Employment Questions Archives

03 Oct 202226 Apr 2023

Nervous Before an Interview? Any Tips?

Your Employment Questions Answered: Nervous Before an Interview? Any Tips?

Sometimes the best way to learn something new is by seeking advice from those who have been there. Asking questions is how we learn about new resources or can give us perspectives we might never have thought about before. When you ask a question, you can gain the knowledge you are looking for that will help you figure out what you need to know to move forward, whatever the subject might be.

While you may be confident in your abilities, job experience, and education, you can still feel nervous before a job interview. You will need to walk into an unfamiliar setting and give your best first impression. You may have a lot at stake and think the job you are going for would be perfect for you and your lifestyle. You can have a lot riding on the interview. All of this can make you nervous, but what can you do about it to prepare?

Question: Nervous Before an Interview? Any Tips?

I am a nurse with several degrees, BSN, MSN, and RNC. I have a wealth of experience from my time in the clinic, to bedsides, to vaccination clinics. I am fluent in teaching and charge nursing and have spent a lot of time in women’s and infant care. I was able to get an interview for an assistant nurse manager position. During my career, I have also found myself in different leadership roles. I have spoken at the local school board meetings and am involved in the PTA and I love problem-solving. I am also very social and yet I am super nervous about this interview. Do you have any tips to help?

Answer: Nervous Before an Interview? Any Tips?

Going to a job interview can be nerve-wracking for anyone. Even the most prepared person out there. Here are some things to keep in mind for a smoother interview experience.

Remember, you do have a lot to offer. Don’t sell yourself short. You not only have the education, but you also have the experience and the skills.
Go in with confidence in yourself and your abilities. That will show in the interview.
Practice the interview with a friend or a family member. Go over possible questions and prepare yourself for what you may be asked at the interview. Practice will help with nervousness.
Go in prepared to talk about what your strengths are and what you can bring to the position.
Figure out what might trip you up. What are you most nervous about? What can you go over before the interview to help with this nervousness?
Know the job you are applying for. Understand the position and the company. This will help build that confidence going into the interview.

You should also check out these articles on Career Recon to help you prepare for your interview:

You can also find our database of Recruiting & Staffing Profiles for companies that offer interview prep. Here are two of them:

Parker + Lynch

Parker + Lynch is best for transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses looking for an executive-type job. They provide free career counseling, offer resume coaching, interview prep, and access to online training modules.

Military Hiring Accelerator

Military Hiring Accelerator is great for military spouses and veterans. They can help you create a roadmap to your new job, prepare you for interviews, network for you, and more.

These two companies would be a great place to start when looking for companies to help with interviewing or for looking for a job in general.

28 Sep 202226 Apr 2023

What To Know About the Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment

The Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment

If you are a veteran looking for a job, you need to know about the Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment. This is an excepted authority that allows eligible veterans who meet the basic qualifications to be exempted from the traditional competitive hiring process and placed into an appointed hiring status.

This appointment will help expedite the hiring process for veterans as well as helping to maintain a highly skilled and diverse workforce. This will give veterans a chance to more easily get into the civilian workforce or make a career change. This is available to veterans who meet the criteria.

Who is eligible for the Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment?

These types of veterans are eligible for this appointment:

Disabled veterans.
Veterans who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during a war, or in a campaign, or expedition, for which you received an authorized campaign or expedition badge or medal.
Veterans who, while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, participated in a United States military operation for which you were awarded an Armed Forces Service Medal.
Veterans who have separated from active service within the last three years.

What to keep in mind when it comes to the Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment

The highest grade you can use this with is GS-11 or equivalent.
Separating service members can use their military fitness test and military medical examination to get credit for successful completion of the required CBP medical qualification and fitness test requirements. You will need to provide medical records and a possible supplemental health history questionnaire.
Veterans can also meet the criteria to receive a waiver for the polygraph examination.
There is no limit to the number of times you can apply under VRA.

What documentation do you need?

You will need to provide the correct documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility.

This includes:

Copy of DD214 or Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

And for those that are claiming a 10-point preference:

Standard Form SF-15.
Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference.
Any supporting documents that are needed.

How do you apply for the Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment?

To apply you would need to go to the Apply Now website and click on the VRA announcement that corresponds to the position you are interested in.

The VRA can help veterans more easily find a job after military life is over. Take advantage of this benefit if you are eligible. You can read more about the program on the Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment page.

23 Sep 202226 Apr 2023

Can You Take Your Kids to a Job Fair?

Your Employment Questions Answered: Can You Take Your Kids to a Job Fair?

