Lauren Wagner, MBA’s Post

This week marked my 1 year with Hiring Our Heroes! 🥳What a journey it’s been so far! Being here has offered me so much perspective on my passion for supporting military spouses. I hear 100s of stories of struggles, successes, and pivots they have while looking for work. During our weekly coffee chat, my spouses reminded me how critical the space we make for them to share and learn from each other is. When we meet everyone comes with the mindset to learn, ask for help, ask to connect, or simply just listen because at that moment, that’s what they can bring. With Candidate Release right around the corner, I can assure you when you hire a military spouse, you hire more than their skills. You hire their heart, their passion, their commitment to themselves, their families, and even your organization. They are ready for someone to hear their story and look deeper than a resume. If you’re not on my release, let’s connect! Opening doors for spouses is how we make a difference. Let’s recognize their value far beyond what’s listed on paper. I will say, you likely won’t be disappointed either when you do see what’s on paper. 🤩👏 #workiversary #militaryspouses #militaryspouseemployment #bethechange #opendoors

Something to think about

As a military spouse for over two decades, I've navigated the unique challenges of maintaining a career while supporting my partner's service. Career Pursuit CIC was born out of my own journey, and I'm thrilled to share how we're making a difference for fellow military spouses and partners. After leaving a specialist career in the NHS due to frequent relocations, I realised there was a significant gap in centralised career support for military families. Despite my efforts at local and national military information centres, finding comprehensive assistance proved elusive. That's when I decided to take matters into my own hands. Career Pursuit is your go-to resource hub, bringing together a wealth of employment and entrepreneurial support in one accessible platform. We've done the research so you can focus on building a flexible career that aligns with the military lifestyle. But it doesn't stop there! We actively engage with organisations to advocate for military spouses/partners, addressing the unique challenges they face, and help them to build support for their employees. We raise awareness at events about the different types of support and policies that need to be in place to support employed military spouses/partners. I'm proud to sit on the MOD partner employment steering group, driving positive change forward. Additionally, I'm part of the organising team for the Celebrating Forces Families awards, because the resilience and achievements of military families deserve recognition. Having a career alongside military life isn't easy, but you're not alone. Career Pursuit is here to help you find understanding employers, business networks, mental health support, and resources to create a career that adapts to the demands of military life. 📖 Curious to learn more? Dive into our online magazine: https://lnkd.in/e6ygBhED 📬 Prefer a hard copy? DM me, and I'll send one your way (it's on the house)! 🌐 Explore our website for a treasure trove of resources and upcoming events: www.careerpursuit.co.uk 💚 Download our free mental health and wellbeing guide from the homepage. 📧 Ready for a monthly dose of career tips? Sign up for our newsletter on the Contact page: https://lnkd.in/e4HYtjCw scroll to the bottom and fill in the 'stay in touch' box. #CareerPursuit #MilitarySpouses #Empowerment #CareerJourney #SupportOurTroops

Three weeks in. This is when I usually find myself asking, “What have I gotten myself into?” and not always negatively! All of this is to say that I am still in the onboarding phase of joining the State Department - learning about history and culture, workplace norms, policies, and procedures, and building relationships with colleagues. Like all good learning experiences, the more you learn, the more you realize what you don’t know. I don’t know where my first posting is yet. I appreciate all the support and even the as-yet unanswerable question, “So where are you going?” - Know that I will share when I know and can share. I am also finding my feet concerning how to shape my professional and personal voice online within the context of laws and policies that are new in their application to me. As I undertake onboarding and Orientation, Dwight has been experiencing his own orientation. I very much appreciate my military spouse community for offering to mentor him as he explores the other side of the coin! Like many peers, we have some geobaching ahead of us - an ever more familiar experience for military families as couples seek to have parallel professional careers rather than a non-active duty spouse demurring their career aspirations automatically. This is especially true in the final 10-15% of a military career - when couples look to leverage transition resources, opportunities, and post-military employment. #militaryfamilies #transition #altac

Career professionals play a crucial role in supporting the military spouse community. Two effective career theories that may be used by career professionals for this population include the Chaos Theory of Careers (CTC) and the Hope Action Theory of Career Development (HATC). Check out my article in the #NCDA web magazine, and what are some things you can think of to help the #milspouse community build their careers? #jobsearchstrategies #careercoaching #military

