Networking For Veterans A Guidebook for a Successful Military Transition into the Civilian Workforce

Today’s returning veterans are leaving active-service with vast leadership experiences and valuable technical skills. Yet does this mean they have the kind of networking skills necessary to succeed in today’s competitive business environment?  Not necessarily, according to authors Michael Abrams, Michael Faulkner and Andrea Nierenberg. “Networking” is a term that many veterans don’t fully understand or practice, and as a result, they fail to take advantage of the many opportunities that are available to them during their military transition.  Networking for Veterans teaches transitioning service-members how to properly network and build relationships with the people in their community who are most willing and able to help them launch new careers of their choosing. 

Topics covered include overcoming the challenges of making a military transition, properly applying military skills and experiences to business situations, building a network of contacts, overcoming the fear of communicating, interpersonal relationship building, and more.  It is a fundamental “how to” that all veterans can apply to their transition to the business world.

How does the book compare to other books in the field?

This is the first military transition book written by an Iraq or Afghanistan veteran.  There are also no other books that specialize in networking specifically for returning veterans.

What is the basic approach/philosophy behind the book?

Networking is the one of the most fundamental skills necessary for success in life and business and a powerful tool for returning veterans to figure out the best next step in their life and career…and then help them get there.

Mike Abrams joined the Marine Corps following the September 11th attacks, serving on active duty for seven years and deploying to eastern Afghanistan with an infantry company as the artillery forward observer. After leaving active duty, Mike attended New York University’s Stern School of Business, graduating with an M.B.A. in Finance and Entrepreneurship & Innovation. While in business school, Mike co-founded a veteran mentoring program called Four Block. The program focuses on providing professional development to student veterans and connecting them with internship opportunities and entry-level positions at corporations. Mike is currently a Producer at CNBC.

Dr. Michael L. Faulkner is a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam veteran who served from 1964–1970 and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He spent 30 years in a variety of leadership and management (“coaching”) positions with Dun & Bradstreet, the

Direct Marketing Association (DMA), and entrepreneurial start-ups, as well as helping run the family business before moving into the academic world. Today Michael is a professor at the Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University. Michael is a member of MENSA, a former twotime national champion of Athletic Dueling, and an International Rotary Fellowship award winner. He has been published in peer review journals, dozens of magazines, newsletters, websites, and blogs, and has written half a dozen white papers, including one that was circulated to all elected members of Congress and the major media outlets. He has written or co-authored nine books and two one-act plays, which were both performed in regional theaters.

Andrea R. Nierenberg, best-selling author, speaker, and world-renowned business authority, is the force behind The Nierenberg Consulting Group.  Called a “networking success story” by The Wall Street Journal, Andrea founded The Nierenberg Consulting Group in 1993. With a stellar 29 years as a leader in sales and marketing, Andrea is an in-demand business expert both at home and abroad. Her company partners with an array of the world’s leading financial and media industry businesses.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES

FOREWORD BY KEVIN SCHMIEGEL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HIRING OUR HEROES

PREFACE HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

INTRODUCTION WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE TRANSITIONING

STEP 1 UNDERSTAND WHY NETWORKING IS SO IMPORTANT TO MAKING A SUCCESSFUL MILITARY TRANSITION

STEP 2 PREPARE YOURSELF FOR NETWORKING SITUATIONS

STEP 3 BEGIN MAKING CONNECTIONS

STEP 4 CHARACTERISTICS OF GREAT NETWORKERS

STEP 5 TARGET THE RIGHT PEOPLE

STEP 6 WHEN NETWORKING DOESN’T COME EASILY

STEP 7 EXPAND, ORGANIZE, AND KEEP YOUR NETWORK GROWING

STEP 8 NETWORKING ETIQUETTE

STEP 9 SOCIAL MEDIA: A FOCUS ON STRATEGY TO SUPPORT YOUR PERSONAL NETWORKING

STEP 10 TYING IT ALL TOGETHER

APPENDIX A 11 GENERAL ORDERS OF NETWORKING

APPENDIX B EVENT CHECKLIST

RESOURCES

INDEX

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