Trying to find a new job can be overwhelming. When you have kids, getting out to job fairs and interviewing can be challenging. As a military spouse, you may have more trouble having your spouse help you out and some of that could be last minute. There might be times when you do have to take your kids with you even when it isn’t ideal. The question is, is a job fair an okay place to take children?

Question: Can I take my kids with me to a job fair?

I signed up for a Hiring Our Heroes job fair at my local duty station. I was planning to attend during my husband’s lunch break but it didn’t work out. I don’t have any childcare and no one to watch my kids. I was debating on if I should attend the job fair anyway. I would have my toddlers in a stroller. I know this isn’t ideal but the only other option is to skip it. I would hate to do that because I have been job searching for a while now and want to find something remote.

Answer: Can I take my kids with me to a job fair?

This is a difficult choice to make. Many would say that if you genuinely can’t find anyone to watch your kids, you should skip the job fair. Job fairs are not a place for children. If you did bring them, you could encounter some difficulties.

Will you be able to focus on the potential employer and have professional conversations with your kids there?
What will you do if they need you while you are in the middle of a conversation?
With the goal of the event to make connections, you are giving potential employers a first impression. Will you be able to do that well with the kids?
Some companies would not look fondly at someone bringing their kids with them. It could mean that you don’t get a callback.
While it might seem unfair, this world isn’t 100% child-friendly, and that can come up when looking for a job.

On the other hand, you may be surprised and connect with companies that don’t have a problem with your kids. In today’s world, children are more a part of the workplace, especially in a remote setting.

If You Decide to Take Your Child to the Job Fair

If you did bring your children, you could still benefit and end up with a job offer. Keep in mind that:

A future employer could see you as hustling regardless of your circumstances, and make things work when they are not ideal.
Going will give you an idea of what to expect at a fair like this.
You could still make connections and find places you want to work at.
You will learn about opportunities you could pursue later when you don’t have your children with you.

In the end, you will have to make the decision about bringing your children to the job fair based on the pros and cons. Here are some additional resources to help with the childcare issue, as well as what to expect at a job fair.

Go in with a professional mindset and good luck with your job search.

13 Jul 202226 Apr 2023

How to Find Courses to Improve Your Skills

Your Employment Questions Answered: How to Find Courses to Improve Your Skills

Sometimes the best way to learn something new is by seeking advice from those who have been there. Asking questions is how we learn about new resources or can give us perspectives that we might never have thought about before. When you ask a question, you can gain the knowledge you are looking for that will help you figure out what you need to know to move forward, whatever the subject might be.

No matter what type of job you are going into, you want to make sure you are prepared with the skills you need to get your job done. If you are looking for a job or getting ready to start, you will want to improve your skill set. However, you might not have the time or money to take a long class. Free courses or courses you can easily complete online are a great option. You can learn new skills, and do so quickly, and from the comfort of your own home.

Question: Where can I find a free course to help me improve my skills?

I am about to start a new job as a bookkeeper, and the job will be remote. That means I won’t have as much access to my boss as I would in a traditional office. I’m afraid I will need help with using QuickBooks Online. I decided that learning or taking a course on QuickBooks online would be the best thing to do. This will also help me be more prepared to do my job overall.

Are there any free or low-cost QuickBooks online courses out there? I have taken one about the Desktop version but I think they are a bit different. What about other courses that might be good for me to take for my job?

Answer:

QuickBooks Online

Working on your skills, and learning more about what you will need to know in your new job is a great idea. For QuickBooks Online specifically, if you have the advanced version of it, you should have access to a free training program. It is user-friendly and easy to get the hang of. It is also very different from the desktop version.

You can also visit this page and view the courses and training that Quickbook offers. You can attend courses that are taught by Advanced Certified Pro Advisors and earn credentials.

Other Resources

Military Community Resources Act Now Education Group

This Facebook group provides guidance and the tools necessary to make your goals a reality. From business development, career planning, resume guidance, interview prep, and more. They help active duty service members, veterans, and military spouses.

Udemy

Udemy has courses on many different topics. As of 2022, that have 196,000 courses and 68,000 instructors teaching courses in over 75 languages. These courses are self-paced and allow you to learn on your own time. The DoD did have a partnership with Udemy but that ended in June of 2022. Hopefully, they will do so again in the future. Until then, wait to catch their sales. They do have them pretty often.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn also offers free online business training courses that cover a variety of topics. These classes are only for LinkedIn Premium members but veterans and military spouses can get a free year. Visit LinkedIn for more information.

As you can see there are quite a few options for learning more before you start a new job, or to prepare you for looking for one. You can also check out these articles from Career Recon to help you work and focus on your career path.

