What skills do you bring to the table as a veteran? In this workshop, Commander Izzy Abbass will show you how to put your best foot forward to make a favorable impression. You will learn common misperceptions of veterans, what skills veterans can bring to the table, and how to translate those skills into the business world. Finally, you will receive tips on how to use LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to sell your abilities! By: Izzy Abbass, VFW Post 1

1. Understanding
How Your Military Skills
Can Work in Business
Izzy Abbass
Commander
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1

2. Agenda
1. VETERAN SNAPSHOT: Today’s Veteran & Transition Issues
2. VALUE OF A VETERAN: What Skills do today’s Veterans Possess
3. LOST IN TRANSLATION: Going from Milspeak to Civspeak
4. SELL YOURSELF: Digital/social media to sell yourself and your skills
Izzy Abbass
• Army Veteran - Infantry
• Commander of VFW Post 1
• 20 year Experience in Telecommunications
• Board of Project Sanctuary, Fisher House Denver
• Co-Chair of Colorado Veterans in Higher Education
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3. SnapShot of today’S Veteran
• Total military personnel – 2.9 Million or .928% of the US
population & 1.6 Million have deployed to OEF/OIF.
• Women are approaching 15% of our total active forces and
20% of our reserves
• Over 800,000 men and women have used the Post 9-11 GI
Bill since it was signed and in Colorado 24,000+ enrolled
• National unemployment rate is 7.8%;
– Overall for Veterans the rate is 6.7%
– Post 9/11 Vets it is 9.7% and for 18-24 Vets 14.5%
• 19% of those who have deployed have PTSD and 20% have
TBI
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4. How large
parts of
Society View
Veterans
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5. In reality, vast majority are
successfully making the transition to
civilian life
What veterans want to do is to continue being constructive
members of society.
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6. What StrengthS doeS today’S
Veteran Bring?
Accelerated Learning Curve – Pressured Adaptation
Leadership – Focus at all levels of the service
Teamwork – Dependable and Depending-On mentality
Loyalty – Show them you have their back, they’ll have yours
Procedural – Systems Exist for a Reason
Technology and Globalization – Not just buzz words
Conscious of Health & Safety – Another Focus
Triumph Over Adversity!
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7. Building your own
The evidence suggests a strong association between military
service and successful entrepreneurship, and veterans tend to
be more likely than non-veterans to start businesses.
Oklahoma State University
Employees of
Veteran-owned
Veterans Veteran-owned
firms
firms
21.2 million 2.4 million 5.8 million
$1.2 trillion in sales
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8. How do you do it?
Business Concepts — how do I know if my idea is a viable one and
what do I need to consider?
• Business Plan
• Funding
• Marketing
• Accounting
• Operations
• Human Resources
• Legal Issues
Key to effectiveness in all of these is being able to
communicate your strengths and knowledge in a
coherent manner.
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9. Translating your
experience
1. Capture everything you have been tasked with doing –
experience & results on one document – same as a resume
– Military and Civilian experience
– Volunteer Activities
– Associations and Volunteer work.
2. Assume those you are talking to – banks, investors, lawyers,
customers - know nothing about the military
– Avoid acronyms and military technical specs
3. Focus on key leadership principals
– Management/Supervision
– Monetary management
– Project based results
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10. Translating your
experience
Use the STAR method for presenting the information.
Situation – What was happening – who, what, when, where
Task – What was the problem or expectation
Action – What did you do
Result – What was the outcome

11. examples
Infantry Squad Leader
• Responsible for the accountability, supervision and training of 5 soldiers of varying
skill levels; responsible for the operational readiness, maintenance and accountability
of 4 Bradley Fighting Vehicles
• Weapons Trainer, NBC NCO
• found two weapons caches, eliminated 55 rounds of UXO from enemy use, patrolled
over 100km of hostile territory
United States Army – Team Manager
• Responsible for the operation and maintaining of equipment worth in excess of $12.5
Million
• Managed team of 5 and provided tactical and technical guidance under adverse
conditions to meet objectives.
• Managed security over a large geographic area (100 km) and successfully completed
tasks in support of this mission.
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12. Create a digital profile
Applies to both you and eventually your business
Personal Profile
• Starts with LinkedIn – Applies to lawyers, surveyors, artists, students – Everyone!
• This is NOT Facebook
• Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are part of your digital profile
• You may decide to have two accounts – one for family and friends and one for
business but be careful.
Business Profile
• Nature of your business will determine amount of focus between LinkedIn, Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter. etc.
• Use all forms but monitor each for effectivenesss
• Don’t put out information just to put it out - make it meaningful and relevant
• You can have fun but be fun in a smart way with a tie to a goal
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13. Personal digital profile
LinkedIn – Dos
• Connect with former managers, co-workers, classmates and service buddies
• Look at colleagues’ LinkedIn profiles.
• Get recommendations from past bosses and co-workers who have insight
• Get lots of recommendations
• Use LinkedIn Answers to demonstrate your experience and knowledge
LinkedIN - Don’ts
• An incomplete profile
• Bad Photo – no face or unprofessional
• Private Profiles
• No Recommendations
• No Connections
• Obvious lack of interactivity on LinkedIn
• No LinkedIn groups or use of LinkedIn Applications
• No Contact Settings or Personal Information
• No website, blog, or Twitter links
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14. examples
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15. examples
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16. examples
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17. Business digital profile
LinkedIn
• Build a profile for your company – no matter how small or big
• Look at other companies for ideas
• Once you launch, participate in discussions
• Use LinkedIn Answers to demonstrate your experience and knowledge
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc
• Keep reminding people in your network what you are up to as a business
- “Just finished a beautiful kitchen remodel that really opened up the space.”
- “Wow – managed to save three years of photos on a crashed computer for a
client. Made his day and reinforced why I love doing this.”
• Send out relevant updates – not just for the sake of sending
• You can and typically should have a business and personal profile
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18. examples
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19. examples
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20. Questions
& Discussion
Izzy Abbass
Commander, VFW Post 1
izzy@vfwpost1.org
303-522-3943
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