Charles E. Torres’ Post

Its easy to follow the straight and familiar path... When I was exploring my career opportunities in preparation for leaving the armed forces and entering resettlement, there was one thing that held me back. Every resource I read, every support avenue I explored made me feel like I was being pigeon-holed into a traditional employed role, trading time for money in a job that somehow aligned to my life in the RAF. But that wasn’t what I wanted. Although I loved my time serving, I was ready to break free, not just do something that felt like more of the same. After a lot of thinking (and sheer stubbornness) to find something different, I discovered that the first step to working out what I really wanted to do was to stop looking at life through a ‘Service Mindset.’ Of course, this was easier said than done. It was a bit like having a blank canvas and starting all over again (scary I know) and although I had the freedom to let my mind explore the possibilities, I still found it incredibly hard to break all the old, conditioned thought patterns. If you can resonate with this and you’re wondering what to do next in your career after leaving the armed forces, here’s my advice. Revisit your passions, your interests, those things that you would spend all your time doing if you could. Write them all down and give yourself time to mull them all over and see where you feel a pull. When I’m helping my clients to map out and step into their future career path, doing this exercise often helps them remember what lights them up. We then work together to discover how that can translate into an employed role or a business which is incredibly exciting not just for them, but for me too as their coach! With the right support, this can feel easier and that’s what I’m here to do. Follow for more support or DM me to find out about my 121 coaching. #veteranownedbusiness #veteransupport #veteranshelpingveterans #veteranownedandoperatedsmallbusiness #veteranownedbusinesses #exmilitary #businesscoachingforwomen #businesscoachingprogram #howtostartabusiness #careertransitionworkshop #civilian #careercoachingforwomen #careerchanger

Before we break for #veteransday2023, today we are highlighting Benjamin Augello, a fellow Army veteran! Ben came through our #dodskillbridge program last year and was quickly brought on full-time! He continues to make an impact at Cushman & Wakefield, and is an integral teammate on one of our large accounts! 1. What interested you in accepting an opportunity with Cushman & Wakefield/C&W Services? I was reading through material at Fort Drum's transition center looking for military friendly companies in the CRE industry. Cushman & Wakefield stood out as one of those top Military Friendly® companies. It was actually Jamie's professionalism, empathy, and passion for her work that gave me the desire and confidence to follow through with this opportunity. A screen and interview later, and some headaches getting signatures from my command, I was all lined up to start my #skillbridge program under Tracy Siegmund's supervision on C&W's #verizon account. There are some really amazing people here at C&W like Jamie McCall and Tracy Siegmund. We have each other's backs and can work with anyone, and I think most would be surprised of the comradery and belonging. 2. What #skillsets and experiences from the #military helped you #transition into your new role? What similarities or differences have you experienced? I think the most underrated experience that most of us get from the #military is managing people. Skill sets are absolutely important, but they can also be taught. The experience of managing colleagues/employees/friends I received from the military has been invaluable, and I think is highly sought after in the civilian marketplace. The military taught me that it's more about care for your people than it is about daily micro-management. What is awesome is that I see this leadership at C&W from my peers, my manager, and higher management, so I know it exists far and wide within C&W. 3. What do you enjoy most about your position, team, and working for Cushman & Wakefield/C&W Services? I enjoy most the culture here. Everyone is so friendly and willing to help. Even being new to C&W and new to our account, our teams and management always encourage my very "green" perspective. I think everyone's position or role makes a difference, and I love that I feel like I can make a difference in my role. I also love my team, the experience they bring, and their personal value to me as trusted advisors and friends. I strive to be the same for them. 4. What advice or suggestions would you give to other #transitioningservicemembers and #veterans? For transitioning service members, look into #skillbridge ASAP! Obviously biased here, but this was the best decision I made during my transition. Talk to your Transition Center about what your options are. Map out your ETS timeline and start applying to programs. If you're looking within C&W, reach out to Jamie! Matt Disher|Jamie McCall|Richard Cenkus|Bruce Mosler|Chip Wood|Kandi Tillman

