In past pre-Career Conference blog posts, I’ve shared the current economic conditions but since I wrote a blog a couple of weeks ago on that very topic, I’m not going to address it here.  The information is still accurate and definitely worth a read if you have any questions about how it pertains to the JMO.

Instead, I wanted to discuss the proper mindset in the interview process.  In an interview, you must do three things:  1) Prove your fit  2)  Demonstrate interest in the position/company and 3) Build rapport.  If I had to come up with a fourth “must do” item, it would be to demonstrate the correct attitude.  My colleague, Samantha Vanover, came across a good article talking about the importance of attitude in the hiring process and if you’d like to read the article, you can find it here:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2012/01/23/89-of-new-hires-fail-because-of-their-attitude/

In the article, the author states that of the 20,000 new hires they tracked as part of their research, 46% of them failed within 18 months.  But what was surprising is that of those 9,200 failures, almost 90% of them were due to attitude reasons, and not for lack of skill.  It is important to understand and recognize the right attitude doesn’t start on your first day of your new job; rather it begins in the interview process.  The purpose of the initial interview is not to ascertain what is in it for you.  I promise you there will be time during the interview process to make that determination in due time.  Unfortunately, applicants often approach the initial interview with the mindset of what can this company do for me in terms of salary, perks, promotions etc. when their approach should be to display a good attitude and convey what they can bring to the table on behalf of the company.  Companies are not just interviewing candidates for skill.  They want candidates whose attitudes match their unique culture.  I have done my share of hiring in my career.  Several years ago, I made the mistake of hiring someone because they possessed the requisite skills and I paid less attention to whether they were a good cultural/attitude fit.  That person was gone from my organization in less than six months.  According to the article above, Herb Kelleher, former Southwest Airlines CEO used to say, “we can change skill levels through training, but we can’t change attitude.”  That attitude must start in the initial interview.

We have a great Career Conference lined up this weekend for both the companies and the candidates to kick off 2012.  Sample industries for the January conference include: Medical Device, Biopharmaceutical, Consulting, Construction and Building Products, Oil & Gas Exploration, Transportation/Logistics, Consumer Products, and more.  Sample companies include:  Boston Scientific, Ernst & Young, Carrier Corporation, Exxon Mobile, Goldman Sachs, Corning, Eli Lilly & Company, Johnson & Johnson, Tyson Foods, Inc., and many more.  The companies attending this conference represent a wide array of industries and sizes to include Fortune 500 type companies, smaller rapidly growing companies, privately held companies, as well as those that are internationally based.  Sample positions include: District Manager, Regional Manager, Manufacturing Engineer, Applications Engineer, Clinical Account Specialist, Engineering Team Leader, Senior Consultant, Manager of Special Projects, Manufacturing Supervisor, Financial Analyst, and more.  Although we are still finalizing the interview schedules, we expect the average number of interviews to be ~12 which is in-line with the 12-13 interviews we experienced in 2011 and the 11+ interviews we have experienced since the end of 2009.

Continue to follow the blog. Next week I will write a post on the results from our November Career Conference.

Rob Davis

1.   Overall unemployment is 8.5%, and the real unemployment rate (this includes those unemployed and looking for work, those unemployed and not looking for work, and those underemployed, meaning not using all of their skills or doing part-time work) is closer to 16.5%.  While this number is still not great, we are seeing the unemployment rate dip below 9% for the first time in over a year, so that is encouraging.  Additionally, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics, the unemployment rate for those 25 years or older and who have a college degree is at 4.1% (down from 4.4% in November).  This is much lower and positive than 8.5%, and the one that is really applicable to the JMO.  So, while there is still much work to be done to get the unemployment rate down for the overall health of the U.S. economy, there is good news for young, talented leaders with potential.

2.  There are still approximately 4.6 people applying for every job opening.  However, at every one of our Career Conferences in 2011, candidates averaged between 12-13 interviews and there were approximately 1.5-2 positions for every C-B JMO at the Career Conferences.  This further reinforces the point above.

