Show Notes | March 27, 2023 | Episode 161

When Zohra moved from South Korea to America, she went from a city with public transportation to one without, so she needed a job she could do from home. 

After nearly a year of getting rejection letter after rejection letter, she discovered VirtForce. It’s not like Zohra wasn’t qualified. She has a master’s degree in accounting. The challenge was, she lacked work experience. 

This is an issue faced by many military spouses. Our friends at Intuit recognized this hurdle and took it head on, creating a cert that cancels their one year of experience requirement for QuickBooks Live bookkeepers. 

Tune in to hear how Zohra kickstarted her finance career at Intuit and is saving up to buy a car.

00:00 🚀 Intro
01:10 💼 #Hired Success Story
03:36 💌 A Note from Kimber

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn
Zohra Faizi LinkedIn

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Show Notes | March 20, 2023 | Episode 160

Why would a company whose mission is to create shareholder value contribute millions of dollars to support communities? Not only is it the right thing to do, but they realize their business can’t thrive unless our economies and communities thrive too.

We all want to work for and buy from a company that aligns with our values. Over the past 10 years, Travelers has contributed more than $228 million to the communities where we do business, live and play.

Over the holidays, we met with executives from Travelers to chat about how they support the #military community and celebrate the season of giving all year long.

Links & Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources.

Ep. 21 Free Mentorship with American Corporate Partners: http://bit.ly/vf21ACP
Ep. 142 Are Travelers’ Benefits the G.O.A.T.?: https://bit.ly/vf142GOAT
Ep. 157 #promoted in Less Than 1 Year: • Get #promoted in …

Hiring Our Heros Fellowship: https://www.hiringourheroes.org/caree…
Operation Song: https://linktr.ee/operationsong

Join the #remotework Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live #podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/VirtF…
VirtForce on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virt…
VirtForce on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtforce/

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Show Notes | March 13, 2023 | Episode 159

Don’t stop yourself from applying for a job if you don’t have ALL the required qualifications. Navy veteran Bobby only had 3 of the 5 requirements for a Salesforce position at Travelers, but guess what? He landed the role!

I’m going to let Bobby tell you how your strengths can make up for the qualifications you lack.

00:00 🚀 Intro
00:07 🧠 #Hired Tip
00:57 💼 #Hired Success Story
04:39 💌 A Note from Kimber

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn
Bobby Cubellis LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Hiring Our Heroes Salesforce Fellowship

How VetForce Can Help Military Spouses Launch A Career in Tech
How to Get Your Next Career Cert Paid For

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Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

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VirtForce Podcast on YouTube
VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts
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VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

How to Land Flexible, Part-Time Remote Gig Work
Get #Promoted in Less Than 1 Year
Hacks to Get hired at Intuit
Hired: Just Ask to Go Remote
Common Job Application Mistakes
Hired After a Virtual Event with Intuit

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Show Notes | March 6, 2023 | Episode 158

If you’re looking for your next remote gig, look no further! Working Solutions is your golden ticket to landing flexible, part-time work you can do from home.

Tune in to learn how you can set your own schedule and work when it’s convenient for you by becoming a member of the WooHoo Crew.

Links and Resources

Phylicia Vallier LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Recruitment Arsenal
148. When to Be an Independent Contactor vs. Employee

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Show Notes | February 27, 2023 | Episode 157

LauraLee Lambert was one of the first military spouses to get #hired at the start of VirtForce’s partnership with Travelers, and she’s been climbing the career ladder ever since.

Most recently, she got #promoted as a full-time underwriter after volunteering for a rotation in that department just six months earlier.

Tune in to hear this success story of career continuity, retention and progression!

00:00 Intro
00:01 #Promoted Tip
00:12 #Promoted Success Story

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn
LauraLee Lambert LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Recruitment Arsenal
Resume Boot Camp
How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook
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Subscribe to the VirtForce Podcast:

VirtForce Podcast on YouTube
VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts
VirtForce Podcast on Spotify
VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Hacks to Get hired at Intuit
Hired: Just Ask to Go Remote
Common Job Application Mistakes
Hired After a Virtual Event with Intuit
Remote Roles Beyond Customer Service
Hired While Stationed OCONUS

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Show Notes | December 19, 2022 | Duty Station Download

This is an exclusive sneak peek to my new show Duty Station Download where I help you discover all of the best things your new duty station has to offer.

In this episode, I’ve put together a compilation of the best winter activities at a variety of different bases across the US.

We’re bundling up for winter fun in Colorado Springs, West Point and Washington DC, and discovering how to spend the holidays in sunny San Antonio and on the beaches of South Carolina.

Plus, find out which overseas location turns into a Christmas fantasyland each holiday season.

Youtube: https://bit.ly/vf-youtube1
Sign up for the Duty Station Download Newsletter: https://bit.ly/vf-dsd

So, what’s the Duty Station Download? A new video show where I give you the 411 on all the best things your new duty station has to offer!

Each week, I’ll sit down with someone who has actually been stationed at that base, and find out everything you need to know, ranging from great places to live to where you can find the best slice of pizza. Look for it in your inbox soon!

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Show Notes | December 16, 2022 | Episode 156

We know resume gaps and lack of work experience are common hurdles for military spouses. That’s why today, we’re sharing our TOP 5 hacks to help get you #hired at Intuit.

Tune in to hear those insider tips for qualifying for remote positions at TurboTax Live and QuickBooks Live right now!

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn
Phylicia Vallier LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Recruitment Arsenal
Intuit Academy

Podcast episodes, we mentioned:

Climb the Career Ladder with Intuit
Intuit’s Academy is a VIBE
Experience Requirements are #CANCELLED at QuickBooks Live
Certs That Empower Employees to be Entrepreneurs
How to Get 1 Year Tax Prep Experience

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

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VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

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VirtForce Linktree

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Show Notes | December 16, 2022 | Episode 155

If you don’t ask, you’ll never know! When you get orders to your next duty station, just ask your current employer if you can take your job remote. The answer could be yes!

When milspouse Kayla Hulme learned she was moving, she wrote a proposal to her boss detailing how she could continue to excel in her career if she could take her job with her. And you guessed it, her employer agreed!

Tune in to hear firsthand from Kayla about this major win for milspouses and remote work.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn
Kayla Hulme LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Recruitment Arsenal
LinkedIn Course

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Common Job Application Mistakes
Hired After a Virtual Event with Intuit
Remote Roles Beyond Customer Service
Hired While Stationed OCONUS
Fed Up with Low Milspouse Pay
Hired: Why Gig Work is Perfect for Parents

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Show Notes | December 16, 2022 | Episode 154

VirtForce has screened thousands of job applications through the years, and we’ve picked up on some common mistakes we see candidates make over and over again. But not anymore!

We’re sharing the top job application mistakes and what you can do to fix them.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn
Phylicia Vallier LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Recruitment Arsenal
Resume Bootcamp
How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

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VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

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VirtForce Linktree

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Show Notes | December 16, 2022 | Episode 153

Milspouse and Navy veteran Kylin Ntri had a question about the hiring process, so she attended our virtual Coffee & Connect event with the recruiters at Intuit, where she was able to connect face-to-face with QuickBooks Live recruiter Tessa Eubanks and get her question answered in real time.

After the event, Tessa helped Kylin with the application process. Soon thereafter, she got #hired as a Sr. Associate with QuickBooks Live. Tune in to watch Kylin tell her #hired journey from stay-at-home mom to a remote accounting career.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn
Michelle Corbet LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Recruitment Arsenal
How to Ace Your Virtual Interview
Intuit’s 80-Hour Bookkeeping Course

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Remote Roles Beyond Customer Service
Hired While Stationed OCONUS
Fed Up with Low Milspouse Pay
Hired: Why Gig Work is Perfect for Parents
When to be an Independent Contractor vs. Employee
Hired by a Fortune 500 Company

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Show Notes | December 16, 2022 | Episode 152

Looking for remote work that does NOT require a consistently quiet office? Go into tech! Tech was made for remote work and there is serious career progression and major money to be made in this field.

Tune in for the recap of our Coffee & Connect with Travelers where we go beyond customer service and explore Travelers’ open remote roles in tech.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn
Travelers LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Recruitment Arsenal
142. Are Travelers’ Benefits the G.O.A.T.?

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

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Show Notes | December 16, 2022 | Episode 151

Milspouse Katie had experience in banking and teaching. She didn’t know how that experience could translate into a remote career. That’s where transferrable skills come in.

VirtForce helped Katie narrow her remote job search and realize what wasn’t important on her resume. That helped her land part-time, remote work with Ad Junkies. A job she can do while stationed overseas in Okinawa, Japan.

Tune in now to hear firsthand from Katie why jobseekers should get creative and look outside their realm of expertise when looking for remote work while stationed OCONUS.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Katie Cremean LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Recruitment Arsenal

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Fed Up with Low Milspouse Pay
Hired: Why Gig Work is Perfect for Parents
When to be an Independent Contractor vs. Employee
Hired by a Fortune 500 Company
Climb the Career Ladder with Intuit
Hired: Save Examples of Your Best Work

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Show Notes | October 25, 2022 | Episode 150

You know what boils our blood? Military spouses not getting paid what they are worth. Highly educated and qualified people are going from making $100,000 a year to no more than $70,000 when they become a military spouse. What?! That's crazy and unfair.

Career-driven milspouses should not have to take a pay cut because they are working remotely or will PCS with their service member every few years. It is wrong to put a cap on military spouse pay because of the sacrifices they must make as a military family.

In this special joint episode, VirtForce and Spouse-ly, the e-commerce platform that offers quality products and services from military and first-responder families, are changing the narrative about military spouse pay.

Tune in to learn how you can stack your revenue streams by finding a remote role through VirtForce and selling your goods or services as a vendor on Spouse-ly.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Monica Fullerton LinkedIn

Kirsten Shrewsberry LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Recruitment Arsenal

Love and Lettering by Katie

Strawberry Designs

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

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VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

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VirtForce Linktree

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VirtForce introduced Milspouse Kaitlin to gig-based work. Now, she is getting paid per ticket to work for SimplrFlex while she pursues her dream career - working remotely as an accountant.

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Show Notes | October 10, 2022 | Episode 148

When looking for remote work on the VirtForce Recruitment Arsenal there are two types of employment status - employee or independent contractor. What's the difference?

We have VirtForce's own attorney breaking down the pros and cons of both, so you can figure out which employment classification works best for the kind of remote work you are looking for.

It comes down to more freedom or more support.

Independent contractors have the flexibility to set their own schedules and choose their own equipment, but they must have the discipline to save for retirement and do their own taxes. For employees, those things are taken care of by the company.

Tune in to find out how you can get #hired as an employee or work as an independent contractor.

00:00 🚀 Intro

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Peter Spanos LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Recruitment Arsenal

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

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Show Notes | August 19, 2022 | Episode 147

Remote work is not all gig-based or part-time. There are major Fortune 500 companies who are hiring military spouses in full-time, W-2 remote roles with benefits AND paths for promotion.

Milspouse Jennifer Hunter had some misconceptions about remote work. She did not think she would be able to find a steady career with steady income until VirtForce introduced Jennifer to Travelers, the second-largest writer of U.S. commercial property and casualty insurance.

Tune in to hear firsthand from Jennifer how she found the career-oriented remote opportunity she was looking for with this Fortune 500 company.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Jennifer Hunter LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Recruitment Arsenal

For 1THRIVE Discount Visit - https://bit.ly/vf-1thrive and use Code - VirtForce10

Ep 145. #Hired: Save Examples of your BEST Work

Ep 142. Are Travelers' Benefits the G.O.A.T.?

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

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Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Climb the Career Ladder with Intuit145. #Hired: Save Examples of Your Best Work144. Intuit's Academy is a Vibe143. #Hired: How to Find LEGIT Remote Work142. Are Travelers’ Benefits the G.O.A.T.?141. #Hired: Work from Home with Kids

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Show Notes | September 12, 2022 | Episode 146

Since partnering with VirtForce in 2019, 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗶𝘁 has built multiple ladders of 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣. From gaining skills to getting work experience, Intuit is creating a culture of continuous learning and growth.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗿: Gain skills and work experience by attending 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 Earn a Tax Level 1 Badge, which gives you the 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 you need to apply for a tax role Get #𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 as a Tax Associate Earn your EA and Intuit will provide you with a $𝟭,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗯𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘀 as well as cover your study materials along the way

VirtForce brought members of the milspo community together with Intuit for a live coffee chat. Tune in for a recap of this live event!

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Intuit Academy Tax Prep Level 1 Course: https://bit.ly/TaxLevel1Intuit's 80-Hour Bookkeeping Course: https://bit.ly/QBLCert

Job opening 1: Intuit Tax Associate (Non-Credentialed)Job opening 2: QuickBooks Live Expert Bookkeeper - Hiring MultipleJob opening 3: Intuit Credentialed Tax Expert - CPA, Enrolled Agent or Practicing Attorney - Seasonal Remote

How to Follow Up: Ep. 124 The Art of the Follow UpHow to Get 1-year of Tax Prep Experience: Ep. 96 How to Get 1 Year of Tax Prep ExperienceHow to Get Your Enrolled Agent License: Ep. 102 Certs That Empower Employees to be Entrepreneurs

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

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If your boss sends you an email that says, "This is some of your 𝗕𝗘𝗦𝗧 work," take a 𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑡! Saving real life examples of how you excel on the job could lead you to your next promotion or even your 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒋𝒐𝒃.

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Show Notes | August 8, 2022 | Episode 144

Intuit has launched a brand-new free training course - Intuit Academy, where you can gain skills and unlock opportunities to help you get #hired as a Tax Associate at Intuit for the upcoming tax season.

If you lack 1-3 years of tax prep experience, you can now bypass that hurdle by getting trained online, earning your Tax Level 1 Badge, and getting connected to a recruiter.

Since VirtForce first partnered with Intuit in 2019, the collaboration has resulted in free educational career resources to prepare you for a career in the finance industry including:

Intuit's pathway for Tax Associates to get their Enrolled Agent licenseIntuit's 80-Hour Bookkeeping Course Intuit Academy's Tax Level 1 Course

Tune in to learn more about how Intuit is dedicated to creating avenues for the military spouse, veteran and transitioning service member community to get credentialed to qualify to work for this incredible company with amazing benefits.

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Intuit Academy Tax Prep Level 1 Course: bit.ly/IntuitAcademyTaxIntuit's 80-Hour Bookkeeping Course: bit.ly/BookCertJoin the Intuit Talent Community: bit.ly/IntuitTalent

How to Get 1-year of Tax Prep Experience: Ep. 96 How to Get 1 Year of Tax Prep ExperienceHow to Get Your Enrolled Agent License: Ep. 102 Certs That Empower Employees to be Entrepreneurs

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

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Show Notes | August 1, 2022 | Episode 143

When military spouse Laura Alpuche began her remote job search, she started with traditional job boards, like many of us do. Unfortunately, she quickly realized many of the remote opportunities ended up being scams.

After Laura discovered VirtForce she learned how to avoid scams. She simply stopped using those big traditional job boards and exclusively focused on the VirtForce Recruitment Arsenal because she knew all of the remote jobs listed there are vetted and verified by the VirtForce team.

Tune in to hear how Laura landed a remote role as a Client Account Manager for Interview Valet - a job that is so LEGIT it will even PCS with her!

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Laura Alpuche LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Top 5 Red Flags for Spotting Scams
Top 5 Strategies for Protecting Yourself From Scams

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Recruitment Arsenal

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Are Travelers' Benefits the G.O.A.T.?141. #Hired: Work from Home with Kids 140. How the Enneagram Works139. #Hired: Get Certified with Salesforce138. What is the Enneagram?137. #Hired: Why Tailor Your Resume for Your Job Goal

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Show Notes | May 9, 2022 | Episode 142

Generous paid time off, childcare discounts, 401k, pension and vacation discounts, employee benefits for remote jobs at Travelers may be the G.O.A.T. - Greatest of ALL Time. We recently held a Coffee & Connect with Travelers, where we brought real VirtForce job seekers together with military spouses who got #hired in remote careers at Travelers.

Tune in to hear how a remote job at Travelers is so much more than a paycheck - it's a career!

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Travelers LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Travelers Insurance – Multiple Positions Available

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

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VirtForce Linktree

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Show Notes | April 25, 2022 | Episode 141

If you have kids at home, you need a remote job with flexibility, where you can work full-time, part-time or take a week off when needed.

Stacci, a milspouse and homeschooling mom to two kids, found a remote customer service job where she can log in and work at whatever time works best for her busy lifestyle.