Changing Our Perspectives It is interesting how our perspective of a past unpleasant experience can change when we receive a different point of view. Most of you know that I serve my clients in mind health and wellness by providing information and processes to change their perspectives, attitudes, mindsets, and health. My goal is to allow them to become more aware of the things they can modify in their lives to escape chaos, confusion and consternation and achieve calmness, clarity, and confidence. Back to that perspective change. I was in the Air Force during the Vietnam era, and when I got out of the service, I did not share that time. I essentially put that behind me for the next 50 years. I was even receiving disability pay over those years, the perspectives and rhetoric that came towards those who served at that time lingered. In the last couple of years, I have discovered a different perspective! I have partaken in the services of the VA clinic and medical system and found them competent and caring. But it is the incredible people who serve those who have been in the military through the Eagle Group of MN that has truly changed my perspective. This cadre of volunteers are dedicated to helping veterans achieve their goals at any stage of their life or career and they are amazing! Some of services that veterans find from these dedicated volunteers in the Tuesday night meetings and the monthly meetings to help veterans are: ·      Networking and referrals ·      Resume assistance ·      Networking rehearsals ·      Salary negotiation strategies ·      Interview prep ·      Job search resources ·      Veterans benefits  ·      Career coaching ·      Monthly speaker ·      Understanding civilian career progression October 30-November 3rd is National Veterans Small Business Week. Nearly one in ten small businesses across the United States are veteran owned. Veteran and Military Spouse small business owners are disciplined, resilient, and committed to serving our communities. They employ more than 5 million Americans and generate $1.3 trillion in total sales. Seek out those companies whose management served our country in the military! I think you will find that that service will extend to their customers from their business which is a win for us all! Thank you: Alan Hill Renée R. Roth, Ed.D. Rebecca Kaas, MPA, MSL, CPRW Stephen Kolcinski D.D. Mike Orren, MBA Louis A. #perspectives #change #veteranowned #veterans #veteranshelpingveterans #veteransupport #Transition

"𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘴 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴 (𝘊𝘛𝘊) 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 (𝘏𝘈𝘛𝘊)." I discuss this in detail in my article in this month's National Career Development Association's (#NCDA's) Career Convergence Web Magazine. 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬! 💡 There is "𝑯𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒐𝒔!" and through discovery, building competencies, cultivating resiliency and adaptability, and fostering readiness amongst other actionable steps a unique career can be built and nurtured.... that just might look a little bit different than expected but maybe even far more rewarding...just never know 😉. https://lnkd.in/ef_xPBix #ncda #militaryspouses #milspouse #careerservices #careercounseling #careertheories #careercounseling #military #jobsearchadvice #milspouses #resilience #adaptability