3.  Another telling statistic is job creation.  There were 200,000 jobs created in the month of December.  However, that is an aggregate number composed of jobs created by the public sector (government) and those created by the private sector (Corporate America).  In the case of December, the private sector added jobs (212,000) in December while the government cut jobs (-12,000) to give us the overall 200,000 number. This is very representative of what we saw all of last year with the government continually cutting jobs and the private sector adding positions.  In fact, the private sector has added 534,000 jobs in the past for months and over 2.5 million jobs since February 2010.

My message to any JMO considering a transition to Corporate America is this:  Do your homework.  Don’t rely solely on what your friends, family, and media, are telling you about the economy, opportunities outside the military, etc.  Do your diligence to fully understand how the economy specifically pertains to you and your background, what types of opportunities exist, and whether a career in business is the right path for you.  And, if and when you decide to make the transition, you must be well prepared.  Our client companies continue to bring opportunities for growth and advancement for top performing JMOs who are committed to a career in Corporate America but the interviewing/hiring bar remains high, which means your preparation must be top-notch.

I wish everyone a very prosperous and productive 2012!

Stay tuned in the next couple of weeks as I will post another blog about the upcoming January 2012 Career Conference.

Rob Davis

1. If the question is not going to get you the job, don’t take 30 minutes to answer it … or 10 minutes … or even 7.  You want to remain in that 2- to 3-minute length for almost all questions.  Candidates in DPP know this, but when you get into an interview, you get nervous and the recruiter says, “Tell me about yourself…,” and 17 minutes later, you’re finished – with both your answer and the opportunity in front of you.  This happens!  Watch yourself once you step in that door.  Be self-aware.
2. Companies want to see you smile and get to know you for you.  However, do not laugh too much, nervously smile too often and lose touch of your professionalism.  You must remain strong, confident and purposeful with your answers and approach. 
3. Ask questions to demonstrate interest.  Companies want to see that you really like what they do and how they operate.  Make connections with the literature given to you, company briefs and the recruiters interviewing.  Product, process and background information are all good focus areas, but try to build bridges with your questions so you can demonstrate not only that you have the factual information down, but you have envisioned yourself in the position and can foresee the work-life.
4. Body Language.  I meet with companies after they interview candidates and, sure enough, there are always examples of an interviewee playing with their hands too much, having nervous compulsive movements or not looking the recruiter in the eye.  Relax.  Watch your movements and the inflection of your voice. 
5. Don’t get too comfortable.  Stay on top of your game.  As you start your interviews, you will actually enjoy the process of meeting the recruiters and learning about the companies from their perspective, as well as talking about yourself for 2 straight days.  It can be very exciting and actually fun!  Maintain your focus.  Do not loosen up too much; remember the position for which you are interviewing and your professionalism.  Connect and build rapport with the recruiter, and just remain poised.

Practice, practice and practice even more.  Then, once you walk into the room for your interview, stay in tune with yourself.  It reminds me of golf – you have so much to remember and a checklist when you step up to that tee box.  Interviewing is the same way…be self-aware and use your checklist.  These are basic pointers that when not executed correctly, will easily rule you out.  Make the most of your 45-minute opportunity!

Among our most treasured blessings are the exemplary men and women of our Armed Forces – Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines – with whom we are privileged to associate on a day-to-day basis. We are proud to know you and humbled by your continued call to serve and stand in Harm’s Way for the greater good of our country. We hope you never need reminding of how appreciative we are of your continued unselfish sacrifices, and you and your families remain ever in our prayers as you give without asking for anything in return.

Thank you for giving us the tremendous honor of serving you. We are inspired by you and grateful for the opportunity to help you live your dreams as we continue to live ours.

We wish you a beautiful and happy Holiday Season, and the anticipation of amazing things to come to you in the New Year.