Tune in to hear how Stacci's role with SimplrFlex allows her to earn the income she needs while also running her household full-time.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Stacci Cooper-Curtiss LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

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Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:140. How the Enneagram Works139. #Hired: Get Certified with Salesforce138. What is the Enneagram?137. #Hired: Why Tailor Your Resume for Your Job Goal136. How Do I Find a Remote Job – 5 Steps135. #Hired: Promoted in Under 12 Months

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Show Notes | April 18, 2022 | Episode 140

How can the Enneagram impact your remote job search? Knowing and understanding how the Enneagram works - aka the way you view the world - can help you in a job interview and the application process.

In the second part of this series about the Enneagram, VirtForce founder Kimber Hill is getting vulnerable. She's giving you a behind-the-scenes look at a one-on-one session she had with life coach and Enneagram Expert Kristen Earp that helped her truly show up at both work and at home.

Tune in to learn how this self-awareness journey can help you get closer to your ideal remote job and find better work life balance.

00:00 🚀 Intro01:06 ☕️ Meet Active-Duty Military Spouse and Enneagram Expert Kristen Earp 02:16 🧠 What are the Enneagram Types? 05:36 🔎 Use the Enneagram in Your Job Search 15:21 💼 Use the Enneagram to Define Your Career Path 18:56 🚩 Remote Career Red Flags 20:15 📣 How Do You Use the Enneagram as a Life Coach? 34:59 💪 Enneagram Growth and Stress Lines 38:58 📺 Kimber's Live Coaching Session with Kristen 51:07 💯 Take the Enneagram Assessment and Work with Kristen

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Kristen Earp LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Ep. 138. What is the Enneagram? Part 1

How to Take the Enneagram

kristenearp.com

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VirtForce Linktree

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Show Notes | April 11, 2022 | Episode 139

Do you want to make more than $88,000 a year? Then get certified with Salesforce! Admin jobs for this cloud-based customer relationship management software have grown 34% over the past year, and the average pay for a Salesforce Administrator has grown to more than $88,000 a year.Milspouse Theresa George was inspired to learn Salesforce because she listened to Navy Veteran and Salesforce guru David Nava talk about how fun and easy Salesforce is to learn on the VirtForce Podcast.Tune in to hear Theresa's journey from podcast listener to full-time certified Salesforce consultant.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Theresa George LinkedIn

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:2. How VetForce Can Help Military Spouses Launch A Career in Tech98. How to Get Your Next Career Cert Paid For100. Certs That Increase Salary By 20%102. Certs That Empower Employees to be Entrepreneurs104. Money Affiliated CertsTrailhead MilitarySalesforce Military AllianceHiring Our Heroes Salesforce FellowshipOmbudsman Cloud Care App

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Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

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VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

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Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:138. What is the Enneagram?137. #Hired: Why Tailor Your Resume for Your Job Goal136. How Do I Find a Remote Job – 5 Steps135. #Hired: Promoted in Under 12 Months134. Find Your Uniqueifier with CNN News Anchor Alum Lynn Smith133. #Hired: Do Whatever It Takes

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Show Notes | March 28, 2022| Episode 138

From entire Instagram accounts dedicated to your type to assessments from employers, the Enneagram is HOT right now.

What is the Enneagram you ask? I'm here with life coach and Enneagram expert Kristen Earp who is going to break down each personality type and how your type can help reveal what kind of work is right for you.

Tune in to unlock the secrets to each Enneagram type and understand yourself a little bit better.

00:00 🚀 Intro04:59 What is the Enneagram? 18:33 Type 8 - Tough Protector / Challenger 23:35 Type 9 - Adaptive Diplomat / Peacekeeper 27:02 Type 1 - Meticulous Judge / Perfectionist 31:34 Type 2 - Supportive Cheerleader / Helper35:39 Type 3 - Ambitious Taskmaster / Achiever 43:01 Type 4 - Sensitive Maverick / Individualist 47:47 Type 5 - Expert Observer / Investigator 52:16 Type 6 - Vigilant Questioner / Loyalist 01:01:10 Type 7 - Positive Dreamer / Enthusiast 1:07:02 Take the Enneagram Assessment

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Kristen Earp LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

How to Take the Enneagram

kristenearp.com

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Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

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Show Notes | March 21, 2022 | Episode 137

Milspouse Cailey Shivers first approached the remote job search as a numbers game, using an old resume to apply for as many remote jobs as she could, hoping one would stick.

When her ideal remote job came open, Cailey changed her strategy.

Coming straight from a government civilian job, she was using her federal resume to apply, which didn't make sense for an executive assistant role at Education First, a completely remote policy organization focused on improving public education.

So, Cailey did a deep dive into the VirtForce Podcast and revamped her resume over a single weekend using VirtForce's free Resume Boot Camp course.

Despite being on maternity leave, VirtForce Founder Kimber Hill responded with the most valuable in-depth critique with lots of constructive and actionable advice. Kimber told Cailey she thought she would be a great fit for this role. That extra boost and encouragement was what Cailey needed.

Tune in to hear about Education First's great internal company culture and how you too can get your resume critiqued just like Cailey.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Perfect Professional Shirt on Amazon

Resume Boot Camp: Ep. 47-60

Rocket Remote

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

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Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

How Do I Find a Remote Job - 5 Steps 135. #Hired: Promoted in Under 12 Months134. Find Your Uniqueifier with CNN News Anchor Alum Lynn Smith133. #Hired: Do Whatever It Takes132. Coffee & Connect with Freedom Learning Group131. #Hired: Leaning Into Confidence

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Show Notes | March 15, 2022 | Episode 136

Here's a question VirtForce gets asked a lot - how exactly do I find a remote job? In this episode, we are giving you Kimber's 5 simple steps to landing the remote job of your dreams - your remote unicorn! 🦄

Get your head in the game 2. Know and demonstrate your value 3. Define the remote work type you're looking for 4. Prepare your digital package 5. Start applying

Tune in to this week's video to catch the step-by-step guide with simple strategies that will help you narrow in on the kind of remote work that is right for you, and tangible steps for finding employers who are looking for remote talent.  

Kimber's sharing her closest secrets and advice with you. Tune in for a roadmap that will lead you to your remote unicorn.

00:00 🚀 Intro00:43 🏁 Where to start in the remote job market01:02 🧠 #1: Get your head right 04:06 💰 #2: Know and demonstrate your value08:05 🔎 #3: Define the remote work you are looking for16:49 💻 #4: Prepare your digital package 22:31 💼 #5: Go apply

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

VirtForce Private Facebook Group

VirtForce Recruitment Arsenal

What's App Job Alerts

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

How to Show Up on Camera with CNN News Anchor Alum Lynn Smith
Find Your Uniqueifier with CNN News Anchor Alum Lynn Smith
The Art of the Follow Up
Top 5 Red Flags for Spotting Scams
Top 5 Strategies for Protecting Yourself from Scams

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

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VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

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Show Notes | March 7, 2022 | Episode 135

Army Spouse Larrissa Pearce listened to a TED Talk that said, women often don't apply for jobs unless they meet 100% of the criteria, which is not always true of their male counterparts. Men will take a chance on themselves even if they have only 3 of the 5 qualities listed in the job description.That truth bomb lit a fire under Larrissa. It gave her the push she needed to take a chance on herself.

She took 30 seconds of courage to go for it and applied for a full-time remote position with Trusted Health, a tech savvy virtual company that places travel nurses all over the country.

Larrissa couldn’t believe she was able to find a full-time remote job in her field of study and expertise while stationed OCONUS in Germany.

Tune in to hear how Larrisa harnessed the power of networking and got #hired in a tech-savvy role.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Larrissa Pearce LinkedIn

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

Rocket Remote bit.ly/vf-rr

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Find Your Uniqueifier with CNN News Anchor Alum Lynn Smith133. #Hired: Do Whatever It Takes132. Coffee & Connect with Freedom Learning Group131. #Hired: Leaning Into Confidence130. How to Show Up on Camera with CNN News Anchor 132. Coffee & Connect with Freedom Learning Group

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Show Notes | February 28, 2022 | Episode 134

You're in a job interview and the hiring manager asks you a question you are completely unprepared for. What do you do? Find your "uniqueifier," says CNN News Anchor Alum Lynn Smith.From her days interviewing the biggest celebrities from Dolly Parton to Motley Crue, Lynn knows what makes a great interview and she's sharing her tricks of the trade with VirtForce. Lynn spent that past 15 years anchoring broadcasts on NBC News, MSNBC and CNN Headline News, including CNN’s popular news and lifestyle program Weekend Express.She recently went live with VirtForce to show how you can find your "uniqueifier" - that 10% edge that separates you from everyone else - and how to create a bucket of sound bites for your next job interview.

Tune in for the recap of this amazing live coaching from an industry expert.

00:00 🚀 Intro 02:07 🗞️ CNN News Anchor Alum Lynn Smith 08:30 📺 What Lynn learned from the news industry 13:20 🚫 Handling competition and rejection 22:53 💯 How to find your 10% edge 25:19 📣 How to talk in sound bites 30:02 💪 Lynn’s weakness 34:25 💼 Lynn’s career pivot 38:17 🚗 Control vs. command 42:05 👶 Lynn’s advice for working parents 44:33 🏆 MTP: Most Trusted Person 47:10 ☕️ Connect with Lynn

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Lynn Smith LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

How to Show Up on Camera with CNN News Anchor Alum Lynn Smith

TV News Academy

Superpower Quiz

All Good Things with Lynn Smith

Stroller Coaster Podcast

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

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Show Notes | February 22, 2022 | Episode 133

Milspouse Anacani Walters was successfully running a standup paddle board fitness business in Hawaii, but when the COVID-19 pandemic put group fitness classes on hold, she needed to pivot to remote work.

While her business is her passion, Anacani needed to find another form of income to support her household.

She doesn't look at getting a part-time job as a failure in her own business but having the passion to do whatever it takes to keep her business alive.

Tune in to hear how Anacani used VirtForce to land not only one amazing remote opportunity, but two!

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

Rocket Remote

PHAT Mermaids

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Coffee & Connect with Freedom Learning Group131. #Hired: Leaning Into Confidence130. How to Show Up on Camera with CNN News Anchor Alum Lynn Smith129. #Hired: Trust the VirtForce System128. How to Handle Rejection127. #Hired: Use Resources to Better Yourself

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Show Notes | February 14, 2022 | Episode 132

How did a former college basketball coach turned military spouse become the CEO of a company? That journey is just one example of how education services provider Freedom Learning Group is making it possible for milspouses to reenter the workforce and continue their careers.

Recently, we held a Coffee & Connect sponsored by Freedom Learning Group, a 100% remote military family-owned company. In this one-on-one virtual chat, we brought VirtForce members together with Freedom Learning Group's leadership team, including their CEO Elizabeth O'Brien, their heads of recruitment and talent acquisition, and two military spouses who are thriving in remote careers there.

Tune in to hear about Freedom Learning Group's explosive growth and how you could find yourself getting #hired at this amazing remote company.

00:00 🚀 Intro02:02 ☕️ Welcome from VirtForce Founder Kimber Hill04:20 🏀 Freedom Learning Group CEO Elizabeth O'Brien 17:33 💼 Freedom Learning Group Recruiting Coordinator Angie Hood 22:15 🧮 Freedom Learning Group Subject Matter Expert Amy Jones26:20 🧬 Freedom Learning Group Subject Matter Expert, Instructional Designer & Project Manager Coston Daugherty31:10 🙋🏻‍♀️ Audience Q&A 55:10 ☕️ Closing Remarks

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Freedom Learning Group Talent Profile

Freedom Learning Group White Paper

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

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Show Notes | February 7, 2022 | Episode 131

Do you ever get in your own head about something? Do you hear that voice of doubt when going for something new?

That's where milspouse Jaqi York found herself when she decided to pursue a remote career with Intuit as a QuickBooks Live bookkeeper.

She had 25 years of experience in the financial field, but she took a 10-year break when she pivoted to massage therapy and yoga instruction.

Jaqi clearly had the experience. She just needed the confidence to apply.

Tune in to hear firsthand from Jaqi how VirtForce helped her lean into her confidence and believe in herself again.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Jaqi York LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Ace Your Virtual Interview

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

How to Show Up on Camera with CNN News Ancor Alum Lynn Smith 129. #Hired: Trust the VirtForce System128. How to Handle Rejection 127. #Hired: Use Resources to Better Yourself 126. Coffee & Connect with Travelers125. #Hired: Take Time to Find Something You Love

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Show Notes | January 31, 2022 | Episode 130

Video conferencing on platforms like Zoom is not going anywhere!

If you want to excel in the virtual job market, you've got to get comfortable on these platforms, and that means showing up on camera.

Today's guest can show you a thing or two about showing up on camera.

Tune in now for advice from CNN News anchor alum Lynn Smith!

00:00 🚀 Intro01:38 📹 How to Show Up on Zoom 3:00 🔍 Must Be Visually Appealing 4:02 📚 Background 4:52 💡 Lighting 7:20 👀 Where Should I Look? 9:25 📺 TV News Academy

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

TV News Academy

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

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About Our SponsorStay At Home Profit provides education, consulting, scholarships and career opportunities for military spouses and veterans in remote work through virtual assisting & digital marketing in an authentic and transparent environment. Stay At Home Profit spent 4 years developing and perfecting multiple certification programs that enhance military spouse’s and veterans’ skill sets and experience to get hired remotely in the digital workforce.

Join the Stay At Home Profit family today and check out our 5-week RVAC Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate program at bit.ly/vf-profit.

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Show Notes | January 24, 2022 | Episode 129

"Trust the system." That's something milspouse Christine Falvo has learned in her new role working remotely for Travelers, and the same applies for VirtForce.

"Trust what you see on VirtForce," she says. The jobs are solid. They have been vetted. VirtForce has done the work. If you see an opportunity that interests you - apply!

VirtForce was created to help milspouses like Christine learn to systemize the remote work process. The primary goal is to streamline access to vetted virtual employment that will complement the mobile military lifestyle.

Christine found just that, and she sees the payoff especially with a company like Travelers that offers incredible benefits and an incredible work culture.

Tune in to hear firsthand from Christine why onboarding with Travelers has been one of the best work experiences she has ever had.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Ace Your Virtual Interview

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

Rocket RemoteFreemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Premium HERE.

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

How to Handle Rejection 127. #Hired: Use Resources to Better Yourself 126. Coffee & Connect with Travelers125. #Hired: Take Time to Find Something You Love124. The Art of the Follow Up123. #Hired: Stay Open-Minded

Join the Stay At Home Profit family today and check out our 5-week RVAC Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate program at bit.ly/vf-profit.

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Show Notes | November 15, 2021 | Episode 128

Everybody has been rejected. Think of rejection as the universe's way of saying that job is not right for you, or you're not quit right for that position.

It might not feel like it right now, but rejection is actually an opportunity to refine your job search.

We're going over 5 common mistakes you could be making during the application process and how to fix them. We also have 3 ways you can prepare for your next job interview.

Tune in now to see what you can be doing to get ready for the right remote opportunity for you.

00:00 ???? Intro3:10 ???? Understand Where You Are 3:53 ????️ How to Know If You're at Level 1 5:14 ☎️ 5 Common Mistakes 5:25 ???? #1 You're Not Being Intentional 6:12 ???? #2 You're Not Modifying Your Resume 7:16 ✉️ #3 You're Not Submitting a Cover Letter8:19 ???? #4 You're Not Getting Creative 8:56 ???? #5 Quantity Over Quality 9:51 ???? Resource - Rocket Remote 10:50 ???? Resource - Live Resume Critiques12:38 ????️ How to Know If You're at Level 213:49 ????️ 3 Ways to Prepare for Your Next Interview 14:01 ???? Resource - How to Ace Your Virtual Interview 14:25 ???? #1 Prepare, Prepare, Prepare 18:14 ???? #2 The Art of the Follow Up 19:19 ???? #3 Asking 20:39 ???? A. Ask for Another Interview 22:13 ???? B. Ask for Feedback 23:09 ???? C. Ask When You Can Apply Again

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Rocket RemoteFreemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Premium HERE.Live Resume Critiques July 28, 2020August 4, 2020October 20, 2020November 18, 2020How to Ace Your Virtual Interview124. The Art of the Follow Up

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Join the Stay At Home Profit family today and check out our 5-week RVAC Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate program at bit.ly/vf-profit.

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Show Notes | November 8, 2021 | Episode 127

Are you stationed outside the continental US or are you headed there soon? This challenge can feel overwhelming. It can feel like your career opportunities are like sand slipping through your hands.

There is hope for you. Today, we meet Abigail Grizzle who has four pieces of advice to share with you.

Her story is one of overcoming the adversity of being stationed OCONUS and overcoming the adversity of losing her US-based job. Abby's story is one of career pivot and innovation.