01 Jul 202226 Apr 2023

Finding an Internship Overseas

Your Employment Questions Answered: Finding an Internship Overseas

If you are working on a master’s degree program, or even a bachelor’s degree program, it may require an internship. If you are a military spouse stationed in CONUS, you can easily find an internship for your program. However, being stationed overseas can make it a bit more difficult. The good news is that there are ways to find internships overseas.

Question: How do I find an internship overseas?

I am a military spouse stationed in Japan and trying to finish my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in about a year. I have been looking around the base and the neighboring base for possible internship opportunities and haven’t had much luck. I need to find an internship for my degree as soon as possible, and it would need to be somewhere overseas as we are not due to PCS back to the states for a few years.

Answer:

What a great degree and congratulations on getting your master’s degree. There are some things you can do to try to find an internship. Hopefully, these can lead you in the right direction.

Contact the med group on your base. They might have openings or connections.
Contact the Family Advocacy Program. They could have some local ideas for you.
Visit your education office. They are most likely familiar with people looking for internships.
Check out the Mental Health MilSpouse Network by the National Military Family Association. They have contacts that can help, networking opportunities, and even possible job openings for you in the future.
TELL. TELL is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to providing world-class, effective support and counseling services to Japan’s international community and helps to address the country’s growing mental health care needs. They offer workshops like this three-day Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Externship. This is virtual and available for licensed therapists and therapists in a qualifying program at the MA level and above.
FOCUS Resilience Training. This was adopted for military families by a team from UCLA and Harvard Medical School in 2008. They provide state-of-the-art family resilience services to military families, children, and couples. They are located at designated Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and Air Force installations. It is offered to all military families through the DoD Office of Military Community Family Policy. In Japan you can find FOCUS at:

The Red Cross. You can find the Red Cross everywhere and may be able to help you find a place to internship at.
Ask in a local Facebook group. If you are in any local Facebook groups, ask in those as you never know who might be able to help you.

Being stationed overseas can be an amazing experience. However, you might not have access to all the things you need. With some research and investigation, you can most likely find an internship that will work for you, even being stationed in Japan.

Tips for a Veteran Starting a Business

01 Jul 202226 Apr 2023

Tips for a Veteran Starting a Business

Your Employment Questions Answered: Tips For a Veteran Starting a Business

Starting a business as a veteran can be a great idea. There are so many different options, and you can really expand into quite a successful business. However, getting started can be a bit of a challenge. There are a lot of things to think about beyond picking a name. You want to make sure you are setting the business up correctly. Here is a bit about what you need to do to set up that business.

Question: I am a veteran, can you help me with information about setting up a business?

I am a veteran and looking for advice on how to learn the details of starting a business. I have taken the SBA’s Boots to Business Curriculum and it was a great starting off point.

I was wondering about the specifics of having a business. I am wondering about legalities, marketing, financing, customer development, and research. It is overwhelming and having trouble finding much in my military experiences that translate all of this. Can you give me any advice?

Answer:

The best thing to do is find a great network of other veterans who have started businesses. This will give you people to ask about your stage of business, gain inspiration from others, and remind you that you aren’t alone.

Places to Network

Vets2Industry is a great place to go for networking. They are a free resource library for the military community and they offer veteran-based virtual networking events once a month.
LinkedIn is also another place to network with others. Connect with those you served with, those in your industry, and leaders who can help you learn about everything business.

READ: How Veterans Can Grow Their Professional Networks

Mentors

Finding a mentor would be a smart idea. Mentors can work with you to get what you want to get done, and offer advice along the way. You can check out our Military Veteran Employment Guide: Finding Mentors article for more information.

To-do List

You will need to develop a “Next Steps” plan. That way you can get yourself on the right track and won’t miss any important steps for your business. Here are some ideas of what to put on your list.

Market Research

Ask questions, listen to others in your market, listen to consumers, find problems, and figure out ways to solve them. Is what you are offering worth selling? And to who?

Brand

What is your brand? What will your logo look like? What about your colors?

Brand Story

What is your brand’s story? What will you share with the public?

Marketing Plan

How will you market your products? Do you have social media set up? Will you do the social yourself? What will your marketing plan look like?

Employees

Will you have employees? Will you have W-2 employees or hire contractors? How many people will be working with you?

Be Compliant

Make sure your business is compliant. What licenses do you need? What written policies and products will you have? What about an employee handbook?

Network

Network, share your business with others, find a local networking group, and talk with others who can help.

There is a lot more that goes into running a business besides this list but will give you something to think about. Start connecting with others and you should be able to find all the information that you need. Others can be helpful and point you in the right direction.