The Cameron-Brooks Team

Roger, René, Mary Lou, Chuck, Joel, Rob, Samantha, Janis, Candy, Michelle, Leslie, Bernadette, Danielle, Pam, Debbie, Diana, Carole, Cooper, Valerie, Aimee, and Lauren

As with all of Jim Collins’ books, he outlines several key concepts from his research, and one of these concepts he discusses in Great by Choice is the 20-mile march.  To illustrate this, Jim describes the tale of two teams of adventurers in their quest to reach the South Pole in 1911.  Both of the expedition leaders were of similar background and skill, and both teams faced similar environmental conditions during their journey.  However, the journey for one team resulted in a race to victory 34 days ahead of the other team and a safe journey home whereas the other team experienced a devastating defeat and perished in their travels home due to the advancing winter weather.  The results beg the question as to how two very similar teams in very similar conditions experienced dramatically different results.

The answer lies in the 20-mile march concept.  One team took the steady and consistent approach to their journey.  No matter how favorable or how poor the weather conditions, they kept a consistent 20-mile march pace, modulating their efforts so as not to overextend their energy, supplies, etc.  The other team, in contrast, overexerted themselves in good weather conditions and would be utterly exhausted when poor weather conditions occurred, causing them to have to hunker down and wait it out before they could continue.  The best analogy I can think of in military terms is the ever popular Brigade/Corps/Fleet/Squadron “fun” run I’m sure everyone has participated in and experienced the accordion effect where you are either at a crawl pace or a dead sprint.  It’s a miserable way to run and much more exhausting than just keeping a steady and consistent pace.

This same concept can be applied not just to commercial business, but to various aspects of our individual lives as well.  For example, take one’s approach to exercise and working out and compare two very different approaches.  One person makes the commitment to get up three days a week and do something physical (running, lifting, etc.) on those days, and they do this week after week, month after month, on a consistent basis.  The other person works out seven days a week, two hours a day, for two weeks straight.  They get burned out and then take a month off before trying to start back up again.  Having spent most of my life either doing competitive bodybuilding or just working out, I can tell you with certainty the person who takes the steady approach even though they aren’t working out every day, will be in better shape in shorter time.

The same approach can be applied to the JMO and their preparation to transition from the military to Corporate America.  With today’s OPTEMPO in the military, deployments, family commitments, etc., it’s very easy to take this start-stop approach to your preparation, where a lot of JMOs will “cram” for a period of time when things slow down and then take an extended period off from doing any sort of preparation when work/life gets really busy.   It’s understandable and easy to do.  However, my recommendation to those of you currently preparing to make the transition or those simply considering it is to take this 20-mile march approach.  When things get hectic, make the commitment to read just 1-2 chapters of a book before going to bed, write out the answer to just one interview question and practice verbalizing that answer, etc.  And, when things are slower, it’s not necessary to go all out and overexert yourself.  If you take this approach, that 1-2 chapters a night will turn into reading several books over a couple of months and getting all of your answers prepared to the various commonly asked interview questions.  You will be able to stay on pace, retain more information, and have a strong level of confidence heading into your interviews.

Rob Davis

When my colleague, Joel Junker, and I discussed what made this Conference so successful, we collectively came up with one key thought – study groups! The majority of the candidates who attended the November Conference had been involved in study groups at their respective bases/posts with other candidates enrolled in the Development and Preparation Program (DPP) prior to attending the Conference and had already begun to develop relationships prior to attending the Conference.  So, rather than 43 individuals having to get to know each other from scratch, there was already a certain familiarity among many of the candidates from day one that lent itself to the overall group quickly becoming cohesive.  Additionally, their work in the study groups helped them enhance their interviewing skills and develop their answers to be more conversant and fluid.  You must practice your answers, and a study group is a great way to do this.  When the candidates are working together and helping each other in their preparation for interviews, the group as a whole tends to have a better Conference and the results of the November Conference clearly demonstrated this.

