Commander's Brief

The biggest challenge I see with veteran resumes (or anyone’s resumes for that matter) is communicating impact.

Title is not impact.

The amount of equipment is not impact.

Number of missions on deployment is not impact.

Impact is impact.

And it has to be measured.

Here is a real example from a veteran I spoke with this week. He shared his resume with me and had this bullet:

"Directed planning and daily operations for a 500-soldier battalion, optimizing resource allocation and cross-functional efforts to achieve strategic objectives."

Do you have any idea if he accomplished anything? No.

So I told him, “Show me impact.” And he came back with this:

“Increased mission essential task completion by 36% in 6 months through performance tracking and leader development, directly contributing to enhanced operational readiness and mission success."

Ah, ok. Now we are cooking with fire.

Is it perfect? No. But do you now see the impact?

Yes.

I tell everyone think of it like this:

Tell me what the situation was and what happened when you entered the equation.

You+situation+what you did=result

I need to know the situation, what you did, and what happened.

That’s how you make a better resume.

Veteran Business of the Week

If you are thinking of applying to business school and are a veteran, you should 10/10 check out Military MBA Consulting.

Emily, the founder, is a freaking legit. She’s been in MBA admissions for 20+ years (17 of these just focused on veterans) and is also a military spouse. She’s also an awesome human being.

I actually worked with her in the past as a consultant. Last year, we helped veterans secure admissions to HBS, Wharton, Tepper, Fuqua, McCombs, and other Top 20 MBA programs.

Emily wanted to make another option for veterans, and so she compiled all of her knowledge into MBA Qualifier. It’s a self-paced online option to help you with your admissions process and a better fit fr someone who does not think they need a white-glove service like a full-time consultant.

It takes you through everything you need to do to prep for testing, essays, interviews, and how to pay for your MBA.

And here’s the thing:

It’s 100% focused on veterans.

You should absolutely consider it if you are thinking about applying to business school.

Again, MBA Qualifier.

Resource of The Week

I always like finding ways other than prescription drugs for veterans to pursue healing.

The newest one I found is Reins of Resilience.

Their mission:

To create the opportunity for First Responders & Veterans to find connection, freedom, & healing through equine interaction, while uplifting local equine professionals & promoting high-quality holistic horse care.

Business Idea of The Week

This is actually something I am brewing on, so I cannot share too much yet, but I am looking to connect with anyone who has crafted a bid for a government contract that provides services, or a KO who has reviewed them.

Thanks!

Go crush it,

Mark

💼 Open Positions: