TRANSITION SERVICES Appearance Program Career Fairs Job Opportunities/Career Center Online Resume Critiques/Career Counseling Nation-wide Networking Contacts

APPEARANCE PROGRAM MARKETING YOURSELF FOR A SECOND CAREER LECTURES - 150+ A YEAR IN 33 STATES - COMMAND VISITS PRESENTATIONS - 50+ YEARLY -- EXECUTIVE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND EMPLOYER PANELS -- CONVENTIONS -- LUNCHEONS -- ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS -- ACADEMIES / WAR COLLEGES

CAREER FAIRS SEMI-ANNUAL EVENT Washington, DC April and September WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER 120+ BOOTHS 1200+ ATTENDEES Cosponsor/Partner

Career Fairs 2011 FEB - MOAA Career Fair - Virginia Beach, VA MAR- Virtual Career Fair - Worldwide APR - MOAA Career Fair Washington, DC MAY - MOAA Spouse Career Fair Virginia Beach, VA JUN Virtual Career Fair Worldwide STILL TO COME! SEP Virtual Career Fair Worldwide SEP MOAA Career Fair Washington, DC OCT MOAA Career Fair (Annual Meeting), San Antonio, TX

Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA) Praises Upcoming Free Career Fair for Military Members and Spouses Hosted by MOAA CAREER FAIRS

CAREER CENTER ONLINE JOB BOARD EMPLOYER LINKS CAREER FAIR LINKS LINKS TO TRANSITION SITES TRANSITION SERVICES / INFO INFORMATIONAL NETWORKERS LINK www.moaa.org/career

WWW.MOAA.ORG/CAREER

JOB BOARD 200-300 A WEEK (POSTED DAILY) Up for 30 days to keep current 3,000 IN DATA BANK EMPLOYERS POST / WE POST SEARCHABLE BY EMPLOYERS Free service VARIETY FOR SPOUSES

RESUMES CRITIQUES OF RESUMES OFFICERS AND SPOUSES POST THEIR RESUMES SEARCHABLE BY EMPLOYERS

COUNSELING SERVICES IN THE ALEXANDRIA OFFICE Also provide services in the Pentagon Office! TELEPHONICALLY EMAIL

SOCIAL MEDIA MOAA on LinkedIn! Group Military Officer s Association of America (MOAA) Career Networking Over 4,500 members! LinkedIn www.linkedin.com : Interconnected network of experienced professionals Find a job, create and collaborate on projects, find a business partner Network, Network, Network!

MOAA TOPS STATE NETWORKING PROGRAM

PROGRAM GOALS Provide local networking contacts for MOAA members and spouses in job/career transition Strengthen Chapter programs by introducing potential new members to local Chapters Strengthen ties with employers and community leaders to showcase the value added of hiring a veteran

WHO ARE THEY? TOPS Networkers: Volunteers Currently in the workforce or- Fully retired with active community and/or business ties Members of MOAA National Chapter membership is encouraged, not required

HOW DOES IT WORK? Goal - State Coordinator in every state TOPS Networkers: Provide their state coordinator with job opportunities in their area - State coordinator shares them with everyone in the network, including MOAA National. MOAA National posts these job opportunities for free on the MOAA career center web site, viewed by members worldwide.

HOW DOES IT WORK? TOPS Networkers(cont.): Become an Informational Network Contact by providing - Advice on their profession (present or former) Ideas on how to network more effectively in the geographical area where they reside General tips on how they effectively made their transition

NETWORKING PROGRAM STATUS Over 2,500 MOAA members have volunteered nationwide since March 2007 Most are still in their second careers or have active community and business contacts Volunteer state coordinators were solicited from each state All states with state coordinators operational as of May 2008!