The size of the companies attending our November Career Conference varied from several companies with 200-300+ employees to companies with 175,000 to over 275,000 employees.  There were privately held companies represented as well as some of the largest companies on the Fortune 500 list.  We also had a handful of new companies attend as we continue to diversify and expand our client company portfolio.  Industries included biopharmaceutical manufacturing, building materials, construction, procurement, logistics, consumer products, semiconductor manufacturing, consulting/risk assurance, oil and gas exploration and production, engineered industrial products, and medical device.

Our client companies brought a wide variety of position titles to the Conference, including Manufacturing Supervisor, Senior Program Manager, Territory Sales Manager, Field Clinical Specialist, Applications Engineer, Distribution Center Manager, Product Marketing Engineer, Pricing Marketing Engineer, Senior Consultant, Control Systems Engineer, Business Analyst, Team Leader, Supply Chain Manager, Asset Availability Leader, Strategic Planning and Financial Analyst, Mechanical Reliability Engineer, Associate Brand Manager, Packaging Engineer, Supplier Quality Engineer, Clinical Specialist, Business Development Analyst,  Sales Engineer, Production Supervisor, Process Engineer, Technical Business Development, Senior Contracting and Procurement Buyer, Procurement Manager, Financial Analyst, and Six Sigma Blackbelt.

The list of client companies at the November Conference included the following:

• The global leader in technology protective services.  From lost, stolen, and damaged wireless handsets to malfunctioning computers or HDTVs, this company provides more than 200 million customers worldwide with best-in-class, next day device replacement, as well as protection of user content and software.  Their primary services include Handset Protection, Electronics Protection, Content Protection, Software Protection, and Roadside Assistance.  This company has recruited from Cameron-Brooks for several years and attended the November conference with Program Management opportunities.
• The world’s largest provider of air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration solutions with a history of innovation developing environmentally sound products to meet customer’s needs.  From Mt. Vernon home of George Washington, to opera houses and airports around the world, to subway systems and universities, this company’s products can be found delivering high quality, energy-efficient HVAC solutions. Recognizing the importance of maintaining a responsible balance between comfort and energy conservation, this company is an industry leader in energy efficiency, dedicated to creating environmentally sound products and solutions that fulfill their customer’ demands while preserving precious natural resources.  This company is a long-standing client of Cameron-Brooks and attending the conference looking to fill various engineering project management positions.
• A world leader responsible for pioneering the modern air/ground express delivery industry. This company is the world’s largest express transportation company, and responsible for more than 8 million shipments for express, ground, freight and expedited delivery services to every U.S. address and to more than 220 countries and territories. This company is a long-standing client of Cameron-Brooks and regularly recruit from us to fill various leadership positions in their organization.
• A global leader in the professional services industry.  This company helps companies in businesses across all industries, from emerging growth companies to global powerhouses, identify and capitalize on business opportunities.  Their more than 140,000 people in 140 countries worldwide can implement a broad array of solutions in audit, tax, transactions, IT security, enterprise risk management, valuation, and other critical business-performance issues.  The company has grown from its beginnings almost 100 years ago to become the global power it is today.  They have consistently been ranked on FORTUNE Magazine’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work For.”  They are a long time client of Cameron-Brooks and regularly recruit for Senior Consultant positions.
• The largest branded food and beverage company in North America and the second largest in the world.  Their North American business spans six core sectors:  confectionary, snacks, grocery, convenient meals, cheese & food service, and beverages.  It is the largest retail distributor of all three major food categories (grocery, refrigerated, and frozen) and produces some of the U.S.’s best known brands.  The company’s products are used in more than 99% of U.S. households and more than 40 of their brands are 100 years old or more.  They are a long-standing client of Cameron-Brooks and regularly recruit for brand management and leadership positions.
• The world’s largest family owned winery with market share of approximately 30% of the domestic table-wine market in the United States.  Founded over 80 years ago, they operate five wineries and 15,000 acres of vineyards throughout northern California and account for over 50% of every bottle of wine exported from theU.S.  This company has been a long-standing client of Cameron-Brooks and attended the November Conference to find dynamic leadership they can invest in for the long-term.
• A global material supplier to the lithium battery industry that develops and markets the highly engineered membrane separators used for leading-edge portable power applications to include Electric Device Vehicles (EDV).  They are investing $2-3 billion in both expansion and Greenfield efforts of their manufacturing facilities in the Southeast.  They have multiple conferences this year and are looking to find top leadership talent through JMOs to help their expansion and growth efforts.