01 Jul 202226 Apr 2023

Using FSA with TRICARE

Your Employment Questions Answered: Can I Use FSA with TRICARE ?

If you are a military dependent you are most likely using TRICARE. You also might be wondering what that means when it comes to the benefits you have at your own job. This question is all about FSA and being able to use it when you also have TRICARE.

Question: Can you still get FSA if you have TRICARE?

I am a military dependent and we use TRICARE for my health insurance. My employer, who is not associated with the government, offers an FSA (Flexible Spending Account) and I can use it for childcare. This would really help my family. My understanding is that I’m not eligible for this while I am using TRICARE. Is that correct? I would really like to be able to use this.

Answer:

The good news is that you can have TRICARE as your medical insurance and still use your FSA. Dependent Care FSA is independent of health FSA. And, FSA has nothing to do with your health insurance.

You contribute to your FSA out of your pre-tax income, which then lowers your income and payroll taxes. This is a great benefit to be able to use.

It is important to note that FSAs and HSAs are not the same. First of all, with HSA’s (Health Savings Accounts) you have to be on an HDHP (High Deductible Health Plan). TRICARE is not an HDHP.

You can use a civilian employer-provided Medical FSA benefit to pay for most medical-related out-of-pocket expenses such as copays and deductibles. You couldn’t use the FSA to pay insurance premiums, including TRICARE ones.

This is a great article on FSAs by Military OneSource. There are actually two types of FSAs, Medical, and Dependent Care (DCFSA). DCFSA is what you are asking about. You can use it for children under the age of 13 for before and after school care, babysitting and nanny expenses, daycare, nursery school and preschool, and summer day camp. You can also use DCFSA for children who are physically or mentally incapable of self-care, and sometimes elder care.

FSA Maximum Contribution Limits

Remember too, when it comes to FSAs, there is a maximum contribution limit and that changes each year. The maximum amount for 2022 for an FSA is $2,850. You typically do have to spend all of the money that you have saved before the end of the year or the funds will be lost. The IRS does however allow employers to opt-in to carry over up to $570 into the next year. Talk to HR about if your company does this.

For a DCFSA, the limit is usually $5,000 but in 2021, it was increased to $10,500. For 2022, it is back to $5,000.

It’s important to keep updated on the regulations surrounding FSAs and what you can use them for but, yes, you can use them with TRICARE. Many people do.

Getting Stationed Overseas, Should I Take This Promotion?

01 Jul 202226 Apr 2023

Finding an Entry Level Remote Job

Your Employment Questions Answered: Finding an Entry Level Remote Job

Working from home can be a great way to have your own career as a military spouse. Moving every few years, being a solo parent for months at a time, and just needing the flexibility are all the positives that a remote job can bring. There are many different types of work-at-home jobs, from entry-level to executive. If you are just starting out, you may be looking for an entry-level remote job. That is what this question is about.

Question: How to Find an Entry-Level Work-At-Home Job

I have been a military spouse for a few years now and have decided I want to find a work-at-home job. I don’t have that much experience and thinking an entry-level job would be best. A job I can learn from, and grow into as a career. I figure that this would be the best way to take a job with me from duty station to duty station during military life.

Answer:

Working from home is a wonderful way to be able to bring a job from place to place when you move. And there are so many great options out there. If you are looking for an entry-level work-at-home job, here are some resources and ideas to help you.

Job Ideas

Customer Service Jobs

Many companies such as Verizon or Amazon are hiring for at-home customer service jobs. They will train you and you might have a choice about hours and shifts. Some will require you to answer phones in a quiet environment but others might be chat or email-based.
Administrative Assistant or Virtual Assistant Jobs

You can work as an administrative assistant or virtual assistant in many different industries. You would help schedule meetings, answer emails, or anything else that the company needs help with. Many of these jobs are entry-level with training included.
Freelancing

Freelancing can also be a great way to work from home. You can use the skills you already know from writing to editing to social media. Companies can hire you on a project or part-time basis and you can work to build up your portfolio. While you won’t actually be employed by anyone, freelancing can give you the flexibility you are looking for.

Resources

Instant Teams is focused on remote work for the military community. After filling out your profile, you will have access to the remote queue, which is a Facebook group for those waiting to find a job. They also have courses to help you improve your skills.
FlexJobs is a #1 job site to find vetted work from home and flexible jobs. Currently, they have 29,001 jobs listed from 5,523 companies. This can be a great place to go to search for what you could be looking for.
Indeed is another great place to go to search for jobs. You can also upload your resume for free and employers can contact you. There are many different entry-level remote jobs listed on Indeed.
Virtual HOH Military Spouse Professional Network Facebook Group is a great group run by Hiring Our Heroes. In it, you can search for and even ask about entry-level work-at-home jobs.
Virtforce seeks to help the military spouses and veterans with career and personal development in virtual careers.

