Everyone has heard networking is a good move.

And you probably have heard you need to get on LinkedIn, too!

While yes, LinkedIn is a great tool for building your professional network...

It can also be overwhelming if you aren’t used to it.

And while the veteran network is everywhere, as you start to explore what you want to do when you get out, you'll want to find veterans who have been in your shoes AND who are also in an industry that interests you to get the most of these networking connections.

The next big challenge once you're connected: what do you say to them once you have found them?!

Today, we are going to focus on finding veterans who can give you the inside scoop on career paths—and maybe even open doors to opportunities.

#1 - FINDING THE RIGHT PEOPLE ON LINKEDIN

First things first, go to the search bar at the top of LinkedIn and press ‘Enter’ - this will run a blank search and give you some filtering options.

Next here are two key ways to start looking for people:

• Click on Companies to filter by Past Military Experience:
  A good starting point is with people who served in the same branch as you. Click on ‘All Filters’ and select ‘Past Company’ to choose branches like “U.S. Army,” “U.S. Navy,” etc.
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• Search by Industry & Location:
  Once you have some industries in mind that you’re interested in, use filters to narrow the search by industry (e.g., “Cybersecurity”) and location of interest (e.g., “Washington, D.C.”).

These search tips will start narrowing down the massive pool of veterans into a targeted group (and can make reaching out easier.) Want to know more? Check out the tutorial below.

#2 - HOW TO MESSAGE THE PEOPLE YOU FOUND ON LINKEDIN

Now it’s time to start connecting and sending messages.

We’d recommend sending personalized connection requests—generic ones are easy to ignore, but a little effort can go a long way!

Keep it short, friendly, and to the point. Here's an example -

Or, maybe you’re reaching out to someone that you'd like to speak to about their industry or get career advice. Here's an example -

Don’t overthink it—most veterans are happy to help someone following in their footsteps.

Each connection is one step closer to the right career!

🛠️ Interested in Learning a Trade? Check out our featured jobs for the week!

🎯 Installation Manager at Leaf Home - This role is responsible for the daily operations of the Installation department within a local field office. You’ll provide leadership and tactical execution on daily production activities involving customer scheduling, service resolution, training, and more.

🎯 Manager Core Training Program at Vestas American Wind Technologies - This program provides an education on the rapidly growing wind industry where you will learn everything from wind turbine operation and maintenance, safety, wind park operation, to finance and budgeting.

🎯 Military Veterans Program at United Brotherhood of Carpenters - This 8 week program trains in the basics of becoming a millwright (essentially an industrial mechanic). Following the program, you will be set up with an apprenticeship anywhere in the United States!
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See you next week!
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Kathy + Andrew
Career PCS

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