To learn more about the Cameron-Brooks Career Conference experience, I’ve posted several videos from candidates who attended the November conference on our Facebook site – http://tinyurl.com/dfqoq4

Rob Davis

First, let’s address the economy.  This is a very popular topic among JMOs considering leaving the military and understandably so.  According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics figures published just this morning, the unemployment rate is 9.0%, down from the 9.1% where it had been holding steady for the past few months.  The most relevant number for JMOs, however, is 4.4%, which represents the unemployment rate for those 25 years of age or older who have a college degree.  That number is slightly up from last month (4.2%), but this figure has been averaging between 4.2-4.5% for the past 18 months.  The other telling statistic is job creation.  Over the past few months, the average net job creation per month has been 100,000 jobs with commercial business accounting for an average of 132,000 jobs and the public sector/government cutting an average of 32,000 jobs to arrive at that net number.   This three-month span is very representative of what we’ve seen for most of 2011.  So, while there is still uncertainty in the market, commercial business continues to create jobs and the outlook for a very well prepared JMO is positive.

We have a great Career Conference lined up this weekend for both the companies and the candidates.  Sample industries for the November conference include: Medical Device, Biopharmaceutical, Semiconductor, Consulting, Construction and Building Products, Oil & Gas Exploration, Consumer Products, and more.  Sample companies include:  Asurion, Ernst & Young, Medtronic, Exxon Mobile, Kraft Foods, Cypress Semiconductor, Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson, FedEx and many more.  The companies attending this conference represent a wide array of industries and sizes to include Fortune 500 type companies, smaller rapidly growing companies, privately held companies, as well as those that are internationally based.  Sample positions include: Program Manager, Applications Engineer, Product Marketing Engineer, Senior Consultant, Business Analyst, Brand Management, Supplier Quality Engineer, Marketing Analyst, Territory Manager, Manufacturing Supervisor, Six Sigma Black Belt, and more.  Although we are still finalizing the interview schedules, we expect the average number of interviews to be ~12 which is in-line with the 11+ interviews we have experienced since the end of 2009.

The bottom line is that while there is still much work to be done to improve our national economic conditions, the opportunities available with Cameron-Brooks remain strong.  The challenge is that the bar continues to remain high.   Whether you are attending a Cameron-Brooks conference in the future, or just in the initial stages of considering a transition to business, you must be well prepared to make the transition and this starts with:

1) A professional reading program.  Read as many books as you can and study up on business concepts like Lean, Six Sigma, Project Management, Self-Directed Work Teams, Consultative Selling, etc.  I also recommend reading good business periodicals like Fortune Magazine to give you a really good feel for what is happening in business, what companies are doing, what innovations are taking place, etc.

2)  Know yourself really well.  I know that sounds like a no-brainer statement but it’s not.  As a development candidate, companies want to know and understand not just what you have done but how you think and come to quality conclusions.   You must be able to articulate your strengths, weaknesses, your leadership style, how you deal with a difficult boss, persuade others when you have no direct authority over them, etc.  Only by doing a thorough self-analysis can you effectively and succinctly answer these questions.