You should also check out our Recruiting & Staffing Profiles page for a list of companies that may help you out in your entry-level remote job search. You can also use our tool to find staffing and recruiting agencies that may be best aligned to assist you.

Find agencies recruiting military, veterans and spouses.

Get Started

21 Jun 202226 Apr 2023

Starting a Business in Maryland

Question: How Do I Start a Business in Maryland?

Starting a business can be a great career move. There are so many different types of businesses you can have. You can have a brick-and-mortar business, an online one, or a combination of both. You can have a product-based business or a service-based business. However, if you are going to start a business you need to make sure you do it legally. And depending on what state you live in, what you need to do could be different.

Question:

We live in Maryland and I am interested in starting a business. I don’t know too much about what I need to do to get started. I want to make sure I do everything by the book but I don’t have the budget for a CPA or a lawyer. What do I need to do and where can I go for help?

Answer:

Starting a new business is a great day. Not only will you be able to make a living doing something you love, but you can build something that can last generations. There are definitely free and low-cost resources out there to help you.

The Small Business Administration – The SBA was created in 1952 and helps small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream. They are dedicated to small businesses and provide counseling, capital, and contracting expertise.

The SBA also offers Small Business Development Centers. These are local centers you can go to for help in your area. You can search by zip code on their website.

Institute for Veterans and Military Families – IVMF – IVMF’s mission is to empower service members, veterans, and their families through actionable research, innovative programs, and insightful analytics. They have programs for entrepreneurs, from how to get started, to growth, and more.

AMSE – The Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs connects its 1,900+ members on a Slack channel. Here you can ask questions about getting started, how to get started in Maryland, and anything you might be curious about when it comes to starting a business. They also offer events as well as vetted resources. Mason Small Business Development Center– The Mason Small Business Development Center in Fairfax, VA, is sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and GO VIRGINIA. They offer counseling, workshops, and other resources. They can give you a checklist in order to get everything legal done in your county as well as many other resources to help you get started with your new business.

The state of Maryland. The state itself offers information for starting a small business:

We also have a few general resources on entrepreneurship at My Military Benefits.

These resources should be able to point you in the right direction to help you start your business. Make sure to check all of your boxes, and set things up correctly. Reach out for help from other small business owners, and good luck with your new venture.

06 Jun 202226 Apr 2023

Should I Take This Promotion If I Will Be Stationed Overseas?

Your Employment Questions Answered: I’m Being Promoted. Should I Take This Promotion If I Will Be Stationed Overseas?

As a military spouse, you will need to move around the country or the world to stay with your service member. This can create tension when it comes to your own career. You might have to give up opportunities, or jobs that would be a good fit and good for your career journey. But sometimes, you don’t have to say no to something just because of possible PCS orders.

Question:

I am a military spouse and we will be PCSing to an overseas location in about nine months. I just got offered a promotion in my field. The promotion will give me a substantial raise and open a lot of doors for my career. Should I still take this job? I am worried that my move might mean it wouldn’t be a good idea to do so?

Answer:

Getting orders overseas is such an amazing opportunity for a military family! You will be able to experience so many amazing and new things. As far as the job goes, you should probably take this opportunity. The promotion sounds like an amazing one that would be good for your career. Looking back you might regret not taking the promotion.

On a practical level, until the orders are official, there is no guarantee you will actually be PCSing overseas in nine months. Many military families think they might go to one place, and end up in another. You want to keep this in mind as you are planning your move that dates and locations are always changing and you never really know until you get those orders in hand. And sometimes, even those orders change.

Nine months is also enough time to work your job to make saying yes worth it. You can always delay your part of the move a few months when the time comes, or the military could delay the move for you.

As you get closer to the date, you can talk to your employer about if you could start doing your job remotely, assuming you aren’t already in a remote position. The pandemic has made it much more likely that your employer might consider remote work. The time difference is also a consideration, but that will depend on the type of job you have.

You should also check with the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) with the country you are going to. There might be regulations that would change if you could even work your job at that location. Each country has its own rules and regulations and service members and their families need to abide by them.

In the end, your worst-case scenario is that you can only work in this position for nine months, however, the job will be a good addition to your resume. The job will also be able to set the bar for salary and positions next time you are looking for a job. The best case is you take on this new job, be able to bring the job with you overseas, and improve your career over the next few years.

Here are a few resources to help with your upcoming PCS: