Operation Lily Pad

"Operation Lily Pad" is more than just a basic job hunting "how-to" guide. Instead, this book is designed to enable veterans to realize there is more to job searching than just crafting a resume and following the cookie-cutter template of preparation! This insightful book dives deeper into many seldom – or lightly discussed factors – impacting job hunting such as hiring biases and stereotypes, job hunting preparation and strategy, where to look (to include the hidden job market), professional branding, networking, negotiating offers, and even how hiring managers evaluate and make hiring decisions. And yes, resume optimization, cover letter customization, LinkedIn profile (i.e., social media) preparation, and interview approaches and techniques are also covered. This is a must-have guide for all veterans who are transitioning into civilian and professional life!

"Operation Lily Pad" is more than just a basic job hunting "how-to" guide. Instead, this book is designed to enable veterans to realize there is more to job searching than just crafting a resume and following the cookie-cutter template of preparation! This insightful book dives deeper into many seldom – or lightly discussed factors – impacting job hunting. And yes, resume optimization, cover letter customization, LinkedIn profile (i.e., social media) preparation, and interview approaches and techniques are also covered. This is a must-have guide for all veterans who are transitioning into civilian and professional life! According to the Department of Defense (DoD), every year in the United States, approximately 200,000 service members leave military service. For a country with the best-trained, best-equipped, and best operational-ready armed forces in the world, we do a very marginal-to-poor job of preparing these men and women for life after their service in uniform. According to a study completed by Syracuse University, about fifty (50) percent of veterans feel ill-prepared for their post-military transition, including how to effectively job hunt. But why? Are we just not doing a great job preparing veterans to find work after service in uniform? Or is there more to the challenges facing transitioning veterans? We can help them better prepare and meet these challenges—this is the catalyst behind "Operation Lily Pad".

Jim VanderMeer has been a hiring manager for over twenty-plus years, for a variety of technology and media companies — from startups to multi-billion-dollar, multi-national organizations. He has built and successfully run professional services, client services, and delivery organizations for these companies. When asked what he does, Jim replies, "I'm in the people business—I hire the best because without successful, bright, and creative people, you cannot have a successful business, service, or even product." Jim is a 1991 graduate of the United States Naval Academy with a degree in Computer Science and is a former Supply Officer in the U.S. Navy. Jim now lives on Bainbridge Island in Washington state with his loving wife, Dawn, and energetic whippet, Simon.