3)  Developing answers to commonly asked interview questions and rehearse.  For most JMOs, they have never had to interview for a job before.  They graduated from school, received their commission, and had a job in the military.  This is a new concept for the majority of JMOs and it requires practice.  Your answers always sound good in your head and read well on paper but it’s a different story when you have to verbalize them. The last thing you want to do is deliver an answer for the very first time in a live interview when it counts.

Continue to follow the blog. Next week I will write a post on the results from our November Career Conference.

Rob Davis

I am very fortunate that I find tremendous meaning in my work and life.  It is a journey.  For our November 2011 Candidates, I look forward to starting the journey with you on November 4 in Austin, TX.

“Meaninful Work”

This past week, I met with several JMOs in Germany listening to their career and professional goals as they develop courses of action for their future career decisions.  A common theme I heard from them was the need to find meaningful work where they felt they were serving others.  Time Magazine recently ran a feature article on this generation as the “New Greatest Generation” playing off of Tom Brokaw’s popular and inspiring book, The Greatest Generation.  I can see why Time chose to feature this group and also why Time called them “Great.”  This generation’s mentality is to serve, to give back, and to find meaningful work.

Today’s JMO finds meaning in wearing the uniform and serving in the military, and is concerned about whether they will find something similar outside the military that will equal this level of contribution.  I understand this because I remember going through the same thought process when deciding to leave the military.  I remember having breakfast with my Brigade Commander as he tried to convince me that I would not find work with the same amount of service as being in the Army.  I thought a lot about what he said, then I recalled what my Notre Dame Marketing Professor, Bob Drevs, told me:  “It’s not what you do, but how you do it and who you are.”  I realized that wearing the uniform and being in the military did not make me a service-oriented person, nor did it define me. Rather, my attitude and approach did. 

The military does create an environment where it is natural to feel good about the service aspect of the work because our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen and families are making tremendous sacrifices every day, often for great lengths of time when deployed.  However, it still takes the right person to lead with integrity, mentor junior leaders, focus on results, make the “hard rights” instead of the “easy way outs,” and look beyond oneself to the greater good.  It is the person who gets up every morning and chooses to live and work this way; it is not the uniform nor the environment.

One of my favorite quotes is, “Every day, you either make your workplace a little bit better or a little bit worse.  Try to leave it a little bit better.” (First, Break All the Rules, Marcus Buckingham).  I am not 100% successful, but I do want to leave my workplace better every day, and I encourage you to adopt this same approach.  You may not be building schools, churches or water pipelines for people in Iraq or Afghanistan, but you can make a huge difference in your co-workers’, suppliers’, and customers’ days and lives. 

Whether you are a JMO or are already in the business world, improving the lives around you begins in very simple ways.  Simple things include attention to common courtesies – a smile, saying hello, a morning greeting, please and thank you – and taking a few moments to ask about someone’s son’s football game Friday night, their weekend or recent trip. 

Sincere compliments also help.  Do you thank someone for a job well done and give them a specific compliment?  Do you seek out other people doing things well, or do you mostly provide “constructive feedback?”  Feedback is important, but so is letting others know that you appreciate and respect them. 

When I am not traveling, I go home every night and share my day with my wife and children. I talk about how I feel, what others said and things that bothered me. I imagine other people also talk about work when they go home.  I want my teammates to go home feeling good if they put in a hard day’s work and did their best.  I want them to not only have a sense of accomplishment, but also to know that their contribution mattered. To have that, they must hear it from me and not be left guessing.  Simple things like common courtesies and sincere compliments can get lost in the daily prioritization of goals and deadlines, but recognize them for what they are.  They are service and they add up to make a world of difference.

Giving back and serving does start with the small things, but you can also give back in more significant ways.  This is possible in the civilian world because most people find more control over their careers in business versus the military.  Therefore, they find time to volunteer in the community, mentor high school students, coach a team, or get involved with their church.  Personally, Susan, my wife, and I decided to get involved with Foster Care.  What started out as service ended up being life changing as we adopted two children.  The old saying, “First, you give, then you receive,” certainly holds true as I feel so lucky to have them.  Possibly, this is a path of service we may not have chosen had I stayed in the military.

