TAP In With Tako: Military Transitions

Today is my first episode where I bring on two guests! Matthew and Shanon are both military veterans and entrepreneurs and have a ton of knowledge to share. We talk about ways to tap into your creative side, tips on setting yourself up when applying to a Skillbridge, and of course, we talk about their platform: Hop on and hold on. There’s a ton of good career advice in this episode, but we also tap into some deeper topics like how your identity is not defined by what you did in uniform.

If you’re interested in learning how to overcome challenges during your entrepreneurial journey, or you’re looking to reinvent yourself after getting out of the military, this episode is for you.

Topics we discussed:

• What is Hop On and Hold On?
• Overcoming challenges during the entrepreneurial journey
• How a values exercise can benefit you
• Tips on submitting a successful Skillbridge request
• Watching out for red flags when looking for Skillbridge opportunities
• How to reach and communicate with your audience
• “Your identity is not defined by what you did in uniform”
  
  
  

Checkout Hop On and Hold On: https://www.hoponandholdon.com/blog
[email protected]

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Today I bring on Alexiss, who works in HR but is a multi-talented veteran, parent, and content creator. Alexiss shares her insights into how to find a skillbridge opportunity in a non-traditional route, how to leverage LinkedIn during your job hunt, how to choose between multiple job opportunities, the importance of maintaining your physical health and so much more. 

If you’re interested in learning how to build an audience on LinkedIn, how to grow your analytics skills, or learn more about how to combine multiple skill sets into your role this episode is for you. Hope you enjoy it!

Topics we covered:

• Ways to make skillbridge work for you
• How to take advantage your activity on LinkedIn
• How to find your niche community on LinkedIn
• Free certifications to take advantage during your military transition
• Day-to-day at a startup working in HR
• How to choose which company when receiving multiple job offers
• What parenting can teach you in a professional setting
• The importance of physical health when it comes to work

Connect with Alexiss on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexiss-tallant/

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Today I bring on Danae, a leader in data analytics and a military spouse. We talk about why she chose data analytics, the importance of a brag sheet, and regaining your sense of community after a PCS. 

If you're interested in Data Analytics or want to know how to navigate your career during a PCS move this episode is for you. Hope you enjoy it!

Topics we covered:

• Career conversations for a successful PCS
• Tips on building your brag sheet
• Joining communities
• Regaining your sense of community during a PCS
• Data Angels, Locally Optimistic

Connect with Danae on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaewhitten/

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Today I bring on Nicu, a Senior Platform Product Manager. I often hear the question: “how do I get into Product Management?” If you have the same question, Nicu talks about his journey from an E-4 in the Army to his current role as a Senior Product Manager. We also talk about the 5 paths to product, how to acquire the necessary skills to break into Product Management, how his Filipino culture has helped him in his career, and so much more.

If you’re interested in Product Management after the military or just want to enjoy some laughs about karaoke this episode is for you. There are a bunch of insights that Nicu shares that apply to all Product Managers even outside of the military. Hope you enjoy it!

Topics we covered:

• Technical skills needed to be a Platform Product Manager
• The 5 Paths to Product
• Free resources to get into tech
• How to figure out what role to pursue after the military
• How his Filipino background has helped him in his career
• Technical skills needed for Product Management

Nicu's Website with Free Veteran's Resources for Tech: https://www.nicuparente.com/tech-transition-resources/ 

5 Paths to product: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nicuparente_productmanager-productmanagement-activity-7033419996802277376-6Yta?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/nicuparente
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicuparente

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Today, we're excited to welcome back one of our most popular guests who is returning to discuss some new and important topics. As many of our listeners know, transitioning from military to civilian life can be a challenging experience. It requires adapting to a new culture, establishing new relationships, and learning new skills. In the last episode, we talked about entry-level roles to get into tech, why to always be interviewing, and healthy ways to address imposter syndrome. Today, we're going to explore some new and important topics such as building trust, asking for help, and achieving success in any role. We're thrilled to have Alex back and excited to dive into these new topics that will help you navigate your transition to your civilian career.

Reach out to Alex on LinkedIn

Check out LifeAt!

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Today I bring on Abe, a passionate data analyst who has combined his analytic skills with his favorite martial art: jiu-jitsu. We talk about the lessons he learned while being a military recruiter, how he learned his data skills, and how he leverages LinkedIn to reach potential clients and employers.

If you’re interested in being a data analyst after the military or just want to hear a really cool story of how analytical you can get with jiujitsu, this episode is for you.

Topics we cover:

• How to translate your skills from being a military recruiter to the civilian world
• Why listening is so important
• How he got into data analytics
• Pivoting and shifting if a role doesn't fit
• What you a day in the life of a data analyst looks like
• How personal projects can intertwine with your career
• The importance of posting on LinkedIn

Get in contact with Abe on LinkedIn
Instagram: @__abruhham__

Check out SubStats!
Instagram: @substats

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Today I bring on Jeff, who is a decorated Army Special Operations veteran, a business owner, and now an author. We talk about his formula to overcome obstacles during the military transition, his book, how jiujitsu and the military intertwine, and so much more.

Check out the video version of the episode on YouTube!

If you’re an aspiring business owner and want a glimpse into the mind of a veteran business owner, this episode is for you.

Topics we cover:

• Building a business using your military experiences
• How to overcome challenges during the military transition
• The hardest part about Jeff's transition out of the military
• Jeff's personal formula for managing focus and emotions
• Ways to pivot from one role to another and find your passion
• Finding the right people for your business and teams
• Breaking the rule: Leaders eat last
• Why personalities differences matter
• Your military history is a part of your identity vs as your identity 
• Jiujitsu is the world's best personality test
• Being a hobbyist vs a professional

Check out the book All The War They Want

Get in contact with Jeff on LinkedIn
Follow Jeff on Twitter
Conquest Cyber

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Today I bring on Shaymon who served in the Airforce and is now a Salesforce Solution Consultant. He is a 6-time salesforce certified, 3-time trailhead ranger! On today’s episode, we talk about how to learn from failure, what resources are available to learn Salesforce and what the day-to-day might look like working as a solution consultant.

If you’re interested in learning more about salesforce or are about all the knowledge Shaymon has learned over the last couple of years, this episode is for you.

Reach out to Shaymon on LinkedIn

Links to what we talked about today:
Salesforce Military
Focus On Force
Tech Forward (HBCUforce)
VET TEC
VR&E
Syracuse - Onward To Opportunity

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Today I bring on Alex who served in the Air Force and now is a Site Reliability Engineering Senior Manager. Alex found an entry-level role after the military and has gained a ton of knowledge in his journey to a Senior manager.

In today’s episode, we talk about a bunch of different things:

• What is SRE (Site Reliability Engineering)?
• Healthy ways to address imposter syndrome
• Great entry-level roles after the military
• How to find ideal roles in your career
• Ways to find mentorship
• Should you pick working a FAANG vs other companies?
• Why you should always be interviewing

Technologies Alex mentioned:

Free BSD, PERL, MySQL, Apache, PHP, AWS

Check out Alex's woodworking art at mapsandboxes.com

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In today's episode, John and Sean go into the weeds of how to be a good leader, how to grow trust with your team, and how you can succeed even in situations with bad leaders. We’ll also take a deeper dive to learn more about the book On Mission and who it’s for, and dig into some of the content.

Check out On Mission at OnMissionBook.com and OnMissionLeaders.com

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