Tune in now to hear it firsthand from Abby.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Ace Your Virtual Interview

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Coffee & Connect with Travelers125. #Hired: Take Time to Find Something You Love124. The Art of the Follow Up123. #Hired: Stay Open-Minded122. Coffee & Connect with Intuit121. #Hired: Narrow Down Your Options

Join the Stay At Home Profit family today and check out our 5-week RVAC Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate program at bit.ly/vf-profit.

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Show Notes | November 1, 2021 | Episode 126

Have you ever been sitting there reading a job description and wondering whether or not it's the right job for you? We've all been there!

We recently brought together job seekers and real military spouses who got #hired at Travelers for a casual chat over coffee. These military spouses told us how a remote career at Travelers fits their military lifestyle.

Tune in to hear how this Fortune 500 company is adapting to accommodate the military community.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Travelers LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Jim McMahon - jmcmahon@travelers.com

Chris Prieto - cprieto@travelers.com

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Join the Stay At Home Profit family today and check out our 5-week RVAC Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate program at bit.ly/vf-profit.

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This is a SNEAK PEEK of VirtForce’s new show The Duty Station Download, a video interview series coming to you soon!

In this episode, we’ve pulled together a compilation of bases to give you Fall Festivities and some spooky haunts straight from the mouths of military spouses and veterans who have lived there.

Today, we’re talking about how to spend your Fall in:

00:57 ???? Washington DC 01:36 ???? Camp Lejeune 02:06 ???? Cannon Air Force Base 02:41 ???? Colorado Springs 07:32 ???? Most Haunted Military Installations 08:35 ???? Fort Hood 09:15 ???? West Point

Tune in to hear about the best pumpkin patches, great places to eat Thanksgiving dinner and one very haunted ski lodge outside of Colorado Springs.

????Youtube: https://bit.ly/vf-youtube1????Sign up for the Duty Station Download Newsletter: https://bit.ly/vf-dsd

So, what's The Duty Station Download you ask? It goes like this.

When your spouse gets orders to a new base your head is swimming with questions – Where should I live? What fun things are there to do? Who is going to cut my hair?! Don’t stress!

We’re giving you the 411 on the best of what your new duty station has to offer.

Each week, Kimber will sit down with someone who has actually been stationed at that base, and find out everything you need to know, ranging from great places to live to where you can find the best slice of pizza.

Subscribe! More episodes will be uploaded soon!

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Show Notes | October 25, 2021 | Episode 125

Has your career ever led you in a totally surprising direction? VirtForce Member Maria Gaines never saw herself working in accounting or bookkeeping, but now she loves her new career with QuickBooks Live.

This stay at home mom of three little boys and a soon-to-be little girl wanted to contribute to her family's finances, but she needed something flexible she could do while raising her children.

With Intuit, the maker of QuickBooks Live, she found a community that understands the challenges that go along with the military lifestyle and a flexible, part-time opportunity that accommodates her work-life balance.

Tune in to hear how the remote community at Intuit helps Maria feel less lonely as a military spouse.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Coffee & Connect with Intuit121. #Hired: Narrow Down Your Options120. Get Organized with Erin Condren119. #Hired: Research Behavioral Interview Questions118. Intuit’s Free Bookkeeping Cert for Milspouses117. #Hired: Be Ready When Opportunity Strikes

Join the Stay At Home Profit family today and check out our 5-week RVAC Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate program at bit.ly/vf-profit.

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Show Notes | October 18, 2021 | Episode 124

You did it! You landed an interview for your ideal remote job, but the work doesn’t stop there. Now, it’s time to learn the art of the follow up.

Did you know the follow up starts before the interview even happens? That’s right. We’re going to show you how to make a human connection with the hiring manager that will set you apart from the other candidates.

Tune in to master the art of the follow up in just 5 easy steps.

5 steps

???? 00:00 Intro???? 01:50 1. Start before the interview begins ???? 04:40 2. Look for “sticking points”???? 06:05 3. “What’s the best time to follow up?”???? 07:05 4. Send a “thank you” note???? 10:20 5. Send a follow up

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Launching LinkedIn from VirtForce’s online school Rocket Remote Freemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Premium HERE.

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Join the Stay At Home Profit family today and check out our 5-week RVAC Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate program at bit.ly/vf-profit.

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Show Notes | October 12, 2021 | Episode 123

Kelly was hoping to find a "side hustle" on the VirtForce Job Board, but instead she found a full-time leadership role at a startup.

Kelly was casually keeping an eye on the job board when an interesting opportunity popped up - the scoping engineer role with Flagsin Group, a small veteran-owned consultant company.

She applied for the scoping engineer position, but ended up getting #hired as the lead engineer and project manager for the entire scoping project.

Tune in to hear how staying open-minded led Kelly to a career that is keeping her happy, fulfilled and in her realm of expertise.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Kelly Collins LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Coffee & Connect with Intuit121. #Hired: Narrow Down Your Options120. Get Organized with Erin Condren119. #Hired: Research Behavioral Interview Questions118. Intuit’s Free Bookkeeping Cert for Milspouses117. #Hired: Be Ready When Opportunity Strikes

Join the Stay At Home Profit family today and check out our 5-week RVAC Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate program at bit.ly/vf-profit.

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Show Notes | October 4, 2021 | Episode 122

Wouldn't it be great if you could grab a cup of coffee with your future employer?

Recently, Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, QuickBooks and Mint, sponsored 100 free cups of coffee and invited 100 military spouses to a virtual Q&A about their hiring process.

VirtForce brought together members who got #hired at Intuit with jobseekers for a casual conversation about how a career at Intuit fits their military lifestyle.

Tune in to hear what it's like to work behind the scenes at this amazing Fortune 100 company.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Intuit LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor Certification Instructions

Enrolled Agent (EA) Credential Assistance Program

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Join the Stay At Home Profit family today and check out our 5-week RVAC Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate program at bit.ly/vf-profit.

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Show Notes | September 27, 2021 | Episode 121

AnnaLissa Theodule started out by looking for a temporary part-time role, but found a career she loves through VirtForce.

Before AnnaLissa joined VirtForce, she was aimlessly applying for six months. After using advice from the VirtForce Podcast, she narrowed her intentions and found a job she loves in just 4 weeks.

As a business development associate at Workplaceless, AnnaLissa found an employer who understands the military lifestyle and her responsibilities as a new mom.

Tune in to hear how AnnaLissa's job search completely changed when she narrowed down her options.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

AnnaLissa Theodule LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Rocket RemoteFreemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Premium HERE.

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

How to Negotiate Like a Pro

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Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Get Organized with Erin Condren119. #Hired: Research Behavioral Interview Questions118. Intuit’s Free Bookkeeping Cert for Milspouses117. #Hired: Be Ready When Opportunity Strikes116. LinkedIn Networking & Connections115. LinkedIn Posts & Content

Join the Stay At Home Profit family today and check out our 5-week RVAC Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate program at bit.ly/vf-profit.

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Show Notes | September 20, 2021 | Episode 120

It's time to get organized, color code your job search and live a more stress-free lifestyle with the organization gurus at Erin Condren. In this episode, we cover how to live your most graceful and well-planned life in a live recorded workshop with the Erin Condren team.

So how can a notebook or planner help you live your best life? What is it about writing out your goals that can propel you to success? All of these mysteries and more are uncovered by our teacher and friend Mechaela from Erin Condren's flagship store in Orange County.

Plus, we're telling you how to get $10 off your next Erin Condren purchase. Grab a pen and your planner or notebook and tune in now!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Erin Condren Design LinkedIn

Mechaela Vardoulakis LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Quiz: What Type of Planner is Best for Me? - Erin Condren

Rocket RemoteFreemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Premium HERE.

Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate Program

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

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Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

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Join the Stay At Home Profit family today and check out our 5-week RVAC Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate program at bit.ly/vf-profit.

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Show Notes | September 13, 2021 | Episode 119

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partner Stay at Home Profit.

After looking for virtual work off and on for years, Lauralee Lambert got serious about her remote job search, and landed a fun and exciting remote role with Travelers in just two months.

Lauralee's advice for those who are still looking is to utilize VirtForce’s free resume writing and job interview prep resources, especially how to answer behavioral interview questions. Those can be tricky, so it's important to prepare and practice!

Tune in to hear why Lauralee loves working for this industry leader that is creating remote opportunities for military spouses.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Lauralee Lambert LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Rocket RemoteFreemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Premium HERE.

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

VirtForce Career Coach Partners

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

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Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Intuit's Free Bookkeeping Cert for Milspouses117. #Hired: Be Ready When Opportunity Strikes116. LinkedIn Networking & Connections115. LinkedIn Posts & Content114. LinkedIn Recommendations113. LinkedIn Experience & Endorsements

Join the Stay At Home Profit family today and check out our 5-week RVAC Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate program at bit.ly/vf-profit.

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Show Notes | September 7, 2021 | Episode 118

If you've been struggling with the experience paradox, we've got a way to overcome it - experience requirements are #canceled at QuickBooks Live because Intuit's new 80-hour bookkeeping certification is officially here.

This course sets the standard for bookkeeping in the US, and it can help you erase some experience requirements that may be holding you back. In this episode, we're telling you everything you need to know about this four-course program that is available right now through Coursera and FREE to the military community.

Tune in to hear how you can overcome lack of education, lack of experience and launch a bookkeeping career from home.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Intuit LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Rocket RemoteFreemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Premium HERE.

Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate Program105. Experience Requirements are #CANCELED at QuickBooks103. Bookkeeping Side Hustle Certs98. How to Get Your Next Career Cert Paid For18. Intuit® Partnership Reveal

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

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About Our Sponsor

Stay At Home Profit provides education, consulting, scholarships and career opportunities for military spouses and veterans in remote work through virtual assisting & digital marketing in an authentic and transparent environment. Stay At Home Profit spent 4 years developing and perfecting multiple certification programs that enhance military spouse’s and veterans’ skill sets and experience to get hired remotely in the digital workforce.

Join the Stay At Home Profit family today and check out our 5-week RVAC Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate program at bit.ly/vf-profit.

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Show Notes | September 2, 2021 | BONUS Episode

Each day, 22 veterans lose their battle with post traumatic stress right here on American soil. The recent withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan could elevate the risk of self-inflicted death rates of our service members and veterans. Retired Army Lt. Col. Olivia Nunn, and host of The Soldier for Life Podcast, reminds us why we need to check-in on the emotional and mental health of our service members, friends and loved ones during this difficult time. Olivia offers a unique perspective having recently retired from the US Army, a career that spanned 20 years and took her to The Pentagon, Fort Hood, Texas and West Point, as well as three tours to Iraq. Tune in to hear her thoughts on what the American military is struggling with right now, and how you can help change #22ADAY.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email podcast@virtforce.us and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

The Soldier for Life Podcast

The #22ADAY Movement

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Show Notes | August 30, 2021 | Episode 117

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partner Stay at Home Profit.

Milspouse Victoria Strand applied for her dream job. After a month of not hearing back, she took a job with Instant Teams. On her first day of work, she got an email from the other company. They wanted to interview her.

Victoria couldn't let this opportunity pass her by. So, she poured over VirtForce's resources, listening to podcast episodes and taking the free online course How to Ace Your Virtual Interview.

With a fresh understanding of how to impress in a virtual job interview, Victoria landed her dream job!

Victoria realizes it's not ideal to leave one job for another so quickly, but it happens. "You never know when opportunity is going to strike," she says. Victoria had to follow her heart and do what was best for her life and career. It may not always be the best timing, but it all works out in the end.

Tune in to hear where Victoria is working now, and her advice for those who are still trying to land their ideal remote job.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email podcast@virtforce.us and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Victoria Strand LinkedIn

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Rocket RemoteFreemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Premium HERE.

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

LinkedIn Networking & Connections115. LinkedIn Posts & Content114. LinkedIn Recommendations113. LinkedIn Experience & Endorsements112. LinkedIn About Section111. LinkedIn Cover & Profile Photos

Join the Stay At Home Profit family today and check out our 5-week RVAC Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate program at bit.ly/vf-profit.

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Show Notes | August 23, 2021 | Episode 116

In the last 10 episodes we have programmed your LinkedIn profile to be a successful job lead funnel and to passively help you climb that career ladder.

If you really want to rev-up your LinkedIn job search, you can take initiative and start networking on your own. You never know who the person in your connections list is who could open the door to your next remote job offer.

Tune in to the final episode of our LinkedIn series, and we'll teach you how to build and nurture your network on LinkedIn. You'll have your next job offer before you know it!

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email podcast@virtforce.us and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Rocket RemoteFreemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Premium HERE.

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

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Show Notes | August 16, 2021 | Episode 115

Are you actively searching for a job or actively career climbing?

If so, you should be sharing and engaging with content about the industry you are interested in several times a week. You want to bring relative, career-related information to LinkedIn because your future boss and colleagues will likely see it.

Did you know under the Activity tab, a future employer can see everything you have liked, commented on, shared and created?

Here's a good rule of thumb. Don't share or engage with content that is:

PoliticalPersonal Religious

In the next two episodes, we'll show you how to put together a personal game plan for what you should be sharing on LinkedIn. Get ready to take that next step!

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email podcast@virtforce.us and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Rocket RemoteFreemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Premium HERE.

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

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Show Notes | August 9, 2021 | Episode 114

On LinkedIn there is a technique to acquiring an impressive list of recommendations. There is also a technique to building high quantities of endorsements on a limited number of skill sets.

All we're asking is for a little reciprocity.

Reciprocity simply means giving and receiving. And on LinkedIn, it should go in that order. If you give a great recommendation, all you're asking in return, honey, is to get one on your LinkedIn profile.

It's fun. It's easy, and it can help you build and nurture your digital friendships.

Tune in to hear VirtForce founder Kimber Hill spill her secret sauce for getting more of her friends and colleagues to invest their time in giving her great recommendations and endorsements.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email podcast@virtforce.us and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Rocket RemoteFreemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Premium HERE.

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

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Show Notes | August 2, 2021 | Episode 113

People are going to look you up on LinkedIn. End of discussion.

When they get to your profile, what you choose to include or omit will either strengthen your position as an expert in your field or confuse the visitor.

You must be careful about what you include in education, work experience, skills and even your accomplishments. It all directly impacts how you are endorsed. How you show up in the algorithm. And what a recruiter or hiring manager might think when they view your profile.

But don't worry. Don't let all of this stress you out! It's quite simple to navigate. In this episode, we have step-by-step best practices to help you succeed in these areas.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email podcast@virtforce.us and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Rocket RemoteFreemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Premium HERE.

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

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Show Notes | July 26, 2021 | Episode 112

Your About section on LinkedIn is like your open cover letter to the world. This is where you get to show off your personality and your career highlights.

We're teaching you a 3-part formula to cultivate the RIGHT message that will intrigue hiring managers and invite recruiters to contact you.

Tune in to learn the formula! We're also breaking down and dissecting an example for each of the three components.

When you're finished and you've completed your About section, please email it to podcast@virtforce.wpengine.com. We want to see your finished products!

If you are a new listener, we'd love to hear from you. Please email us to let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Rocket RemoteFreemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Premium HERE.

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

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Show Notes | July 19, 2021 | Episode 111

Did you know the human brain can process images 60,000 times faster than text? Then, it's no surprise that your LinkedIn profile should have some stellar photos! That includes your profile photo and your cover photo.

Here are some more stats for you, a professional photo on LinkedIn gets 14 times more views than a candid photo, and about 90% of LinkedIn users are leaving their cover photo blank. Don't leave that advertising space untapped!

Contrary to your mental blocks, no graphic design experience is necessary to create a great cover photo, and you can have a stellar head shot without paying hundreds of dollars for a professional photographer. We are going to transform your LinkedIn with a new cover photo and new profile photo in less than a day and for zero dollars.

Tune in! We're teaching you how to hack these two very visual parts of your LinkedIn profile for immediate success.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email podcast@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Rocket RemoteFreemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Rocket Remote and complete your candidate profile to get access to our Premium course.

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

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Show Notes | July 12, 2021 | Episode 110

Get ready to accomplish the most important thing you can do to get your LinkedIn off the ground and moving in the right direction.

We're showing you how to use your keywords to build your digital elevator pitch, which you'll use as your LinkedIn Headline.

Now that the groundwork has been laid, it's time to start shaping your LinkedIn content. Defining who you are and what you want will set the tone for the rest of your profile.

We have a secret formula to help you craft the perfect digital elevator pitch. Tune in to get started!

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email podcast@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Rocket Remote Freemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Rocket Remote and complete your candidate profile to get access to our Premium course.

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

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VirtForce Linktree

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Show Notes | July 6, 2021 | Episode 109

Did you know you have your own set of custom keywords? These are the words that get you found by recruiters and hiring managers on the social search engine that is LinkedIn.

Keywords are the things you are good at and how you get discovered on LinkedIn.