Service is a choice, an attitude, a paradigm, a way of living a life – which includes your work.  You spend 75% of your waking hours at work, so you cannot be a “giver” at home, but say there is no place or time for it in the workplace.  You cannot turn it on and off.  Certainly, there are environments like the military where service is more overt, and certainly your values must be in line with your company’s to be the servant leader you aspire to be.  Creating a life of service and contribution does not hinge on whether or not you stay in the military.  It begins and ends with your day-to-day commitment to give – in big and small ways – to those around you.

Joel Junker

1. Over-dressed is always better than not up to par. Sloppy and messy is not the impression you ever want to give. Who cares if you have a suit on when you didn’t realize it was business casual…better to be dressed up than clearly being on the underdressed side.

2. Yes. Wear panty hose. This is not out of date. It is a must with skirts. You can get great hose now that you barely notice or that actually make your legs look good! Not too dark and never white or black or brown. A natural neutral or light suntan is best. A light taupe is another good option.

3. Do not wear anything tight. It is truly unappealing. Your image of a smart, sexy working female is not super high heels and a tight skirt with a low cut blouse. Instead, a smart, attractive working female is sleek, crisp and well groomed. Polished. Smart executives will immediately rule you out as a distraction and not take you and your ideas seriously. This is not the way you wish to start a career. The same goes for baggy clothes. Do not wear something 2 sizes too big. You will look sloppy.

4. Blouses can be worn in a nice fresh white or bone color. For interviews, keep it neutral – something that looks good with your skin tone. For everyday, a pinstripe or light pastel will work. Nothing overpowering or flashy; it will not help your look. I like nice crisp collars as they can be worn on either the inside or outside of your suit jacket. A beautiful silk blouse is attractive, too. Nothing low cut or too scooped. Camisoles are not a favorite either – stay away from them under jackets. Make sure your blouse fits! Things always get tighter as the day gets longer and you do NOT want your blouse splitting in the center where things can be seen.

5. Hair can be distracting for many reasons. It can become scraggly and unkempt looking all too quickly. It can be worn down if it is above your shoulders, but be sure it is not flopping in your face. Do yourself a favor and tie it back in a bun or a low ponytail if it is below the shoulder. Get creative when you start to pull your hair back – have fun with it and maintain a crisp look.

6. Makeup should be light and accentuate your features. Do not overpower your natural good looks with dark shades. Wear lipstick. It is flattering and shows off your teeth, which should be white, so use Crest® Whitestrips if you are a coffee drinker.

7. Shoes. Always wear closed toe shoes. Stilettos in the workplace make everyone uncomfortable – people watching you try to walk in them, women imagining their toes smashed with that high incline, and most of all, YOU walking in them. Again, this is not the look you think will make you look good, trust me. Functional is better, and the way you carry yourself because you feel good in what you are wearing is appealing. Plus, work is just not the place to wear spiked heels. 7pm is fine…not 7am.

8. Pants. Hem your pants, ladies. You are going for a strong, clean, fit look. Take your low heels with you and pay the $6 to have them hemmed correctly. It makes all the difference. They will lie perfectly, elongate your legs and give you a true style. Even the less expensive pants are very worth having done. Pants dragging behind or under your heels and bundling at your shoes will always make you look frumpy. And, again, don’t get them super tight.

9. Skirts. I highly recommend skirt suits for many reasons. If your weight tends to fluctuate, you can still wear your suits. If you live in a northern state, during the winter, your skirts don’t get ruined with salt and water stains like pants may. However, the number one reason to wear a skirt is because it is feminine. Today, you can find great skirts that are beautifully done with a straight look or a more flowing hem that really move when you move. They are flattering and also easy to use as a separate for a business casual look. However, practice sitting in the skirt! Make sure you can sit in a modest manner without showing too much leg or you will again be distracting or uncomfortable.