🌟Reflecting on My Transition from the Army to Corporate Life 🌟 It's been 1year and 6 months since I Transitioned from the structured environment of the Army to the dynamic world of corporate life has been an enlightening journey, filled with valuable lessons that I would like to share. Most of the ideas will be there in your mind as a cloud of thoughts, even me, but after this journey, here are 5 points I would like to lay out to the Veteran Community: 1️⃣ Thorough Understanding: I've learned the importance of diving deep into tasks, gaining a thorough understanding of every detail, and striving for excellence in execution. 2️⃣ Clear Task Layout: A clear layout of tasks is crucial for efficiency and effectiveness, ensuring that everyone is aligned and focused on achieving our goals. Having a clear understanding of Scope will save you from wasting your efforts and have a good equation with your manager and team. 3️⃣ Professional Behavior: Maintaining a professional demeanor with colleagues is key. It's essential to build strong working relationships while maintaining boundaries. Avoid going out too much with Office colleagues and making them friends, instead limit their tags to Colleagues and aquaintance. 4️⃣ Document Everything: Email has become my best friend for documenting discussions, feedback, and achievements. It not only helps in manager discussions but also plays a crucial role during yearly appraisals and career growth discussions. 5️⃣ Find Your Voice: It's important to find your voice within the company, to speak up, share ideas, and align your career plans with the organization's goals. Balancing work and personal aspirations is essential for long-term success. Transitioning from one environment to another comes with its challenges, but it also opens doors to new opportunities for growth and learning. I'm grateful for the experiences that have shaped me and look forward to continued growth in this exciting journey! #ArmyTransition #CorporateLife #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #army #veteran #military

Military service members preparing for #militarytransition, take a good look at this image. A loaf of bread could tell you a lot about employment post-military. Let me explain... #preveteranpointers If you've seen our other PreVeteran posts, you know that we believe the military and private sector environments are FUNDAMENTALLY different. Said another way, the private sector environment is more unstable and more uncertain than the military environment you are in right now. Why is this important to you specifically? 🤔 Well, in order to add stability to that environment, one of the tools medium-to-large size businesses deploy is how they organize themselves to address their unique markets. They do this through: ✅ Headcount—the number of Full-Time Employees needed to run the business ✅ Employment Roles—the right person in the right role ✅ Employment Levels—having a well-balanced workforce (experience-wise) to ensure the business can consistently deliver the product / service to the customer This brings us to the loaf of bread. Think of the employment roles as a loaf of bread where each individual is a slice of bread. This means each individual is a credentialed, experienced expert in their specific role. ❌ They are not generalists This is a big problem for military service members who've been trained to be generalists throughout their careers, even if they have a primary and secondary MOS / AFSC / Rate. So, when it comes to post-military employment, you need to figure out what slice of bread you want to be for your future company. 🍞 Questions or comments? Let's hear it below. 👂 📣 Aaron, Bill, Shawnda, Nicholas, 🎣Sara, Erik, Bobby, Matt, Matt, Joshua, Jonny, Dixon, José, Cassie, Jennifer, Daniel, Bob, David, Michelle, Justin, Vic, Joseph, Steve, Joe, John, Vera. #transitioningservicemembers #transitioningmilitary #preveteran #training #changemanagement

Read our next inspiring #Veteran spotlight on David, Security Specialist at AIS! “I was going through a stressful period in my early twenties and was unsure about my future. As I was trying to figure things out, my stepfather, a Vietnam veteran, recommended enlisting in the United States Air Force to help give me the foundation I needed. I can still hear him saying, 'The time is going to pass anyway, what else do you have going on?' I thought about that remark over the following month and decided to go for it. In 1998, this 22-year-old Yonkers native was sent to his first duty station, Langley AFB, loading munitions and troubleshooting the leaking pig they called the F-15. About four months later, I left my wife behind on my first deployment, all while unknowingly setting the stage for a demanding, yet rewarding, profession for the next 20 years. During my first assignment, I found myself supervising others who were not much younger than I was. You realize there is more to life when you are put into a leadership role at an early age. You take the blame for others’ mistakes and reward the crew for your accomplishments. I learned not just to become self-sufficient, but to be part of a team, leaning on others when needed to complete an objective. Although I have been retired for the last six years, there have been many times where I felt that I am still transitioning. My post-military life wasn’t seamless, and I felt lost at times along this new path. I joined AIS in 2019 and my department has been there each step of the way. We all understand what it means to be a Veteran and we support one other at every turn.”  David’s advice to fellow veterans seeking a successful career in the civilian workforce:  Take the journey in stride, stay positive and don’t let ego get in your way. Decide what you really want out of life and make that your goal. It might take some time to get there but don’t give up. Whether you served for four years or 20, make the next chapter worth it. During your service, many choices were most likely already made for you, but this time around, you have the opportunity to create your own. Combine your skills and values with what you love doing and go get it. Read all of this year's spotlights: https://lnkd.in/ezGxmjp9