We have a 3-step exercise that will help you discover your keywords, which will serve as the foundation of your LinkedIn profile and digital elevator pitch.

Tune in now to uncover the keywords that belong to you as an authentic career seeker.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email podcast@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Rocket Remote Freemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Rocket Remote and complete your candidate profile to get access to our Premium course.

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

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Show Notes | June 30, 2021 | Episode 108

It's time to get real, show up and let your authenticity shine! Before you can go after the remote career of your dreams, you've got to figure out what you really want - not only for your career, but out of life.

Get ready to dig deep, we're doing some soul searching today.

We're walking you through an interactive exercise to get to know who you really are, so you can tailor your LinkedIn profile to attract your ideal job and ultimately fulfill your life's purpose.

Grab a pen and paper we're getting started right now! Or subscribe to Premium to get access to the digital LinkedIn Launchpad worksheet.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email podcast@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Rocket Remote Freemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Rocket Remote and complete your candidate profile to get access to our Premium course.

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

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VirtForce Linktree

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VirtForce is making its online school Rocket Remote free to the military community.

"I'm really excited about this transition because at VirtForce our goal is to get military spouses, transitioning service members and veterans #hired," said VirtForce founder Kimber Hill. "By removing this barrier of having to pay for this course, it's going to help a lot more people get their resumes ready, get interview ready and get LinkedIn ready, so that they stand a much better chance in the remote job market."

Now, military spouses, transitioning service members and veterans have access to Resume Boot Camp, How to Ace Your Virtual Interview and Launching LinkedIn at no cost.

Subscribe to Rocket Remote and complete your candidate profile to get access today.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

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Show Notes | June 22, 2021 | Episode 107

Many people make the mistake of keeping their LinkedIn profile very broad. Having too broad of a LinkedIn profile screams of desperation. It says, "I am in need of a job so badly I would take anything!"

We want to flip the script and have an employer say, "I will give you any job you want at my company. I need you that badly."

Here is what you need to go from a broad LinkedIn profile to a tailored one:

Know your core values What you're good at What job you want Who you most want to help

You may not know the answers to these 4 questions yet. You may be feeling nervous about even approaching the topic because you've never taken the time to examine yourself and what you really want.

Don't worry! We're going to walk you through it, and we're going to have a lot of fun doing it!

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email podcast@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Rocket Remote Freemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Rocket Remote and complete your candidate profile to get access to our Premium course.

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

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VirtForce Linktree

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Show Notes | June 15, 2021 | Episode 106

If your impression of LinkedIn is that it's a social media platform for working professionals, you're not totally wrong, but you're not 100% right. LinkedIn is actually a social search engine.

In this course series, I'm teaching you everything you need to know about LinkedIn and how to do it right by creating a stellar LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn can play a huge part in your remote work journey. Some of VirtForce's largest hiring partners emphasis LinkedIn so much they've built their entire hiring and screening process around an applicant's LinkedIn profile.

Tune in to learn what you need to know to stand out!

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email podcast@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Rocket Remote Freemium Course (Episodes 106-120) Subscribe to Premium HERE.

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

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VirtForce Linktree

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Show Notes | June 1, 2021 | Episode 105

Have you ever been caught in the experience paradox? It's when you can't get the required experience from not having enough years of experience in the first place. Frustrating!

That's where milspouse Ellen Harrison found herself after staying home for 7 years to raise her small children. Same for Army wife Kimberly Grant-Holliday, who had gaps in her resume from frequent PCSs, all while homeschooling her 3 children.

After discovering VirtForce, Ellen and Kimberly underwent online training, became certified, and ultimately got #hired at QuickBooks Live and TurboTax.

Last year, Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, QuickBooks and Mint, partnered with VirtForce in an effort to hire more military spouses like Ellen and Kimberly. Since then, Intuit received a lot of feedback about how milspouses would love to be a bookkeeper with QuickBooks Live, but they can’t fulfill the 1 year of experience requirement.

So, Intuit decided to take action and do something about it.

Intuit is putting an end to the experience paradox by CANCELING the 1 year of bookkeeping experience requirement for its remote QuickBooks Live bookkeeping roles.

Intuit has heard military spouses' struggles with resume gaps, so they are partnering with Coursera to offer a FREE 80-hour, self-paced bookkeeping course that will replace the 1 year of experience requirement for the military community.

Tune in to hear more about how this major player is listening to the challenges of military life and setting a new standard for the bookkeeping industry.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email podcast@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Intuit LinkedIn

QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor Certification Instructions

Enrolled Agent (EA) Credential Assistance Program

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60): https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium: http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate Program

Intuit® Partnership Reveal98. How to Get Your Next Career Cert Paid For103. Bookkeeping Side Hustle Certs

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

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VirtForce Linktree

About Our Sponsor

Stay At Home Profit provides education, consulting, scholarships and career opportunities for military spouses and veterans in remote work through virtual assisting & digital marketing in an authentic and transparent environment. Stay At Home Profit spent 4 years developing and perfecting multiple certification programs that enhance military spouse's and veterans' skill sets and experience to get hired remotely in the digital workforce.

Join the Stay At Home Profit family today and check out our 5-week RVAC Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate program at bit.ly/vf-profit.

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Show Notes | May 17, 2021 | Episode 104

Do you love planning for the future? Has working virtually for a banking, insurance or investment firm ever crossed your mind? Then, it may be time for you to become a certified financial planner, sell life insurance or get your Series 65 registration.

Today, we have two guests to fill you in on the registrations and certs needed to be successful in this field. One comes from the corporate side and the other from the entrepreneurial side.

Our first guest Sheiva Dadkhah is an Army Ranger spouse who pivoted her career from banking to working as the Housing Manager for the US Army Management Command at Fort Story in Georgia.

Her career journey started as a bank teller at age 16. Sheiva worked her way up in the financial industry by obtaining the Series 6 and Series 63 registrations, which enabled her to sell annuities, mutual funds, stocks, and bonds.

After obtaining the Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) Certification, Sheiva had the opportunity to advance to other positions within Navy Federal Credit Union. When Sheiva married into the military four years ago, she had peace of mind that she could continue her career since there’s usually a branch near each duty station.

AFC is a cert that will always follow you. If you lost your job or had to PCS, you can find so many different job openings seeking an Accredited Financial Counselor.

Sheiva is also an adjunct instruction. It is her passion to one day become a fulltime professor. It was Sheiva’s certifications, licenses and ultimately real-world experience that landed her the opportunity to teach a masters level course in an MBA program.

With the Series 6 and 63 military spouses can become financial advisors, financial reps, and retirement reps with life insurance and investment companies. Accredited financial counselors can obtain positions such as financial counselor, financial advisor, and budget analyst.

Sheiva also sells life insurance as an addition to her primary job. As a state license, military spouses can easily obtain a new license without having to find a primary job right after a PCS.

Throughout your career if you ever have the opportunity to obtain a cert or license, go for it, Sheiva said, especially if the organization you are working for is wiling to pay. Even if you do not think you need it now, you never know where a cert will take you in the future.

Our second guest, Scott Tucker is a 2002 West Point grad who left the military in 2008 and has been working with Active Duty and veterans ever since.

As the founder of US VetWealth, a lifestyle and financial consulting brand that helps service members go from paychecks and government benefits to wealth and liberty, Scott refuses to confirm to the way we “should” live and work.

As a former financial advisor working for a big firm, Scott used to have to smoodge with people on the golf course. Now, he doesn’t have to convince anybody. People come to him for the kind of financial advice they are after.

Usually, success comes to those who are the most well-known, Scott says, like Dave Ramsey or Dr. Phil. However, in this day and age if you have enough digital skills and are willing to put yourself out there, you can share the value you can bring to others via YouTube, podcasts, and social media.

Instead of saving for retirement and hope the stock market works out, US VetWealth finds service members are getting out of the military in their 30 and 40s. With a whole life ahead of them instead of following the traditional model of replacing one job with another, Scott asks veterans what they actually want to do.

Instead of retirement, Scott asks military families to think about financial planning for the now. These days, you can work to live instead of live to work.

If you are collecting a pension in your 40s. Instead of thinking, “I make a few extra thousand a month, but I still need to get another job,

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Show Notes | May 10, 2021 | Episode 103

If you are looking for a side hustle (or a full career) that is perfect for virtual work look no further. Today, we’re talking about bookkeeping certifications that will get you #hired.

Bookkeeping is an early adopter of the remote staff augmentation model. If you look at the past 5 to 10 years, companies realized they could be so much more profitable if they got rid of the expense of the office and let their team members work from home.

With the organization and discipline, it takes to run a military household, the military spouse community is made up of a lot of people who would be a natural fit for bookkeeping. It is a broad field for people who are organized, and who have an interest in numbers and client service.

If you have administrative skills and you like technology, accounting and bookkeeping are becoming tech-focused fields. And the best news about that is, the software used in bookkeeping is all very learnable.

“It is a skilled discipline, but lots of spouses want a hard job where they can use their brain,” says Kate Josephine Johnson. “It is high stakes because you are dealing with people’s livelihoods.”

After getting two bookkeeping certs, Kate started her own bookkeeping business – Heritage Business Services.

She also created the Bookkeeping Side Hustle Group on Facebook for people who are interested in learning more about bookkeeping as a side hustle (or a main hustle) to earn more income.

Kate’s mentor was an F-18 pilot, who taught himself bookkeeping a few years before he retired. He was a bookkeeper for two years while still in the military. Now, he has a brick-and-mortar practice with a few employees.

You don’t have to have a degree to do bookkeeping. Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, QuickBooks and Mint, has two bookkeeping certifications – QuickBooks Online and ProAdvisor.

Kate encourages anyone interested in bookkeeping to start by getting their QuickBooks Online certification.

“The brand recognition of QuickBooks Online is huge. Everyone has heard of QuickBooks,” Kate says. “It’s a great place to start. Also, if you try to get the cert and you hate it, that’s a good signal that you are not right for this career field.”

If you already know accounting and principles of bookkeeping, you could achieve the QuickBooks Online cert in a weekend. If you don’t, Kate encourages you to take the time to learn the software through free online resources.

Kate got her QuickBooks Online cert about three years ago. She then got Intuit’s ProAdvisor cert 18 months later.

It was time for her to become a better bookkeeper and she found studying for the ProAdvisor exam was some of the best bookkeeping education she has received. There have been different points throughout having her own business that Kate needed a push to know she could do it. Passing the ProAdvisor was certainly one of them.

Intuit offers training to obtain both the QuickBooks Online cert and the ProAdvisor cert. There are two options for studying and taking the exam – self paced or a webinar.

Kate encourages you to sign up for the webinar because it includes recordings and searchable resources. The training enables you to sit and study the module and then immediately take the test. Don’t try to study all at once.

The ProAdvisor exam is much more advanced. One of the modules for example is multicurrency for clients who do business all over the world. It took Kate two hours a day for 10 weekdays to pass. The slower you go the better because it is a tricky test.

You must recertify every summer. Last year, it was a three-module exam essentially teaching you what’s new in QuickBooks.

Every week on the VirtForce Job Board we see someone hiring an online bookkeeper and the qualification is being QuickBooks Online certified.

In bookkeeping you can either be an entrepreneur like Kate or get a job.

If you want to be an entrepreneur you must also enjoy sales,

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Show Notes | May 3, 2021 | Episode 102

What does laser tag have in common with landing a remote bookkeeping job?

In this episode we’ll hear from Sara Core whose experience opening a family fun center made her a small business owner AND a remote employee at a Fortune 500 Best Places to Work company.

In this installment of Certs That Get You #Hired we’re exploring two certifications in Finance that can make you more marketable, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned since digging into the remote work space - it is very Finance friendly.

We have two military veterans who are telling us how the Enrolled Agent license and QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification helped their careers. They’ll cover:

How did you get your cert?Why did you pursue it?Where did it lead you?Why is it so effective in maintaining your remote career?

These certifications are requirements to landing a role with VirtForce hiring partner Intuit, who offers some amazing professional development opportunities as well as fully remote, salary W-2 careers.

Intuit actually pays for you to study for the courses you need to obtain these two certs, if you qualify for the position. That was the case for Sara when she pursued the ProAdvisor cert with Intuit.

Sara was in the Army Reserves as a heavy equipment operator while going to school to become a brain surgeon. After she got married and had a family, she decided to pivot her career goals and find a job that would be better for a mom who wanted to spend more time with her kids.

Sara and her sister decided to go into business together and open a family entertainment center with laser tag and bumper cars. To run the books for their business Sara learned QuickBooks, an accounting software package developed and marketed by Intuit.

After getting the family fun center up and running, Sara wanted a job she could do from home so she could also homeschool her children, so she investigated becoming a ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Live.

ProAdvisors offer live bookkeeping services to small and medium-sized business so business owners can spend more time focusing on running their own companies.

Those who are interested in obtaining this free certification can use Intuit’s online learning modules and take the exam up to three times.

At first Sara wasn’t sure if she had enough bookkeeping exposure, but she soon realized by balancing the books for her own business she had a lot more experience than she thought.

On a day-to-day basis, Sara has appointments with clients who have questions about QuickBooks, or issues with their books.

In the middle of her career she moved from California to Florida and kept her job through it all, so this is a great option for military spouses who often PCS.

For anyone sitting on the fence about becoming a QuickBooks Live Bookkeeper, Sara says go for it!

She is now part of a team and has bonuses and incentives through Intuit while getting exposure to different clients and companies.

Tune in to also hear the story of Vikki Crawford, an Air Force veteran who after obtaining her Enrolled Agent license – the highest award bestowed by the IRS – landed a role as a remote full-service tax expert with Intuit AND runs her own tax and accounting business.

Intuit did not hold Vikki back or lock her into a position where she couldn’t be an entrepreneur.

Intuit offers a way for employees hired in the non-credentialed tax associate role to get their EA license through Fast Forward Academy. Even if you have just one tax season of experience Intuit will hire you and accept you into the program.

There is no cost for the training and Intuit pairs you with a mentor who has balanced working while studying to get their EA license. Once you pass the exam you move into the credentialed tax expert role.

Although Intuit’s roles are remote and virtual there is a strong sense of camaraderie amongst team members. Employees have a lot of resources at their disposal and...

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Show Notes | April 26, 2021 | Episode 101

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partner Stay at Home Profit.

What is the career certification that can make a one-man team feel like a robust department of 100 people firing on all cylinders? CRMs! That's Customer Relationship Management systems, a resource that tracks where a person or business is in the buying cycle.

CRMs give companies a road map to know where the customer is and forecasts what their next move may be. They also take a lot of the manual labor out of the process by collecting information about customers and automatically sending them ways to interact with a company or brand.

Our guest Francisco Oller Garcia has built a career out of learning tech certifications, like CRMs and social media, that support the digital marketing industry. He currently designs innovative group health strategies that transform the idea and culture of health care.

He is an MBA with a marketing concentration who has been recognized as a 2020 “Rising Star” by Employee Benefit Adviser, named a “Top 10 Marketing Operations Leader” by Chatfunnels and recognized as a LinkedIn Sales Star.

Francisco is always on a roll – literally – because he is in a wheelchair. Francisco does not shy away from the fact that he is a person with a physical disability. He is proud to share his story and his success.

If you are trying to break into remote work now, digital marketing is a great way to go. Some digital marketing certifications can be achieved in less than 24 hours and give you the unique edge you need to land a remote role.

Up until the COVID-19 pandemic, the biggest challenge over the past five years has been trying to get companies to realize the opportunity and value of remote work. Since there are now so many people out there looking for remote work, you must find new ways to differentiate yourself. That is where certifications come in.

CRM certs are great for people who:

Are intentionally curious.Enjoy testing, experimenting, and repeating.Are good at simplifying processes.

A lot of entry-level digital marketing positions will require candidates to be certified in a CRM tool.

There are so many different CRMs out there, but the important thing is to master at least one of them really well because most companies offer training on their specific system.

Here are a few of Francisco’s favorites:

HubSpot: One of the most popular, it not only allows you to send email, maintain your database and lists, but also connects to your website so you can see customer patterns. HubSpot Sales Enablement: If you understand total alignment from marketing to sales it makes you a rock star! Salespeople love marketers who understand how they need the data and how they act upon it.Hootsuite: It gives you a great idea of how social media aligns with your overall marketing strategy.Drift Conversational Marketing: It teaches you how to be more conversational when crafting playbooks and strategies such as influencing the person by asking questions and making them the driver of interactions.

Here is Francisco’s advice for those who are interested in earning a CRM or social media cert:

If you take 10 to 15 minutes a day to watch a few videos and go through a few exercises before you know it, you will have a CRM or social media certification.Many of these certifications can be achieved in one day but if you space the learning out they may stick with you longer.Reach out to a CRM or social media company if you want to obtain a certification that is out of your price range. They understand that people need to level up and if your interests are aligned with theirs, they may give you a discount.Be hungry to learn. There is no hack in life. Learning is the only hack. It is the way we feed our innovation and creativity.