THANK YOU FOR TOP FAN.! With President Joe Biden – I just got recognized as one of their top fans.! ALLIED: I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE SUCH A POWERFUL MILITARY MOVIE IN ALL MY LIFE. I CAN SERIOUSLY SEE BRAD PITT PLAY 007 J. BOND. ARTICLE: CRYPTOCURRENCY & REYGITONIUM-G. BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION TENRI CULTURAL INSTITUTE tenri.org https://lnkd.in/e55sRd8b https://lnkd.in/eB98Jnv9 WonderMind.com: CRYPTO-FINANCE & WHAT'S ON THE TABLE. REYGITONIUM-G MR. MS. TEEFEY & SELENA GOMEZ-RARE-SUPERSTAR. TCI GALLERY SPRING 2024 THEMES. CRYPTOCURRENCY & REYGITONIUM-G TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I ABSOLUTELY SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH CRYPTOCURRENCY: REYGITONIUM-G I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE INFANT DEMOCRATIC-CAPITALISTIC MINDS OF TODAY BLAME USA GOVERNMENT. THEN IS ANY GOVERNMENT TO BE BLAMED FOR HOMELESS PROBLEMS PLAGUING THE WORLD.? NO. GOD KNOWS HEADACHES USA GOVERNMENT HAVE WITH THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS. THE NEW WORLD PRACTICALLY SHOCK TO WITNESS. PEOPLE ONLY WORKING TOGETHER FOR A COMMON GOAL. "IN THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS." THUS DOESN'T THAT ALSO INCLUDE THE HOMELESS. THE HOMELESS ARE OUT THERE. ARE YOU.? HOMELESS.. AN OPPORTUNITY MISUNDERSTOOD. The modern economic system is a market economy, which is a capitalist economy where people, not the government--NOT THE GOVERNMENT--own most businesses. In a capitalist economy, prices allocate capital and labor between competing uses, and capital assets like factories, mines, and railroads can be privately owned and controlled. https://lnkd.in/eB98Jnv9 GOOGLE EXAMPLE, IF YOU NEED TO RAISE MONEY FOR ANY REASON OR MORE SO LETS SAY THE "HOMELESS" PROBLEM WHICH IS BELIEVED TO BE TIME & MONEY CONSUMING BUT IN ONE DIRECTION TOWARD THE HOMELESS. HOWEVER CRYPTOCURRENCY CAN POSSIBLE ALLOWS AN EXPENDITURE OF CURRENCY TO BENEFIT ALL WHO USES THE CRYPTO & REGARDLESS OF HOW IT'S CONSUMED. THEREFORE IF A CRYPTO HOMELESS CURRENCY REYGITONIUM-G EXISTED IT'S MORE HIGHLY LIKELY THAT THE HOMELESS PROBLEM CAN BE VANQUISHED BECAUSE CURRENCY-FINANCES IT'S ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO BE TAPPED INTO FOR HOMELESS RESOLUTIONS. REYGITONIUM-G: COUNTRY GOVERNMENT $1-DOLLAR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO OF 8-BILLION EARTH CITIZENS. OR CONTINUE HIDING THE HOMELESS WHEN A POLITICAL LEADER VISITS AMERICA. CLOSING COMMENT: THE DAMNEDEST CRAZIEST FUNNIEST EMBARRASSING ABOUT THE HOMELESS CHAOS IS ANY EXCUSE AS TO WHY HOMELESS EXIST. HENCEFORTH CONSIDER USA TRILLIONS IN DEBT & 6,120 OF HOSPITALS SCATTERED AROUND THE USA & MANY COUNTRIES ASKING FOR FOREIGN AID IN THE TRILLIONS & YOU TALKING EXCUSES. MEANWHILE WE WANT TO SETTLE HUMANITY ON OTHER PLANETS. THANK YOU FOR READING.

Five Pieces of Advice for Those Transitioning from the Military In 2009, at the age of 16, I enlisted in Her Majesty's Royal Marines and served until 2017 when I was 25. I was fortunate enough to meet some extraordinary individuals and have a wealth of experiences and stories to share. I've compiled a list of insights that might benefit those seeking to forge a new path upon leaving the military. 1) Work Culture: Finding an environment that can match the camaraderie of the forces presents a formidable challenge. Believe me, I've been there. However, selecting a role within a team that is motivated, ambitious, and maintains a good sense of humour will be beneficial. The anxiety of leaving the forces and facing unemployment is daunting, but hastily accepting the first job offer and ending up in an unfamiliar environment may compound the difficulty. 2) Equality: Realising that your abilities, such as carrying a 100lb bergan for 20 miles over Dartmoor at night, might not translate directly into civilian skills is a crucial first step. Remember, everyone brings something unique to the table. 3) Communication: I discovered that my communication skills outstripped those of many people my age. Leverage this ability. Engaging with management and managing both superiors and subordinates may not come naturally to everyone, but with a military background, I found it much easier. 4) Alcohol: Socialising with colleagues is not the same as it used to be. I quickly realised in my first week that there are unspoken boundaries that should not be crossed. A relaxed drink after work on a Thursday is a wholly different experience from what you might be used to. 5) Pressure: As you transition, you may feel pressured to immediately find the right career. However, don't fret. Once you're on the outside, more doors open each day. Your trajectory in five years might be vastly different from what you imagine today. I'm sure other individuals within my network also have valuable insights to share. Please feel free to offer your thoughts in the comments.