44 military people have asked us to translate their current situation into relevant career paths and skills profiles. And there's still time for you to get involved. We're running the pilot for 20 randomly selected people, providing hands-on guidance to help alleviate some of the fear and ambiguity around career switching. All we need is your information, and we'll deliver a report and discuss potential options with you on a call. We close off submissions at the end of today. P.s. DM me to get involved if - You're unsure of your skills and gaps - You don't know what career to double down on - You haven't considered your risk profile and how that relates to your #veterans #military #career

Had a great chat with Edward Pennington this afternoon. 🇺🇸He's retiring from the Army at the end of this year and is looking to find a new chapter where he can use all skills he's gained througout his career. He's spent a lot of time and has a lot of passion for developing people. His experiences and institutional knowledge will set him up well to transition to Learning and Talent Management. ❓If anyone in my #network wants to connect with him to share your perspective or help him explore some options? #learninganddevelopment #talentmanagement #veteranshelpingveterans #transitioningservicemembers

🌟 Embarking on a new journey after two decades of dedicated service in the military has been an incredible experience. Today, I had the privilege of being part of the dynamic North Carolina for Military Employment (NC4ME) event, collaborating closely with the esteemed team at Onward to Opportunity (O2O) Becky Ganley. Engaging with some remarkable companies, I delved into conversations that highlighted the diverse avenues available for transitioning veterans like us. 🤝 Immersed in discussions with fellow ambitious professionals, I absorbed valuable insights into a multitude of resources designed to empower veterans in discovering their purpose and unlocking their full career potential. It was invigorating to exchange ideas and forge connections with like-minded individuals who, like me, are eagerly poised to contribute their leadership, innovation, and guidance to the next frontier of organizations. 🚀 As I continue my search for the perfect fit, I eagerly anticipate expanding my network and harnessing these invaluable experiences to chart an exciting new chapter. I am resolute in my pursuit of an opportunity that not only aligns with my skills but also resonates with my passion and commitment. Onward and upward, together we can achieve remarkable milestones! -Ray #MilitaryTransition #NC4MEEvent #VeteranNetworking #OnwardToOpportunity #CareerTransition #LeadershipJourney #VeteranSupport #ProfessionalDevelopment #MilitaryCommunity #CareerExploration #VeteranSuccess #NewBeginnings #CareerPotential #EmploymentResources #NetworkingEvent #LeadershipDevelopment #InnovationMatters #CareerGrowth #PurposeDriven #FutureLeadership #fourblock FourBlock #ACP American Corporate Partners (ACP) Veterati

What did your career journey look like? What helped? What do you continually work on now? Looking back, what would you recommend to others ? #Houston #Veterans: FourBlock is a national non-profit focused on helping military veterans find meaningful careers through connecting with business professionals and industry leaders. https://fourblock.org/ Each year, across the nation and around the world, we hold two 10-week semesters (see the picture), where we take you through the career search journey. Each week is sponsored by an employer partner, from companies like: McKesson - Medical Technology and Supply Oxy - Oil and Gas EY - Consulting AIG - Insurance Uber - Technology and Logistics Amazon - Retail, logistics and IT New York Life Insurance Company - Insurance We have Career Readiness Coaches, who provide tailored experiences and support from different industries and times in their own career transition In Houston, Forrester (Rich) Goodrich, Jr. MBA and I are the Career Readiness Instructors, who help facilitate and guide each 2-hour session so that you can meet and interact with company leaders, hiring managers, C-suite professionals and people who have experience in the bumpy roads of the professional career search! I welcome you to reach out, find out more, and ask me how you can join and learn from this great program. I am here to support the Houston veteran community and, more so, any of us who are looking to learn how to navigate the challenges ahead. Have you taken part in FourBlock? What was it like for you? Do you want to join this semester? The application process is open now: https://lnkd.in/evMxTrC The cohort starts soon! Angenetta Lambert Queta Rodriguez Mike Abrams Bernard BeaullieuGary Guzman #militarytransition #marinecorps #army #airforce #navy #coastguard