Francisco says the secret to maintaining his status as in-demand talent is always finding a way to connect deeper and never forget...

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Show Notes | April 19, 2021 | Episode 100

Are you ready to open doors you don’t realize exist?

That’s how our guest describes the career certifications up for discussion this week as part of our ongoing series Certs That Get You #Hired, where we explore the certs you need to land that next promotion or salary bump.

Today, we’re talking about 2 certifications that can be achieved in 30 days or less and increase your salary by 20% - that’s what happened to our host Kimber three months after she obtained the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Project Management instructor Juan Martinez, PMP, compares the PMP to the magic wardrobe in The Chronicles of Narnia – it will open doors for you that you did not realize were there.

Juan is a PM expert who is going to fill you in on the ins and outs of the PMP and Certified Associate Project Manager (CAPM) certs.

Here is the main difference between the two. The CAPM is an entry level certification while the PMP is a senior level differentiator.

CAPM shows your future employer you are series about your profession. Anyone can go out and buy a paint brush and call themselves a painter. You must set yourself apart. The PMP shows you have been a project management professional for at least 3 years. Many job listings require a PMP.

These certs can make it more difficult for an employer to let you walk out the door when it is time to PCS. We want employers to realize, letting you go remote will be more valuable to their organization than letting you go.

Every industry you can think of needs a PMP ranging from IT to the Department of Defense to construction. And they pay well too. The average salary for a CAPM is $67,000 annually, according to PayScale.com, and $107,000 for the PMP.

Juan retired with 22 years in the US Air Force, nearly 6 of which were spent as a drill sergeant. His last assignment was teaching new officers how to be project managers.

After becoming an expert on the PMBOK, a written guide for the PMP exam, people who were interested in obtaining their PMP began asking Juan to coach them.

On nights and weekends, Juan began building a business. For the past 10 years, he has been teaching people how to get their PMP fulltime as the owner of Your PM Instructor, a company that trains people on passing business certifications and creates classes for companies.

When Kimber did not pass the PMP on her first attempt, she found Juan who taught her a better way to approach the exam.

The PMP exam cannot be passed based solely on what you have read in the PMBOK. Test takers must use the information from the PMBOK to figure out the answer that would be considered the next step.

Having the PMP has been key to helping Kimber maintain a remote career because it ensures job security.

For 18 of the 22 years Juan was in the Air Force his wife, Michelle, was a military spouse.

As the family bounced around from base-to-base Michelle would have to quit one job and find another.

After one PCS, Michelle’s salary decreased by $12 an hour because they moved from a city in which accountants were in high demand to a small town where they were not.

Michelle had a master’s degree in accounting, but never got the Certified Public Accountant certification. Juan believes the cert would have helped her have more steady work through the years.

By obtaining a cert and differentiating yourself from other employees and candidates you make yourself more valuable and less likely to get cut when you PCS.

Employers are often more interested in these certs than bachelors or even master’s degrees because they have prerequisites that require real world work experience and apply the candidate to a standardized framework.

Kimber highly recommends picking a program that will prepare you to pass the PMP exam - whether it is Juan or someone else - because studying on your own is very difficult.

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Show Notes | April 12, 2021 | Episode 99

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partner Stay at Home Profit.

What career field can have you earning 6 figures remotely and keep you employed for 10 years through 6 PCS’s? Technology!

Lindsay Herald, a project engineer with Amazon, is with us today talking about how she became the primary bread winner for her family after earning two tech certifications.

This top 10% female technology earner is going to tell you more about why CompTIA A + and CompTIA Security + are certifications that will get you #hired.

Lindsay has been a part of the military community as both a service member and active duty milspouse for more than 18 years, and she hasn’t been unemployed or underemployed the entire time.

Jobs in tech are portable, so Lindsay has successfully transitioned through several PCS’s while maintaining her career.

No matter where her family got stationed, there was always an opportunity to work in tech. Tech is everywhere!

Take hair salons for example, to make an appointment, you may use an online booking platform. You guessed it, there is a person in tech supporting that platform.

About three years ago, Lindsay successfully transitioned to remote work.

Tech jobs pay really well. So, Lindsay is able to support her family, maintain her career and stay at home with her kids.

While Lindsay gained a lot of her experience as an active duty service member in the Army, as soon as she got out of the military, she had a civilian job lined up.

Her first job outside of the military was a government contract IT job out of Fort Campbell. She had to drive to Nashville – more than an hour away – but there was so much support and excitement about having a woman in tech the opportunity was there.

If you’re female, you really need to be paying attention to this career field because there is a gigantic lack of women in tech!

Lindsay quit her contract job to become a GS-9 employee. She was then told she had just 30 days to get certified in order to comply with DOD regulations and keep her new job.

That’s when Lindsay became certified in A + and Security +, the most highly recognized certifications in tech. Since not everyone has these, she really stood out as a candidate.

In order to work for the government, you must have a certain level of baseline skills. Those minimum skills and certifications are outlined in the 8570 DOD Directive, essentially a roadmap that shows you how to progress in a government IT career. (Linked below)

So, what is A + and Security +? Well, A + is more hardware oriented – the parts and operating systems of a computer – so people who are analytical and enjoy puzzles often succeed in this cert.

Security + is more software and cybersecurity oriented –network security, infrastructure, viruses, firewalls – so people who have analytical skills and an interest in cybersecurity and how to protect data typically succeed in this cert.

Security + will take your tech career to the next level, but these skills are challenging, so you need to be a self-starter and someone who doesn’t give up easily.

You don’t need a degree or job experience to sit for the exams. There are easy study materials available, but Lindsay suggests working in IT to make sure this is the field you want to be in before pursuing a cert.

“You don’t want to throw your money away for something you may not truly be interested in,” Lindsay says.

At the time Lindsay took the exams, the fees were $268 per exam for A + and $360 for Security +. Tune into our episode with Onward to Opportunity to find out how military spouses can get their exam fees covered. (Linked below)

“Every dime you put into this you will put back into your salary tenfold,” Lindsay says.

For Lindsay, the payoff has been well worth it. She was able to contribute to her family during a time when she was a single mom,

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Show Notes | April 5, 2021 | Episode 98

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partner Stay at Home Profit.

Are you hesitating to pursue your next career certification due to cost or confusion about how to qualify for the exam? We’ve been there!

You may be thinking how am I going to fund my next career advancement in the middle of a PCS, raising my kids or figuring out how to pivot my career?

While certifications come with a fee, they are worth it! Certifications are an investment in your future. They often have a direct correlation to your next salary bump or promotion.

Today we are talking about how you can get your next certification absolutely free.

Onward to Opportunity (O2O) provides no-cost training and one free certification to members of the military community. They will also pay your exam fee.

Between transitioning service members, veterans, spouses and guard/reservists O2O helped more than 14,000 people get certified last year.

To be eligible for O2O there are four categories:

Transitioning service member with at least six months of service leftVeterans with at least an honorable dischargeGuard or reservistsSpouses of all those individuals

Certs are very important to pay attention to because employers value them. If you present as being certified it shows the employer you have gone through a training and testing process so the employer knows you are prepared.

As a jobseeker you can be assured that when you take on training your skill level will come to a competitive level that is valued by employers who are looking for top performers.

Certs are a lot faster than getting a four-year degree, and they give you more confidence and more options in your career development.

For most of the certs you must have coursework credits to sit for the exam. O2O front loads you with the coursework you need to pass the exam, provided through free online training set up by the certifying agency.

Each O2O cohort has virtual study groups for support, so students can chat about the challenges of the coursework.

You have 180 days, or six months, to complete the course work and pass three practice exams with an 80% or better for O2O to cover the exam fee. Of all the certifications in O2O’s repertoire the most expensive is nearly $1,000.

If a milspouse wanted to get the most out of O2O, they could potentially use the first three months to go through coursework get an exam scheduled, and then spend the last three months studying for another cert.

Before you finish the coursework someone from Hire Heroes USA will contact you about your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile and conduct practice interviews. They also have 900 employment partners across the country.

If you are moving, they will contact their corporate partners to see if they have a branch in that location or even better a remote opportunity.

Every graduate becomes part of the 14,000-member alumni program where you can network and complete additional training. Graduates are also alumnus of Syracuse University.

O2O currently offers 30-plus certs you can get for free, listed on its Learning Pathways website.

Knowing which cert to get requires you to do a deep dive to figure out what you want for yourself, your next job and your career. You should take a free self-assessment online or consider talking to a career coach.

O2O never lets anyone go down a wrong pathway. If your background does not have all the qualifications, you need for the cert you selected you will get a counseling or coaching session call about other options that are more in line with your qualifications.

Programs like O2O enable milspouses to get the careers they want. They aren’t stuck working at the BX or commissary if they don’t want to.

Certs shows employers you are committed to a career path and you are committed to getting the necessary training.

Milspouses sacrifice a lot through PCSing and taking care o...

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Show Notes | March 29, 2021 | Episode 97

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partner Stay at Home Profit.

After moving from South Africa to the United States as a military spouse, Anicia Myers wanted to explore remote career options.

An experienced teacher with a post graduate certificate in education, Anicia was looking to pivot her career with a job that would move around the country with her.

As she was looking for help with her remote job search, Anicia came across VirtForce on Facebook.

She clicked on it and has not missed a Tuesday Job Board post since.

“VirtForce is the only thing that helped,” Anicia says.

She watched the Resume Boot Camp videos, and the questions and answers members would post on the Facebook group helped her a great deal.

VirtForce nudged Anicia in the right direction when it came to her remote job search.

After a month of looking, Anicia landed a full-time remote customer service job with Instant Teams.

Anicia is very happy in her new role. It is helping her learn and gain experience in a different field. She enjoys the fact that she is helping people on a daily basis.

“Knowing that I am helping people makes me feel like I have accomplished something,” she says.

Anicia is giving her new job her all, and hopes it will open new doors for her career.

For those who are still looking for remote work, Anicia advises them to take advantage of all the resources VirtForce has to offer.

“They are priceless gems,” she says.

Anicia encourages jobseekers to never give up. There is something out there for everyone, but also to never settle.

Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone, she says, and make sure you are happy with the jobs you are applying for.

Tune in to hear Kimber's note to Anicia.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Anicia Myers LinkedIn

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) – https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course – http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

How to get 1 Year of Tax Prep Experience95. #Hired: Milspouses Can Handle Anything94. Travelers Partnership Reveal93. #Hired: Jobs That Make You More Courageous92. Join Reconciled's Remote Work Culture91. #Hired: Research Before You Apply

About Our SponsorStay At Home Profit provides education, consulting, scholarships and career opportunities for military spouses and veterans in remote work through virtual assisting & digital marketing in an authentic and transparent environment. Stay At Home Profit spent 4 years developing and perfecting multiple certification programs that enhance military spouse's and veterans' skill sets and experience to get hired remotely in the digital workforce.

Join the Stay At Home Profit family today and check out our 5-week RVAC Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate program at bit.ly/vf-profit.

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Show Notes | March 22, 2021 | Episode 96

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partner Stay at Home Profit.

Getting told you have too much education and not enough experience is a hard place to be.

That’s where Navy veteran Rachel McNary found herself when she used her GI benefits to go back to school to get a master’s degree in accounting after she took time out of the workforce to raise her children.

With so many years out of the workforce and an advanced degree Rachel hit a wall. She kept being told she was over educated, and she had no experience.

Rachel was determined to put her education to good use and began volunteering with VITA – the IRS’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program that offers free tax help to those in need.

After four years of volunteering, Rachel took the exam to become an Enrolled Agent, the highest credential the IRS can bestow, and got #hired as a Credentialed Tax Expert with Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, QuickBooks and Mint.

Rachel loves helping people, so taking those calls - especially from stressed military members - to help with taxes has been very fulfilling.

Getting one year of tax prep experience is more important than ever because this year, Intuit recruiters are considering candidates with one season of tax prep experience instead of the typical three seasons for the Non Credentialed Tax Associate role.

Originally Intuit was looking for three tax seasons of paid tax prep experience. Now, just one year – or 30 tax returns of experience – will qualify you to apply.

One of the main things recruiters will focus on is how many tax returns you have completed. Even if your experience is volunteer or for family and friends, talk about what you have done. Let them know what software you used.

Intuit will provide training. They just need to know you have tax prep experience. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself.

For those who need to acquire one year of tax prep experience to qualify for a job at Intuit, you can volunteer with VITA to gain experience. Why not help people while gaining experience? Then, next year you will be ready for a job with Inuit.

Rachel started as a Basic Preparer at VITA. The next year she stepped up to Advanced Preparer, gaining the training she needed while studying to take the Enrolled Agent exam. There are many resources out there that can help you prepare including PassKey and Fast Forward Academy.

VITA is currently offering remote work, so you don’t have to go into an office and you can still volunteer if you are OCONUS.

Intuit is also hiring QuickBooks Live Bookkeepers who help customers balance their books virtually.

Candidates also need a year of bookkeeping and accounting experience and must have the QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor certification, which you can get online for free through Intuit. Email podcast@virtforce.wpengine.com for a guide on how to complete the ProAdvisor cert.

Tune in to hear more about how you can get the tax prep experience you need to land a remote role with Intuit.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email podcast@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

Enrolled Agent Facebook Live discussion

VITA

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Intuit LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60): https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium: http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Remote Virtual Assistant Certificate Program

Fast Forward Academy

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

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Show Notes | March 15, 2021 | Episode 95

After two years of looking for virtual work and many different jobs, Kate Nasser used VirtForce to land a virtual job that combines her love of teaching and science.

Kate's background is in exercise physiology and biology. As a Marine Corps spouse of 10 years, she has moved around the country several times and had jobs ranging from being an exercise physiologist who does stress tests in a hospital to being a personal trainer.

As a mom Kate used VirtForce to help her land a job that would enable her to work from home and set her own hours.

Now, Kate is working as a subject matter expert for Freedom Learning Group, writing and editing human physiology and anatomy textbooks and test questions.

Kate developed a love for teaching at her last duty station in North Carolina and ultimately would like to teach at the university or collegiate level, while serving as a project manager at Freedom Learning Group.

Working in her career field again, Kate has renewed purpose and feels like her fire has been re-lit.

For those who are still looking for remote work, Kate says never give up. She spent years looking for virtual work. She had a few jobs here and there, but she could never take them with her to the next duty station.

She didn't give up. She kept looking at VirtForce. She kept applying and now she has a job that will move with her.

"Just know you are a military spouse and you can handle anything life throws your way," Kate says!

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email podcast@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Kate Nasser LinkedIn

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) – https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course – http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

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Show Notes | March 8, 2021 | Episode 94

VirtForce is partnering with a not traditionally remote company that is pivoting to offer virtual careers to military spouses.

Travelers has always been committed to hiring from our nation’s military community, but with the COVID pandemic that effort has expanded to creating remote jobs specifically for milspouses.

In this episode we speak with Jennifer White, Travelers’ Vice President of Talent Acquisition, who has been with Travelers for 17 years where she started as a recruiter and now leads about 62 recruiters and directors across the US, Canada and UK.

Jennifer is a military daughter and military spouse whose husband spent 27 years in the US Air Reserves.

Ashley Sugg, a Travelers Resolution Specialist, also joins the conversation. Ashley is a military spouse of 10 years whose worked for Travelers for the past four. She started on the frontlines of customer service as an Insurance Service Representative – a role Travelers is looking to fill.

Travelers is a property and casualty insurance company in business for 167 years that started as a travel accident insurance company in the mid-1800s. Travelers is the 2nd largest commercial insurer and 6th largest personal insurer in the US. The company is among the Dow 30, which acts as an indicator of the US stock market.

Travelers sells a promise to take care of people in their greatest time of need, which includes insurance policies for homeowners, renters, car owners, businesses - even weddings.

In order to be in business for that long, Travelers has shown a great deal of agility and innovation to stay competitive in the marketplace. Since the COVID-19 pandemic Travelers had to shift quickly from traditional offices to working from home.

At first, the company thought employees needed to be in the office to perform at their best, but quickly realized that was not true or necessary. Travelers implemented the technology needed to keep up with customer demand and the recruiting necessary to support it.

Ashley was going into the office everyday Monday through Friday. When the COVID pandemic hit in March of 2020, she quickly found herself working from home. Throughout the transition process, Ashley felt supported by leadership, receiving emails of encouragement on a regular basis – even from the CEO.

Ashley recently promoted to the Resolution Specialist role. She had support from her supervisors to figure out how she wanted to progress in the company. Each year, Travelers hires about 4,000 to 6,000 employees across its enterprise. About 40% of those hires are internal talent.

