Professional Development for Military Veterans
What is a Blog?
A web log, or blog, is an online space for posting short articles or ideas that include text, photo, video, audio, and external links that allows readers to respond through comments. Blogs can cover any topic imaginable and can be for personal or professional use like any other social media tool. Most blog sites allow the writer of the blog or even a specific blog to be followed so that followers receive notification of new blog postings or comments (Bozarth, 2010).
This blog has been assembled to assist veterans who are just beginning to use social media tools (including blogs) for professional development and to help transition into the professional civilian workforce. This change can be very scary, especially for those of us who joined the military straight out of high school and spent more than a decade on active duty.
Blogging Basics - 4 C's of Blogging
Advantages and Disadvantages of Blogs
Advantages
| Disadvantages
|
|---|---|
Free, easy to create and update, with simple tools for adding multimedia
| Difficult to sustain
|
Can be created ahead of time and scheduled for upload to the web
| Posts are longer than microblogs like Twitter
|
Metrics can be gathered about number of views or time/day viewed
| Can be easy to become long-winded
|
Can be password protected and shared only with those that are given access
| |
Can be set up to send an email when comments are made
|
(Bozarth, 2012)
Blogs as Training Tools
Blogs are not ideal as the only source of training; but due to their quick and easy nature, they can be used as a starting point for training on a myriad of topics. Blogs can also inspire new ideas and provide new perspectives (Shaw, 2011). Including blogs in your training plan can spark interest and encourage further research.
Professional Development Poll
Which topic are you more interested in learning more about?
Blogging Best Practices
1. Read a large variety of content that can provide a source of inspiration.
2. Don't be afraid to write. The more you do it, the easier it gets.
3. Be yourself; show your personality and write with empathy.
4. Learn to take the right criticism and learn from it.
(Eridon, 2013)
Blog Content and Reputation
Blog content is extremely important to any audience. The reader wants to know that the information provided in the blog is reliable and that the facts can be checked. For veterans going through the transition to civilian life, it is comforting to read content written by others who are in the same position or that have successfully navigated their transition. Many veterans are looking to these blogs for tips and advice when they have nowhere else to turn and inaccurate content could be devastating.
Likewise, the content of the blog and the comments and feedback given have an effect on the blog writer's reputation. If they provide accurate and updated information to their readers they will get a positive reputation and people will continue to read and share their posts. On the other hand, if they get a negative reputation, it can not only effect their blog but also their professional reputation off the web. It is extremely important for those that are writing a blog to maintain the blog, respond to comments and questions, and update information and links as needed.
Recommended Blogs
- 3 Rules for Networking Success
Kaiden discusses the basics of networking and 3 rules to follow: 1. Networking is a two-way street. 2. People hire people. Computers don't hire people. 3. You are not really networking until you are talking to people you don't know - Military to Civilian Careers Transition Guide
Brand breaks down the steps that should be taken by a veteran who is trying to take their job search online. She explains the basic resume translation process and discusses the importance of an online presence and keeping it updated. - Switch | A career transition blog for veterans by veterans
A career transition blog for veterans by veterans. Although the blog has not been updated since 2012, the posts are still relevant and helpful today. Topics include: job searching, interviews, networking, using twitter, and time management tips. - Blog; MilitaryOnlineColleges.org
Retired Army LTC Lizotte writes about issues relating to veterans and education. The blog seems to be updated monthly and covers topics such as: tips for college success, GI Bill news, and internships among others. - Vetsbridge.com Blog
Multiple writes contribute to this blog focused on veterans and post military career changes. The most recent blog update was at the end of 2014, but the posts available are helpful, interesting, informational, and uplifting for veterans.
Blog Review
Blog
| Frequency
| Engagement
| Blog Credibility
|
|---|---|---|---|
ATD - Kaiden
| weekly additions
| monthly newsletter, comments
| professional
|
Hubpages - Brand
| low, new blog
| comments, polls
| information is credible
|
Wordpress - Switch
| several posts in 2012
| share, comment
| reliable
|
MilitaryOnlineColleges.org
| monthly posts
| share
| professional
|
Vetsbridge.com
| very often through Dec 2014
| comment, share, subscribe
| professional
|
A comprehensive review of the five blogs discussed in this blog.
References
Bozarth, J. (2010). Social Media for Trainers: Techniques for enhancing and extending learning. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Brand, T. J. (2015). Military to Civilian Careers Transition Guide. Retrieved from http://hubpages.com/business/Military-Veteran-Job-Search
Eridon, C. (2013). What the best business bloggers do (and you should too). Retrieved from http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/blogging-best-practices-list
Kaiden, S. (2015). 3 Rules for Networking Success. What, Where, Why, Who, How, (and When) of Networking—Part I. Retrieved from https://www.td.org/Publications/Blogs/Career-Development-Blog/2015/10/3-Rules-for-Networking-Success
Lizotte, E. (2015). Blog: MilitaryOnlineColleges.org. Retrieved from http://militaryonlinecolleges.org/blog
Pick, D., & Nagorny, L. (2012). Switch: A career transition blog for veterans by veterans. Retrieved from https://switchstarter.wordpress.com/
Shaw, J. (2011). Training blogs – Using the web to train the world. Retrieved from the Free Management Library: http://managementhelp.org/blogs/training-and-development/2011/06/22/training-blogs-using-the-web-to-train-the-world/
Wolpert, M. (2011, July 21). Blogging basics - 4 C's of blogging. [Video file]. Retrieved from YouTube website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nT1Jm5sVdI