Networking Initiatives Community Blueprint Reaching out to 32,000 members still active in the work force New focus on assisting age 18-26 vets in transition Working with VA and VSOs supporting wounded vets Building local efforts through Chapter system Upgrading web capability to establish egroups and Microsites to extend network

CHAPTER/TOPS PROGRAM INITIATIVE

CHAPTER/TOPS INITIATIVE Establish a TOPS Program in every chapter Get the word out - Promote through Affiliate and Military Officer Magazine articles Promote through State Council and Chapter visits Every Chapter TOPS Liaison program will be different - Many roads to success! One size does NOT fit all! Establish a TOPS Liaison position in every chapter TOPS Liaison is the primary point of contact for the Chapter TOPS Program Also the chapter s primary point of contact for transitioning MOAA members

CHAPTER/TOPS INITIATIVE (cont.) Chapter TOPS Liaison joins MOAA s TOPS State Networking Program Go to www.moaa.org/career Click on Become a Networker Fill out the registration form You must be a member of MOAA national Anyone in the chapter can be a networker! (Not just the TOPS Liaison ) Provides access to potential new(younger) members Can invite state network members to local chapter functions Develop and conduct Chapter TOPS Program Training Workshops Workshops for TOPS Liaisons at every MOAA National-sponsored council and chapter leadership training forum

CHAPTER TOPS PROGRAM Think Program Overall Goal - Provide local networking contacts for MOAA members and spouses in job/career transition Chapter viewed as a primary career and geographic resource Benefits chapter by providing access to potential new (and younger) members Chapter provides needed sponsor assistance TOPS Liaison leads the chapter s program Ideal candidate second career or active in local business community, and enjoys networking Primary chapter point of contact for MOAA members and spouses in job/career transition Set up internal chapter network Every chapter member is a potential networker Primary point of contact for chapter TOPS Program Set up chapter TOPS program determine your road to success

TOPS Liaison Duties Organize chapter members into your TOPS network Canvas members for interest areas Develop contact roster - Name, address, phone, email, business, careers, military service, topics of interest, etc. Meet regularly keep team engaged Chapter network volunteers can: Provide advice on their profession (present or former) Provide general tips on how they made their own transition Provide ideas on how to network effectively in your geographical area Provide information about the local area (schools, medical facilities, recreation, etc.) Link with other Chapter members or community business people Share job opportunities in your area

TOPS Liaison Duties Internal Chapter TOPS Program Chapter Newsletter Include a TOPS column ( Career Corner ) in your newsletter to help attract younger members and second career service members List when and where TOPS networking group meets List local and state jobs resources Direct members to free resources available through national MOAA TOPS (ex., resume critiques), and other transition resources Give advice, tips, and personal stories from chapter members on transitioning, job hunting, and networking Highlight jobs or business opportunities

TOPS Liaison Duties Internal Chapter TOPS Program (cont) Internet Develop a career page on your chapter s website Content similar to newsletter Discuss what TOPS group does and schedule of planned events Join MOAA Career Networking Group on LinkedIn (business-oriented social media site) www.linkedin.com Start your own group on LinkedIn or Facebook Invite leaders from business community to speak at chapter social events

TOPS Liaison Duties External Chapter TOPS Program Join TOPS State Networking Program www.moaa.org/career Click on Become a Networker Fill out the registration form Must be a member of MOAA National Set up community networking meetings Monthly or quarterly, breakfast or evening meetings Invite local employers to sit on an employer panel. Forum benefits employers and jobseekers Invite business community leader to be an occasional guest speaker Advertise through emails, community business forums (Chamber, Lions Club, Rotary, Kiwanis)

TOPS Liaison Duties External Chapter TOPS Program (cont) Join local Chamber of Commerce (Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.) Opportunity to network with employers Chapter recognition/exposure in community Opportunity for community service project involvement Another draw for younger demographic Second career? Close to a military facility? Establish working relationship with base/family service center Networkers volunteer for employer panels, RADs, career fairs, transition classes Attend MOAA National TOPS lectures when we are in town and on your base!

To Sum It Up Every Chapter TOPS program will be different ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL (And that s okay ) Decide what works for you and build on your successes Network your way to success with MOAA National, State Networks, and other Chapter TOPS programs

Questions? Linda Speed, CAPT, USN(Ret) Deputy Director, Transition Services 703-838-8176 or 703-769-8914 (Pentagon Office) lindas@moaa.org