In August, one of Travelers training leads shifted focus to hiring military spouses as remote employees who can work from anywhere in the US instead of staffing call centers in 5 distinct locations.

Travelers realized that military spouse resumes would look different. Instead of resume gaps in the traditional sense recruiters were taught to look for volunteer work and international moves as experience.

Travelers has always been committed to the military. Of its 30,000 employees, 1,000 have current or former military experience.

While Travelers is focused on two positions for military spouses – Sales Representative and Insurance Service Representative – the company has hundreds of open positions on its careers page. On the Travelers Career page, any job that is described as “nationwide” for location is assumed to be remote.

The Sales Representative role is not your traditional cold-calling sales job. It is inbound calls only.

The Insurance Service Representative role involves assisting established customers who need help with requests such as adding a new car to an auto policy.

When it comes to benefits, Travelers offers day one coverage for a variety of insurances. On day 1 you get 20 days of paid time off. Travelers also offers a 401k match and pension plan.

While some of the roles will transition back to ...

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Show Notes | March 1, 2021 | Episode 93

Jolene McNutt has been working virtually since her son was born about a decade ago, but the contracts she had were unpredictable. She needed a job with more consistent hours.

VirtForce inspired and encouraged Jolene to give the virtual job search another try after she failed to make it to the interview process in previous attempts.

"I have not been fully immersed in a decade," Jolene said. "It was really hard to find positions that fit my qualifications. Technology changes."

Jolene followed VirtForce on Facebook and checked the VirtForce Job Board every week. There was one that sparked her interest, becoming an agent with Aira, a service that provides those who are blind or low vision with instant access to trained agents who deliver objective visual information.

Jolene followed all of the recommendations VirtForce shares about landing a job with Aira, including listening to the podcast episodes and completing a Google Maps tutorial, and got #hired.

"I truly love it. I look forward to my shifts. I love helping people," Jolene says. "I am so inspired by the explorers who are visually impaired. It gives me a new humbled perspective on my ability to see. Each explorer that I've gotten to work with has made me more courageous in my own life."

For those who are still looking for remote work, Jolene says don't quit. Keep going! She has gotten to know many military spouses through the years and found them to be incredible, special, powerful, wonderful and impactful people.

"We might be silent ranks to keep this family machine running behind the scenes of the military, but I believe we have so much to offer as military spouses to an organization or business," she says.

Tune in to hear more about Jolene's day-to-day role as an Aira agent and how this job enables her to stretch her brain and clock more consistent hours.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Jolene McNutt LinkedIn

MilSpouses: The Perfect Fit for Aira
Applying with Aira? What You Should (And Shouldn’t) Say to Blind People
BONUS: Distance, Direction, and Description

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Join Reconciled's Remote Work Culture91. #Hired: Research Before You Apply90. Transition to Tech with SkillStorm89. #Hired: Listen to Job Rejection Feedback88. Behind the Scenes at Boldly87. #Hired: Don’t Lose Hope

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Show Notes | November 19, 2020 | Episode 92

Cloud accounting firm Reconciled is experiencing massive growth. They are expanding in all departments - not just their accounting service.

Currently in acquisition mode, Reconciled is expected to hit 100 employees by next year, 60 of which still need to be hired.

Reconciled has already hired three military spouses and hiring manager Stephanie Stewart would be happy if the rest come from VirtForce.

Living in South Carolina, with several nearby military bases, Stephanie sees the turnover of military families every summer, and talks to military spouses about how difficult it can be to find a job and continue a career.

As a remote-first company, at Reconciled, military spouses can still have a rewarding career as they move from base to base, and parents can have the work-life balance of being there for their children.

Reconciled is different from other remote company's because they are very intentional about creating a culture in which remote employees feel connected, beginning with a mentorship program when new employees onboard.

Founded in 2015, the company has had time to figure out which rhythms and remote culture norms work and which don't.

At Reconciled, each Tuesday remote employees can have coffee with the CEO. Each Friday they have virtual game time.

Reconciled is currently looking to fill two full-time remote roles.

HR Coordinator: With Reconciled experiencing immense growth, the company is looking to add an employee would serve as a quarterback for HR, helping with recruiting and acquisitions.

The role requires just a one-year minimum requirement working in administrative support (preferably HR) and at least one-year of remote work experience.Applicants should have experience supporting the full cycle recruiting process and working knowledge of an ATS.

Cloud Accounting Bookkeeper: Being a bookkeeper at Reconciled means more than crunching numbers. You’ll also get a chance to think big, creatively solve problems and become a subject matter expert on everything from e-commerce to breweries.

Applicants should have experience handling bookkeeping for multiple companies at a time using online accounting software such as QuickBooks Online, have a thorough understanding of accounting and experience working in a client-facing role.Reconciled prefers applicants who have a minimum of one-year bookkeeping experience AND at least an Associates in Accounting/Business or an Accounting Certificate with a desire to learn.

In addition to meeting requirements, Stephanie is looking for candidates who submit a well-written cover letter and who aren't intimidated by video.

About 70 percent of candidates do not follow through on submitting a one-way video that tells Reconciled:

Why you want to work for Reconciled?How you will help Reconciled grow?And as a company committed to lifelong learning, what you are learning right now?

Candidates can stand out simply by participating and showing up for this part of the hiring process. With a whole week to record responses on your own time, there's no reason not to.

The reason why employers put so many steps in between applicants showing interest in the job and the first interview is to see who you really are as a candidate and whether or not you are the right fit for the company's culture.

As Reconciled continues to grow, it is looking to expand into different departments such as sales, account management, deliverable services and HR.

Reconciled's goal is for those opportunities to stay in front of the military community to accommodate their transient lifestyles.

Tune in to learn more about the requirements and benefits of working at Reconciled.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

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Show Notes | November 17, 2020 | Episode 91

After listening to VirtForce's advice about resumes, Angie Owens incorporated and highlighted her work as a military spouse on her resume, which stood out to her employer and came up throughout the interview process.

Now, Angie is a part-time business support specialist at premium subscription staffing company Boldly.

Prior to VirtForce, Angie would not have focused as much on those volunteerefforts.

Angie found out about VirtForce through an Army spouse page onFacebook.

As Angie was beginning her search for online job opportunities it wasdifficult to decipher which were legitimate and which were scams.

Because of VirtForce, Angie easily narrowed down that list.

As a military spouse who has the challenges that so many other milspousesdo, it was encouraging to know there was an organization out there that offers support and vets job opportunities.

Angie also appreciates the ongoing relationship VirtForce has withBoldly.

After consistently seeing Boldly's activity on the VirtForce Facebook Groupshe could see how the company supports military spouses.

Angie loves the incredible team members around the world she gets to workwith on a daily basis.

As a military spouse, Angie has worked through a lot of on-boarding processes as she has PCSed from one base to another, and Boldly's has been the highest level she has experienced.

While the work at Boldly is extremely fun and gratifying, it is alsochallenging, but Angie has an incredible team who supports her every step of the way.

Angie has control over her schedule and can meet the demands of her familyas a military spouse, while still having a gratifying career.

Angie kept an eye on virtual job opportunities for more than a year. SeeingBoldly consistently engage on the VirtForce Facebook Group was the push she needed to apply to the company.

Angie's advice for those who are still looking for a remote opportunity isjust don't give up, and don't be afraid to submit your application.

Once Angie changed her mindset and determined it was time to apply,everything fell into place.

Angie recommends researching the companies you are interested in applying to. She watched every video and read every article. She followed Boldly on social media to learn every ounce of information she could.

Through that research, she learned the hiring process for Boldly wasdifferent from most companies in the sense that candidates are encouraged to share more of their personal lives.

Angie would have neglected to share that information had she not taken thetime to research Boldly's hiring processes.

Tune in to learn more about how Angie used VirtForce to get #hired.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear fromyou. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Boldly LinkedIn

Behind the Scenes at Boldly

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) – https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course – http://bit.ly/vf-bc

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Transition to Tech with SkillStorm89. #Hired: Listen to Job Rejection Feedback88. Behind the Scenes at Boldly87. #Hired: Don't Lose Hope86. This Tax Season Get #Hired at Intuit85. #Hired: Stop Counting Yourself Out

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Show Notes | November 12, 2020 | Episode 90

IT services and staffing company SkillStorm is on a mission to help transitioning service members learn a new skill and find sustainable income after exiting the military.

Who better to spread that news than military spouses? SkillStorm recognizes this symbiotic relationship and is offering two amazing job opportunities to the VirtForce community.

SkillStorm’s Entry-Level Software Developer training program teaches transitioning service members the skills they need in 16 weeks or less and places them as a W-2 employee with a Fortune 500 company.

SkillStorm is also hiring military spouses as Program Coordinators to help educate the military community about this amazing training program.

SkillStorm’s Sr. Technical Recruiter Richard Perez recently filled the VirtForce community in on this two-for-one opportunity alert during a live discussion with VirtForce founder and CEO Kimber Hill.

A few years ago, SkillStorm noticed a gap in the market. As companies invested in new, emerging technologies, there was a shortage of new talent who could operate it. There were only established professionals who came with heavy salaries.

SkillStorm created a space for entry-level people to come in and show the market newbies could do the work thanks to automated processes.

SkillStorm is very focused on the military community because of the skills they already have that can seamlessly transfer to coding such as great organizational skills and time management.

Originally, SkillStorm’s paid developer training was for emerging talent and just-out-of-college grads, but after the company received approval to be a training partner in the Department of Defense SkillBridge Program, they went full throttle on hiring veterans.

As a SkillBridge-approved company, transitioning service members can be granted up to 180 days of permissive duty to focus solely on training with SkillStorm while still receiving their military compensation and benefits.

SkillStorm has two training programs:

A 12-week, paid-training opportunity for veterans, which requires participants to have some IT knowledge. SkillStorm offers online training to get them up to speed.A 16-week unpaid fellowship for those who are exiting the military. The first four weeks are fundamental training where participants learn the basics of coding. This program is ideal for someone who could use the Department of Defense SkillBridge Program.

Those who are trained in either program will learn infrastructure, cloud architecture, cloud security, automated solutions and coding, among other skills. These IT skills are essential, especially as companies work remotely during COVID-19.

With COVID-19 all training is currently virtual, remote until at least mid-2021. The training is CONUS and OCONUS-friendly. Participants must be US citizens or green card holders, but considered case-by-case, so inquire.

The mission of these programs is to recruit, train, certify and then deploy employees to the client, so participants must be open to being relocated to a Fortune 500 company.

SkillStorm has a goal to hire 300-plus service members by the end of 2021.

To help spread the word, SkillStorm plans to hire at least three military spouses at every base to serve as program coordinators who will get the word out about why service members would want a career in IT, and advocate and support them as they transition out of the military.

As a 1099 position, coordinators set their own hours and work at their own pace. It is also location-flexible, so the job can move from duty station to duty station.

The spouse position is commission based up to $650 per person who is recruited to the program. SkillStorm has seen an average of about 30 recruits a year, so spouses have the potential to earn an average of $19,500 a year for conversations they likely are already having with service members.

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Show Notes | November 10, 2020 | Episode 89

Hannah Mambock overcame having zero work experience in the United States by joining VirtForce as a Brand Ambassador.

Now she is serving in a partially-remote role as a clerk for the US Navy.

VirtForce was instrumental in Hannah getting #hired.

Hannah heard about VirtForce through an organization at NSA Mid-South in Millington, Tennessee.

She was looking for a job and asked if they knew of any open positions. They handed her a flyer about VirtForce.

She joined VirtForce's Private Group on Facebook.

First and foremost, VirtForce served as a community that helped Hannah better understand remote work and how to search for a job in America.

Hannah was born and raised in Africa.

When Hannah joined her husband in the United States, everything was new and strange to her. She had to overcome learning a new culture in addition to finding a job.

Once she joined VirtForce, she felt enlightened by the deeper understanding she gained from listening to the podcasts.

As a Brand Ambassador, Hannah bridged an unemployment gap by demonstrating her experience working in America on her resume.

Hannah enjoys her new role as a clerk in the Navy's Personnel Support Detachment because she enjoys processing the transfer of sailors from one assignment to another.

The role is a hybrid schedule of on-site and remote telework. In time, Hannah hopes to move to a GS position.

While remote work may be preferred, Hannah does not want job seekers to limit themselves because working an on-site job could lead you to where you ultimately want to go.

Hannah advises others still searching for a job to not be swayed from following their hearts and encourages them to wait for their dream job.

It can be frustrating and discouraging when you get turned down for reasons you feel like you cannot overcome.

Hannah kept getting the same feedback - she was not getting hired because she did not have enough experience working in the United States.

Hannah encourages others to listen to the feedback about what is preventing them from getting hired and look for possibilities that could remedy that situation.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Hannah Mambock LinkedIn

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) – https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course – http://bit.ly/vf-bc

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VirtForce on Facebook

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Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

Behind the Scenes at Boldly87. #Hired: Don't Lose Hope86. This Tax Season Get #Hired at Intuit85. #Hired: Stop Counting Yourself Out84. Get to Know the USO83. #Hired: Closing Employment Gaps

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Show Notes | November 5, 2020 | Episode 88

Boldly has its hiring process almost down to a science, and Boldly’s Recruiting Manager & Military Spouse Advocate Devin Drake is giving us the formula.

Devin took us behind the scenes of Boldly’s hiring process in a recent live discussion with VirtForce founder and CEO Kimber Hill.

We learned Boldly is looking to hire 5 new team members every month, and although, the company gets lots of applications, they do not always meet that hiring goal.

There are a lot of VirtForce members who would make great candidates, but they need to make a few tweaks to make it all the way through Boldly’s hiring process.

Devin shared some advice and commons missteps when applying to Boldly.

When you think about getting through the front door at Boldly you need to think about your application, LinkedIn and then your resume – in that order.

In your application form, tell Boldly why you want to work remotely. Let them know you are a military spouse, a mom or a caregiver.

Boldly looks at every single military spouse who applies. They have great soft skills that they can’t teach.

Be sure to mention Boldly in your application. Tell them why you would be a good fit and how your experience and skills apply to Boldly specifically.

Before you apply, be sure to look at the qualifications. Boldly is a very transparent company. It lists all its qualifications on its website. You can see how many minimum years of experience are required and how much money you will make.

LinkedIn is a prescreening tool at Boldly, so you need to make sure it is up to date. It doesn’t have to be fancy. You don’t need tons of connections, but your work history has to be current and it needs to mirror your resume.

Pay attention to details. Make sure everything is spelled correctly.

Make sure you show your career progression on your resume including the skills you learned while in that job. Get specific! Boldly wants to know what you did day-to-day in your job.

Simplify your titles for the hiring manager who is reading your resume. Take a complex title and apply it to the corporate world.

Don’t just reapply with the same resume or work experience over and over. You must find out why you didn’t make it all the way through the hiring process and make those changes.

It takes work to tailor your resume to each position you are applying to, but it’s worth it to put forth quality over quantity. If you feel overwhelmed, limit applications to a few quality submissions a week.

For those with gaps in their resumes, take a breath of relief. Boldly does not mind if there are gaps in your resume from having children or attending college. What they don’t want to see is job hopping with multiple positions for less than a year.

Boldly recognizes military spouses move around a lot, so they caution spouses about taking the first thing that comes along until they can find something better.

Make sure you are prepared for your virtual interview. Don’t be curled up on the couch with a cup of coffee, or in your car or in a closet.

If someone makes it all the way through the hiring process and doesn’t get hired, many times it comes down to references. Do not list a family member or a friend!

Other times, the candidate could realize they need full-time work instead of part-time.

Boldly is currently hiring 4 positions:

Executive AssistantLegal AssistantMarketing & Social Media SpecialistProject Manager

Clients range from construction and technology to interior designers and life coaches.

In order to stay compliant with HR laws, Boldly’s positions must be W-2. A lot of time, effort and cost goes into being able to hire in every state.

Boldly is currently hiring in 25 states, including two new states – Arizona and South Carolina.

Military spouses fall into a special category. If you or your spouse is domiciled in the state of California,

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Show Notes | November 3, 2020 | Episode 87

Kayla Dupler started looking for remote work in March when stay-at-home orders went into effect to slow the spread of COVID-19.

In June, she got serious about marketing herself and applying to more jobs.

Four months later, Kayla has been #hired as a live virtual tax expert with Intuit for the upcoming tax season.

While Kayla has tax prep experience, she has never been involved as a licensed attorney.

This will be Kayla's first time preparing taxes as a licensed attorney, so she is looking forward to helping people who have more complex tax questions.

As a seasonal position, Kayla will be working 30-plus hours per week beginning January 2021 through April 2021.

There's potential for Kayla's seasonal job to run long this year.