10. Handbags. This is difficult. Something simple and not overstuffed is key. Not an evening bag and not a huge beach bag either. You want a bag to carry work items such as, pens, paper, wallet, phone, keys and portfolio. You need pockets, not a dumping ground. Think when you make this purchase. Think color and functionality. Of course, I recommend black. It goes with everything. With more and more women in the workplace, the options have grown. You do want quality and nothing with a cheap metallic, plastic look. You will not carry a handbag into an interview at a conference, but you will likely need one, or a leather briefcase that has soft sides, during follow-up interviews. Once again, go classic.

Business Casual vs. Business Formal

Business casual is a pulled together look as well. Do not think otherwise. It doesn’t mean “casual” clothes. Nice sweater set with slacks that fit the shoes you are wearing; flats or low heels. Dark slacks with a blouse and a gray jacket. A skirt and a blouse with hose and, of course, comfortable shoes work well. Maintain a dressed, polished look. Not as formally matched as a business formal look, feel free to wear a nice dress with a sweater or jacket as well. There are great business dresses out there now!

Business Formal is different. You will want to wear a suit with a light pinstripe or solid color. Gray, black and navy are my favorites. Navy is definitely in. Navy is beautiful with any skin color or hair color. It looks good with a burgundy or black matte shoe. Think a light blue, white, pastel or cream blouse underneath. It is not an old look, ladies. It looks professional and strong. Black is a staple suit you must have in your wardrobe. Buy the pants and skirt that match the black jacket…you will not regret it. Gray is a little more difficult. Do not go too light on your shade – stay in a medium gray or dark shade. Again, buy the pants and skirt as well. A collared shirt, blouse or lightweight knit can all be worn under your suit jacket.

As always, jewelry is an accessory, NOT the main attraction. You and your brain are the focus. Wear something that goes well and is simple. Nothing too bold or too dangly. Remember, and this is the honest truth – your ultimate accessory is your smile. It gives an approachable look and demonstrates openness. Always smile.

Be strong and confident and shake that hand! A full grip and nothing weak and limp. Try not to giggle too much. Demonstrate your maturity. Iron your shirts and pants, make sure every item fits and use a lint roller. Do not wear perfume. It is always more overwhelming than you think and can quickly cloud a room and turn people off. Light makeup, nicely done hair and your smile will give you the polished look you need to be professional and taken seriously.

Samantha Gale

Being the newest member of Cameron-Brooks I have a lot to live up to! The professionalism and dedication to the work they do on a daily basis is mind blowing. I still cannot believe I am officially part of this team….

I joined Cameron-Brooks after spending 5 years in Business Development with Cleveland Clinic. I worked very closely with our physicians and grateful patients coming through the hospital, building relationships and helping increase our patient base and satisfaction. I graduated from Miami University out of Oxford, OH with a Bachelor of Science degree. After school I went on to work as a successful Account Manager (sales type position) for the Unifirst Corporation. At Cameron-Brooks, my focus is on recruiting the best JMO Candidates, providing leadership, and continually building corporate client relations. I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio and just moved to Texas 6 weeks ago!

I will be working with our client companies assisting them in hiring, developing and grooming JMOs in their organizations. I will also partner with JMOs during their career transition process, working closely with them prior to the Conference to refine their interview skills, and during the follow-up process to ensure they are well prepared for final interviews. I will be traveling some to various military bases throughout the US to meet with prospective JMO candidates and those already enrolled in our program to help them learn more about business.

It has been great to be a part of this dynamic team. At Cameron-Brooks, they leave little room for surprises. There is such detail in prepping the candidates, helping them to become Corporate America ready and guiding them through the process of accepting an offer. I am excited to be here, looking forward to all the change I am experiencing professionally, working with our candidates, and joining the Cameron-Brooks team!

Samantha Gale