The recruiter who worked with Kayla indicated there's a possibility that the upcoming tax season could be atypical and get pushed beyond the April deadline.

Kayla is hopeful this tax season will have more work than is currently being projected.

She is hoping to excel in her role with Intuit and be invited back to participate in future tax seasons.

Her advice for others who are still looking for remote work? Don't lose hope.

Kayla knows that it's frustrating to not hear back from a recruiter or to get a rejection email or to not be able to find a job that's the right fit.

But the right opportunity will come along, and Kayla's advice is to wait and not settle for something you might not enjoy as much.

Kayla heard about VirtForce through another military spouse group on Facebook.

Since joining, she began listening to the podcasts, looking forward to the weekly job postings and #Hired success stories.

Seeing other people find remote work motivated Kayla and kept her on track.

Tune in to hear more about how Kayla used VirtForce to improve her job search and prepare for virtual work.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Kayla Dupler LinkedIn

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) – https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course – http://bit.ly/vf-bc

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Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

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Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

This Tax Season Get #Hired at Intuit 85. #Hired: Stop Counting Yourself Out84. Get to Know the USO83. #Hired: Closing Employment Gaps82. Live Resume Critique81. #Hired: Never Settle for Less

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Show Notes | October 29, 2020 | Episode 86

Intuit, the Fortune 100 Best Places to Work company that brings you TurboTax, QuickBooks and Mint, is dedicated to our nation’s military.

Each year, Intuit proudly offers all enlisted active duty and reserve service members free federal and state tax preparation through TurboTax.

They recently created the Intuit Military and Veteran Initiative (MAVI), committed to help transform the lives of military families and veterans through community, jobs and financial empowerment.

The company also employs hundreds of top talent military veterans and their family members, whose wide range of life experiences brings valuable ideas and perspective to the table.

Now, Intuit is in a rush to hire 10,000 tax professionals for the upcoming tax season.

Three leaders from Intuit recently joined VirtForce in a live discussion to talk about some of the company’s hottest remote career opportunities that compliment military lifestyles.

Intuit’s head of MAVI, Karen Brasch, personally struggled with her transition into the commercial world after retiring as a Commander and US Navy pilot.

It took her years to get to where she is today, and she wants to help other service members get over that hurdle a little quicker.

Karen also runs the Intuit Military Network, which has a mission to educate, recruit and mentor, providing all veterans and their families with opportunities to grow and develop their skillsets.

The company has a focus on milspouses this year and wants to make sure they are aware of the full-time, part-time and remote job opportunities Intuit is creating.

As a traditional tech company, Intuit’s talent acquisition team is being trained on how to read and interpret resumes from veterans and military spouses, which may have gaps from duty station changes.

For military spouses who put their careers on hold to raise their families and are now ready to reenter the workforce, there is the Intuit Again returnship program.

This year, Intuit has a focus on hiring the military community for a TurboTax Live remote work opportunity.

Veterans and spouses can work remotely through TurboTax Live as non-credentialed tax associates or credentialed tax experts, assisting customers from the comfort of their own homes.

Intuit provides the necessary training and equipment for a customer-facing, work-from-home position including a laptop and phone.

During tax season, associates and tax experts build their own schedule based around Intuit’s business hours of operating seven days a week between 5 AM and 9 PM PST.

You can decide your day off and what hours you work as long as there is a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week. Other benefits include 401k, free TurboTax and product discounts.

Tax associates can also participate in a free development program to earn their Enrolled Agent license.

This is a great benefit for people who do not have the time or resources to get their EA license. Intuit will provide it all. A lot of people take advantage of this program, and while there is a time commitment to study, it is worth it in the end.

The other position Intuit is aligning with MAVI is QuickBooks Live.

Intuit launched QuickBooks Live in August of 2019. Since then, they have hired 1,200 virtual, remote bookkeepers. The program continues to grow by 25 to 100 live bookkeepers a month.

Why can’t that be you?

QuickBooks Live is a software for small and medium-sized businesses. Intuit wanted to change the way people did bookkeeping, so they took a page out of the TurboTax Live notebook and started offering expert services virtually.

Customers can spend less time balancing their books and more time becoming more profitable. Meanwhile, Intuit can hire people all over the US in a part-time, remote, virtual capacity, especially important in times like the current with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The QuickBooks Live position is year-round,

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Show Notes | October 27, 2020 | Episode 85

Since recently finishing her MBA, Sarah Black's job experience has not matched her credentials.

She is a military spouse, home school educator to three kids ranging in age from 8 to 14, and a tutor for students with special needs.

She switched her education from mental health to business, has had several businesses of her own, and now has an MBA.

Sarah would read job descriptions and be convinced she couldn't apply because of her life circumstances.

She counted herself out before anyone else even could. She wasn't giving herself a chance.

As Sarah listened to the VirtForce podcast, its #Hired success stories and all the tips, she realized she needed to stop counting herself out.

Sarah is now an independent contractor working as a part-time research specialist.

Sarah has known the company's founder and president for a while. She watched as the company grew, but never thought to apply because she did not have a reliably quiet environment to make phone calls.

Sarah reached out to the company founder with a congratulations on the company's growth and said she wished she could apply, but she didn't have the right environment.

Familiar with Sarah's MBA journey, the company founder encouraged her to participate in a job interview.

Now, Sarah uses her diverse background and training to help research leads and streamline processes.

If there's something Sarah can offer that will increase the return on investment the company wants to know.

Sarah is able to go outside of her lane and contribute to the team with her collected skills and knowledge. As a part-time independent contractor, Sarah is also able to select the jobs she wants to take on and work the hours that fit with her lifestyle.

While the job doesn't fit Sarah's educational background completely, it is giving her the work experience she needs to demonstrate her skills and move up within this company or another.

Her team shows incredible flexibility and compassion when Sarah is facing adversity in her personal life.

The same day she had a house fall through right before closing, one of Sarah's children had a medical scare.

As moms and military spouses themselves, her team made sure Sarah knew she could count on them. They could handle the projects. She just needed to take care of her family.

Sarah first discovered VirtForce through a Hiring Our Heroes webinar on military spouse employment.

Then, Sarah kept seeing VirtForce pop up in the military spouse Facebook Groups she's in as the group to join if you are looking for a job that's flexible, virtual and remote.

Sarah was part of the private VirtForce Facebook Group for a few years before she accidentally stumbled into the job she has now.

Tune in to hear Sarah's advice for those who are still looking for remote work.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Hiring Our Heroes

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Sarah Black LinkedIn

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) – https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course – http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

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VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

Get to Know the USO83. #Hired: Closing Employment Gaps82. Live Resume Critique81. #Hired: Never Settle for Less80. Resume Gap Refresher79. #Hired: Focus on the Now

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Show Notes | October 22, 2020 | Episode 84

As a relatively new Navy spouse, VirtForce founder Kimber Hill didn’t know all the USO had to offer until about two years ago.

She always thought of them as a morale booster organization. But turns out, the USO is much more than entertainment for the troops or a place to take a nap at the airport.

After Kimber started VirtForce, she realized there are many organizations out there supporting military spouses and the USO is one of the best.

If you thought the USO is just entertainment and airport perks, think again.

In this episode, we’re uncovering USO secrets to career readiness for milspouses and military service members.

Much like VirtForce, the USO is connecting military spouses and service members to careers, and they do it through professional development services like their USO Pathfinder Transition Program.

In a recent Facebook Live session, Kimber discussed how the Pathfinder program helps military spouses and transitioning service members navigate the education and career resources available to them with two guests from the USO.

Guest Lauren Kovaleski was living and working in the fine art industry in New York before she married her high school sweetheart and became an Army wife living in Kansas.

It was a big transition. There wasn’t a lot of fine art in Kansas. Lauren had to reinvent herself.

She started working for the USO a month after becoming a military spouse. She has learned about being a military spouse herself while assisting the military community in her role as the USO Pathfinder operations site manager at Fort Campbell.

The USO Pathfinder program is designed to be a one-stop shop to help navigate a career journey, like Lauren’s, or military life in general, says USO Pathfinder program development specialist and veteran spouse Danielle Haro.

There are so many resources out there it can get overwhelming, so the USO pairs you with a transition specialist who works as a resource navigator, or critical connector, with a highly personalized approach.

The transition specialists map out a personalized Action Plan that is customized to each military spouse or service member.

The Action Plan is an accessible and user-friendly feature that can be added to the USO mobile app. It keeps you on track and connects you to the right resources as identified by your transition specialist.

The USO Pathfinder program is focused on resources related to:

EmploymentEducationFinancial wellnessMentorship

You don’t know how important a personalized conversation with a transition specialist, or a mentor, can be until you have it.

Example: A few weeks ago, a VirtForce member asked, “When do I turn in my two weeks’ notice if I’m moving overseas?” It wasn’t until she had a one-on-one conversation with Kimber, she realized she could instead pitch herself as a remote employee.

A recent survey found a major move is one of the most stressful times in a person’s life, imagine moving many times over throughout the course of your career.

Military spouses can forget just how resilient they are. It’s nice to connect with others who know what you are going through.

That’s why the USO wants to invite you to the next Coffee Connection Live, a virtual conversation for military spouses to connect around the world, on Friday, Oct. 23 at 1 pm EST. (Link in the show notes below.)

Don’t say you’re just a military spouse. You’re not just a military spouse. Even though you move all the time and you feel like your career journey is a challenge, you bring so much to the table.

Have confidence in yourself. Don’t cut yourself short, and remember, the USO and VirtForce are here to support you.

Tune in to hear our digital audience's first impressions of the USO, and the questions they had as they learned more about what the USO has to offer.If you are interested in connecting with the USO Pathfinder Transition Program visit USO.

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Show Notes | October 20, 2020 | Episode 83

Amanda Showers has been a stay-at-home mom for the past seven years. During that time, she earned her undergraduate degree and went on to earn an MBA. Since being OCONUS since 2016, she put in countless hours looking for employment and always ended up feeling completely defeated. Her husband's job involves a lot of travel and the stress of figuring out how to work outside of the home was completely overwhelming. So like many military spouses and moms, she put that idea on the back burner. Discovering VirtForce and the possibility of finding real, remote work reignited Amanda's fire to start looking for jobs. Stationed in Hawaii, it has been challenging for Amanda to find work. After sending resume after resume, she was disappointed when her MBA did not stand out because of her lack of work experience. This June, VirtForce helped Amanda close that seven-year employment gap as a customer service expert with SimplrFlex. She has the flexibility to work part-time or full-time from the comfort of her home office. She is still 100% available to her kids at home, while still working, bringing in income and building her professional self again.The day before VirtForce shared the position with SimplrFlex, Amanda had received two rejection letters for jobs she was really excited about. She had been searching for more than a year and had a bit of a breakdown. The very next day, she saw the job posting, applied and was extended a job offer that same day. While she felt silly for coming undone the day before, it made her recognize the importance of being patient and staying persistent. Right when you feel like it's the end, the job just might come and your patience will pay off. Tune in to hear what Amanda likes best about all-digital, remote work. If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Amanda Showers LinkedIn

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) – https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course – http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

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Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

Live Resume Critique81. #Hired: Never Settle for Less80. Resume Gap Refresher79. #Hired: Focus on the Now78. Speak Up ― Write it Right Part 277. #Hired: Be Clear About Your Hard-Lines

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Show Notes | October 15, 2020 | Episode 82

When you send a company your resume, you want to look like you were molded and cutout specifically for that job.

And you want to make it as easy on the hiring manager as possible to decide that they have to call you for an interview.

In this unique episode, VirtForce founder and CEO Kimber Hill critiques a resume in front of a live audience. During the critique, the audience asks questions about the resume in real time.

Kimber goes over the proper length of a resume, how to tweak it for the job you want and how many past positions you should include on your resume.

Right off the bat, Kimber notices the resume she is critiquing is a functional resume, not a chronological resume, meaning it is categorized by experiences and skills relevant to the job the candidate is applying for.

Functional resumes can be used to conceal periods of unemployment, otherwise known as resume gaps. They can also show that you read the job description and took the time to tailor your resume, highlighting how your skills match with the job qualifications.

Pro tip: Keep it on one page!

The next thing Kimber notes is the length of the resume. It's three pages. If you can, it is recommended to shortly and concisely communicate your work history on a single page.

Pro tip: Narrow down your work history!

The resume also includes too many positions for the job the applicant is applying for.

If you are sharing your resume in hopes of landing a fitness instructor job, you don't want to include former positions that would be irrelevant.

When a hiring manager sees a long list of different positions, they think, "Wow, this person doesn't stick around long." You don't want to give that impression.

You want to be smart enough and selective enough to only list the positions that apply to the one you're applying for.

Example: Being a team member at Pizza Hut for four months in 2015, is not relevant to being a fitness instructor today.

Pro tip: Start sentences with verbs!

The writer of the resume being critiqued did a great job using bullet points beginning with action verbs to describe their work experience.

Example: Proficiently managed customer expectations among demographics including the FBI, military and government.

Pro tip: Quantify, quantify, quantify!

Numbers attract eyeballs and they help detract the hiring manager from the dates that show how long you worked former jobs.

Example: Oversaw 12 consecutive projects copy writing response letters for 365 people.

Put some juicy concrete data in your resume.

If you don't have enough work experience and you are getting rejected from job after job, go out and volunteer, get an internship or take on a project that you can quantify on your resume.

Don't forget your objective statement where you clearly state the job you are seeking. If you know the exact position and company name, you should include that too.

The bottom line is, when hiring managers read your resume, they not only want to know what you did, but how what you did impacted the company.

Tune in to hear what questions our live audience had.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

MilSpouse CoffeeHouse Podcast

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60): https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium: http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

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VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

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Show Notes | October 14, 2020 | Episode 81

For those who are hurting for money and need to find their next job ASAP, rushing into the first opportunity that comes along could hurt you.That's what happened to Ryleigh Sims when she took the first job that fell in her lap.Ryleigh was treated like a number or someone the management could talk down to. She was told she could be replaced at anytime. Eventually, Ryleigh had to say enough is enough, and she was followed by more than a dozen other team members.The few times Ryleigh had to walk away from a job were scary. At times, she went up to three months without one, but it ultimately changed the company for the better and Ryleigh ultimately found a better job.There are plenty of jobs out there. You have to be able to find one that works for you. Don't let money hold you down. There is money elsewhere. You just have to find it. There is no reason for you to go to work everyday miserable. Employers need to understand that keeping employees happy will result in better retention. If you make them miserable, they might just walk.

Applicants have to find something that works for them, for their family and for their lifestyle.

Through the experience Ryleigh had at her previous job, she learned a valuable lesson. As she was reading job descriptions, she tried to mold herself each time into the perfect applicant. In actuality, there is no such thing. VirtForce helped Ryleigh realize, she needed to break the mold and just be herself. Instead of trying to be something she wasn't, Ryleigh said enough is enough. I'm tired of being something they want me to be. I'm going to be me for a change. When VirtForce posted an opportunity with Sutherland on its job board, Ryleigh thought back on a time she applied with them years earlier, and did not get the job. Regardless, she decided to apply. A few days later, she received an email from Indeed about Sutherland conducting virtual interviews. She participated in a virtual interview, making an effort to just be herself, which she admits at times is quirky, and it paid off. Ryleigh impressed the hiring manager enough that she got #hired as a full-time customer support representative. Sutherland treats her like a person. They check up on her and sincerely ask how she is doing. They treat her like a human being - not a number. Graduating in May, the job with Sutherland was an opportunity for Ryleigh to get her foot in the door, so she has the potential to climb the career ladder when she and her husband move to California next year. Ryleigh's ultimate goal at Sutherland is to get to a position where she can move around with her husband in the US Navy and not be affected by state laws that may be prohibitive to remote work. Juggling college and a full-time job is going to be a balance for Ryleigh, but she wanted a full-time position for the paid time off and benefits she wasn't getting in a part-time role. Ryleigh encourages current applicants looking for remote work to not give up and take opportunities that are unpaid or underpaid to build experience.Last year, she had an internship that gave her the confidence and the courage to go after the position she has now. Ryleigh knew she had to take the time to find a position that was perfect for her. She encourages others to never settle for less. Tune in to hear how Ryleigh's position as a customer support representative could transition into an opportunity she's passionate about - IT.If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Ryleigh Sims LinkedIn

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) – https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course – http://bit.ly/vf-bc

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Our favorite part of recording a live podcast e...

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Show Notes | October 8, 2020 | Episode 80

Today, we're going to take a personal dive into what having resume gaps can feel like, how to get out of your own head, and how to stop holding yourself back.

There are many reasons why you might have gaps in your resume.

A career pivotConstant PCSingTime off to have kidsGoing back to school Just graduated Lost a job Health issuesNeeded time to explore

We have all been in one of these situations at one time or another in our careers.

You are not alone. You are not the only military spouse, veteran or mom/dad to have this issue and you can overcome. You've got this.

The fact is, resume gaps are not a big deal, so stop stressing.

Before you pick the strategy that works best for you ask yourself these two questions:

Are you trying to overcome lack of experience?Are you trying to overcome time gaps?

Whatever your scenario, there are four simple strategies to overcome resume gaps:

If you have not worked in six or more months, create an activity for the next 8-12 weeks that you can put on your resume and talk about in your job interview.

Example: Get a certification, launch a project, volunteer or pick up an unpaid internship. The goal is to flex your work muscles again.

Close the door on scrutiny.

Example: If you have a resume with specific dates next to every job, you are inviting scrutiny in. Eliminate some of your time gaps by just including years. Nix the months.

Switch to a functional resume and ditch the dates altogether.

Example: If a job description says, "We are looking for a marketing manager who has great leadership, marketing and customer service skills," you can take your resume, get rid of the chronological order and simply list your top three skills with a header for leadership, marketing and customer service where you discuss multiple jobs and experiences that demonstrate those skills.

Keep it short and tailored like a great pair of shorts.

Example: When VirtForce CEO Kimber Hill was searching for a job, she had a resume crafted for each type of job she was looking for - either a film or marketing position or a communications position. She had two distinct resumes for those two distinct opportunities.

The goal is to hook the viewer. Give them just enough information to get them on the line. Make your resume look like you were personally crafted for this job.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

MilSpouse CoffeeHouse Podcast

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60): https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium: http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

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VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

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Show Notes | October 6, 2020 | Episode 79

Amanda Mitchell has been at home since her children were born, so when she returned to full-time work last year it was very hard on them.She ended up resigning due to the lack of childcare available to her at her family's current duty station in Germany.In 2019, Amanda received a military spouse scholarship from FINRA to become a certified financial counselor. Finishing her certification helped Amanda realize her end goal was to go back to work.

Amanda has been looking for remote work since arriving in Germany two years ago.Amanda discovered VirtForce through a friend on Facebook. When she realized VirtForce was exclusively focused on remote work, she was really excited and dove into its podcasts, blogs and resume tips. Amanda identified jobs that were relevant to her by keeping a close eye on VirtForce emails about new job postings. Seeing the frequency of remote job postings helped Amanda realize she could actually have an online job. She had looked for so long, a completely remote, digital job seemed out of reach. VirtForce helped Amanda see that working from home could be her reality. Working to finish her master's degree in accounting, when a part-time bookkeeping job at BMC Accounting was posted, Amanda jumped at the opportunity to use her degree.She loves how her new job fits into her crazy schedule, and allows her to work from home so she can be there for her kids.The owner of BMC Accounting is a veteran himself who serves many veteran-owned business, so he understands the lifestyle and the struggles that come with military life. When Amanda graduates this month, she plans on becoming an Enrolled Agent to help with tax returns. Her ultimate goal is to be a CPA when her family returns to the United States. Here's Amanda's advice to those who are still looking for remote work: Just because what you are looking for isn't available right now, doesn't mean it will not be available in a few months.So focus on what you can do now. Don't stop learning and improving yourself because all of those months waiting are an opportunity to make yourself even more marketable. Read the VirtForce blogs, polish your resume and eventually, someone will see how hard you've been working and how much potential you have. Tune in to hear how Amanda stayed busy with professional development while waiting on the right job to come along. If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Amanda Mitchell LinkedIn

FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) – https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course – http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

Speak Up ― Write it Right Part 277. #Hired: Be Clear About Your Hard-Lines76. Stop Apologizing ― Write it Right Part 175. #Hired: Just Go For It74. Or Should I Go? ― Resigning Part 273. #Hired: Stand Out with Video

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Show Notes | October 1, 2020 | Episode 78

There is a bad four-letter word plaguing your workplace emails and chats that you didn’t even realize was bad. And he has a five-letter friend he likes to hang out with.

Last week, we talked about words you are using in work emails and chats that are sabotaging your career like the overuse of, “I’m sorry,” and how cutting it out of your vocabulary can put you on more equal footing with your colleagues.

In the second half of this two-part series, we’re going over a few more words, starting with the ugly four-letter word, “just.”

It usually shows up in phrases like, “I just wanted to follow up on …” or “I just wanted to send you a friendly reminder.”

Using words like “just” are a way to tiptoe into chats and emails you subconsciously feel should be softened.

The problem with softening is that you might have a great idea or leadership skill that is too subdued. You can’t truly be taken seriously if you are constantly undermining yourself with saboteur language.

Getting more visibility starts with effective communication and eliminating, “I just …” will help you get there.

Using soft language can be otherwise said as using fear language. Fear that you may have gone too far or that you might step on someone’s toes, but the good news is, that is 100% in your head.

You want to project the presence of a capable and qualified team member.

Here are some ways to break the habit of softening your sentences with “just”:

First, allow yourself to write exactly what you are thinking whether it has “just” in it or not. Just get it down. Example: “I just wanted to reach out to give you a heads up that I’m off work tomorrow.”
Then, go back and rewrite the sentence in a way that takes out the fear language. Example: “I’m reaching out to remind you I’m off work tomorrow. Hope you have a great day.”

The tone, or underlying message, implies that your coworker may have forgotten you’re not going to be available.

The new sentence makes no assumptions that you may have forgotten or not. It’s showing you’re doing your due diligence as a team member to remind your coworker and extending good will for the next day.

Using “just” can make your sentence sound like a rushed afterthought. Cutting it out makes the message more intentional.

Now, for the five-letter friend who likes to hang out with “just.” We’re talking about “think.”

It most often appears as, “I just think …” which for all the previously discussed reasons, you already know is a phrase you want to avoid.

So, instead we’re going to talk about the connotation of “think” and how you can make a selection that will sound more professional.

At work you are going to be asked about your opinions, plans and ideas a lot. Much of that will be over Zoom meetings, email and chat.

Here’s why you should avoid the word “think” when delivering those thoughts -- “think” means you have not quite decided.

When your boss asks, “Which one?” and you say, “I think the second one,” you’re leaving a level of uncertainty in the decision, and managers want team members who put weight and muscle behind their recommendations.

An even worse answer would be, “I think the second choice, but that’s just my opinion.” That’s when you see those two nasty words – “think” and “just” – come together, resulting in a huge self-inflicted blow to your own credibility.

Even though you gave an answer, the way you said it is as if you said nothing at all.

If you find yourself using both of those words in the same sentence, don’t let it escape your keyboard or your mouth.

A more solid response would be, “I would select the second option because it’s the most aligned with our spring goals.” This sentence speaks volumes about your understanding of the company.

When you use soft language, or fear language, you are taming what your mind is thinking. Instead, speak with authority and knowledge.

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Show Notes | September 29, 2020 | Episode 77

As a military spouse with a toddler at home, Hannah Ledford knew she wanted a job she could take with her to the next duty station and allow her to work from home when needed.

With a PhD in physiology, at first Hannah was set on going the academic route ⁠— becoming a professor and doing research at a university.

When the timing did not work out due to an upcoming PCS combined with COVID, Hannah began looking into other career fields.

With its resources and vast network, VirtForce demonstrated that remote work was a viable option, so in her cover letter Hannah communicated she was solely looking for remote positions.

Hannah is now a regulatory medical writer for a California-based agency focused on medical and technical writing for large pharmaceutical and tech companies.

Hannah writes the documentation that is produced during a clinical trial including protocols and clinical study reports.

Since it is primarily a writing job that can be done from anywhere, Hannah was able to negotiate for a full-time position with remote, part-time flexibility.

When she first started interviewing for the job, Hannah was sure to communicate that she is a military spouse whose husband’s job requires frequent flying, so at times, she would need to work remotely.

Hannah works on-site part of the time and remotely part of the time. Since she has to commute on the on-site days, negotiating the ability to work remotely on the days she needs to be at home with her toddler was really important to her.

With an undergrad in English and a PhD in physiology, Hannah is enjoying being able to write all day and keep up with the latest scientific literature and cutting edge medications and technologies.

Hannah's advice to other candidates currently applying for remote jobs is to be really clear with yourself about your hard-lines — know where are you willing to comprise and where you need to be unwavering.

Hannah was clear about her own needs as a candidate. She did not want to be in a position where the employer thought she would be remote temporarily, and eventually come into the office every day, and she had the expectation of eventually working from home full-time.

Tune in to hear more about how long Hannah looked for remote work and how the COVID-19 pandemic both hurt and helped during her job search.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) – https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course – http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

Stop Apologizing ― Write it Right Part 175. #Hired: Just Go For It74. Or Should I Go? ― Resigning Part 273. #Hired: Stand Out with Video72. Should I Stay? — Resigning Part 171. #Hired: Work Social Media

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Show Notes | September 24, 2020 | Episode 76

There are some words in your email and chat vocabulary you should NEVER use at work. No. We're not talking about LOL and JK. These words are much sneakier and are covertly sabotaging your career.

One of the biggest tools you'll use in the remote and virtual workplace is email and chat. In this two-part series, we'll identify words you should be eliminating in your day-to-day communications with your remote team.

Hot words people use a lot that intentionally, or unintentionally, communicate their emotions or incompetencies include:

Sorry FineJustI think

We're going to point out some of the worst of the worst and explain which words are truly sabotaging your career.

First of all, stop apologizing.

Often, when someone sends a chat and you're away at lunch you can be tempted to say, "Sorry, I was at lunch," or if your calendars don't align, "I'm sorry, I can't seem to make it that day."

The true meaning of an apology should be realized when you've actually done something wrong. If you owe someone an apology, you should pick up the phone and make a personal call to apologize.

When we throw around apologies and the words, "I'm sorry" in casual chat, we are devaluing the meaning of a true apology.

But that's not even the worst part. Every time you slide "sorry" into a sentence, you're submitting that the situation is somehow your fault.

Next time you are tempted to use "sorry" in an email or chat, try swapping it for a different phrase like, "Thank you for [fill in the blank]."

Instead of, "I'm sorry I'm not available. How about Thursday?" Try, "Thank you for taking the time to schedule this meeting. I'm not available at that time. How about Thursday?"

You will notice a world of difference in the way you see yourself and the way you present yourself to your remote coworkers.

A key factor of effective communication is to extract sabotaging language and replace it with architect language.

For a refresher on architect language, listen to episode 11 of the VirtForce podcast "You are what you speak" with Mark England, linked in the show notes below.

Why do we accidentally overuse "I'm sorry?" It is our intent to take responsibility of the situation and that misplaced intent sends us down the wrong path.

For workplace relationships, you have to learn to interpret whether it was meant to be your responsibility or not. In most cases, it's not.

Some would say the overuse of "sorry" is a people pleasing tendency, but it can also be a sign of wanting to take ownership in the workplace.

So, what is the difference between responsibility and ownership?

In the workplace, responsibility is defined by tasks, objectives and activities that are assigned to you as part of your job that will not get done without you.

Ownership is an expression of leadership. It is achievable when you have reached a level of excellence in your own work, so you can then develop and lead others.

Knowing how your work impacts the whole organization helps you develop vision and the ability to guide and advise your colleagues.

The bottom line is, don't dump needless apologies into every sentence. Break that habit! Pull "I'm sorry" out of your emails, chats and text vocabulary, and start communicating at a higher level.

Once you eliminate this saboteur from your email and text you will then begin to cut it out of your verbal vocabulary, and take ownership of your career as a mature professional.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

"You are what you speak" with Mark England

Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

Good to Great by Jim Collins

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

MilSpouse CoffeeHouse Podcast

In this episode,

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Show Notes | September 22, 2020 | Episode 75

The military lifestyle can be frustrating when you have to pick a job you may not necessarily love, but it fits where you are at the time.

As a mom and step parent, Leila Hoy wanted a remote job she could do from home, so she could spend holidays and summers bonding with her blended family.

Leila heard about VirtForce through some milspouse friends in Jacksonville, Florida when looking to connect with more people like herself ― stay-at-home parents who move around a lot and have spouses who deploy.

For a long time, Leila struggled with feeling like she is good enough, and that she can succeed and balance it all.

Leila read motivational books and listened to podcasts like VirtForce just to keep chugging along, but somewhere along the way that led her to start believing in herself again.

Now, Leila is head of graphic design for GFI Apparel, a California-based apparel company whose name stands for "Go For It."

Ironically, Leila got on the VirtForce Facebook Group and typed in "graphic designer" and the GFI post came up, and she said to herself, "I'm just going to go for it."

She messaged the employee who posted the job opening. They asked Leila to create some test graphics and within a few days, she had an interview.

She had no idea GFI was an acronym for "go for it" when she first saw the post.

As a graphic designer, Leila is loving her new role that enables her to practice her passion for art on a daily basis. Leila has a lot of creative freedom in her role as head of graphic design. It's not just a job where she's told what to do. She's given a project where she can demonstrate her skills.

Her team consists of a strong group of military spouses, stay-at-home moms and blended families who have a lot to balance, but work together to get the job done.

For those who are still looking for a job that fits their lifestyle, Leila encourages you to keep looking. Don't give up. Believe in yourself.

Serendipitously, Leila followed the GFI model ― she just went for it, and got #hired.

Tune in to hear more about how Leila went from freelancing to finding a remote career opportunity.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Leila Hoy LinkedIn

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) – https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course – http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

Or Should I Go? ― Resigning Part 273. #Hired: Stand Out with Video72. Should I Stay? — Resigning Part 171. #Hired: Work Social Media70. VA Certified in 5 Weeks69. #Hired: Finding a Job that will PCS with Me

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Show Notes | September 17, 2020 | Episode 74

It can be tempting to keep your head down, keep a smile on your face and keep working until you're totally burnt out in a role, but if you do, and especially if you are working remotely, how could you expect your management team to know how you feel?

It's kind of like a relationship, your manager can't read your mind. They look at your face and your work performance and hope those two things match up.

When you're clear about what you want (even if that changes) then the management team can clearly see how to keep you, or how to prepare for your eventual exit.

Last week, in our episode "Should I Stay" we discussed reasons why you may want to reconsider submitting your resignation notice. This week, we're talking about how to really know when it's time to leave and how to appropriately step away from a position.

As I mentioned last week, when my friend got an offer for another job she felt guilty about completely blindsiding her boss and her team. Just a few months earlier, she was so happy in her role and had no plans on leaving. I wanted to know what happened?

Turns out, the job really went in a different direction and it pushed her out of her comfort zone. When asked if she had talked to her boss, she said she hadn't.

What she didn't know is being open with your management team can do two things:

Set your manager's expectations of how you can grow in a position that works for you.
Can help set the tone for your exit if the job is ultimately not working out.

Since my friend's boss had no idea she was dissatisfied or planned to leave, the best thing she could do is stop sitting on her secret and tell her boss during the next virtual face-to-face opportunity that she was leaving and they needed to work on a transition plan that would not leave the team high and dry.

She salvaged the situation and relationship with her boss before it went sour, but making the decision to leave is not always so black and white.

There are a few red flags that should definitely make you leave your job:

You feel stressed.
You feel dissatisfied with the way you are managed.
A toxic work environment.
No growth track.

Regardless of which of these red flags you're experiencing, there is an appropriate way to leave. While two weeks is the accepted industry standard, some of the most seamless transitions require a little more time, but they can happen in as little as one hour.

Your goal as an exiting employee is to ensure everything you've worked on is traceable, processed and ready for the next team member.

Generally new positions come with a desired start date, but before you accept all the new terms ensure that there are at least two weeks between the day you submit your notice and the day you start your new job.

Don't feel pressure by the phrase, "How soon can you start?"

If a company is going to hire you, they are going to hire you just as much in two weeks as they would in four weeks.

When you explain you are leaving, you don't have to give a reason for your departure. For the love of the military, do not use these excuses:

I'm PCSing.
I'm pregnant.
Military life is just too much to hold down a job right now.

While on the surface these sound like good excuses to you, as a military spouse you are sabotaging the career chances for others milspouses and creating a stereotype that contributes to the unemployment epidemic of our community.

There are more ways ― deeper, more truthful ways ― to communicate you are moving on than the previous three reasons.

Dig deeper and be truthful about the real reason, or be silent. The truth is completely personal to you and the bottom line is this job is no longer working for you.

This episode eliminates default excuses and replaces them with kind ways to tell the truth.

Tune in to this week's episode to learn more about how to know whe...

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Show Notes | September 15, 2020 | Episode 73

As an Air Force spouse moving across the country with her husband, Emily Snyder had to shift her career goals and expectations.

After taking some job opportunities that weren't the right fit, she took some time to self reflect. She narrowed down what she needed in a job and set out to find remote work.

That's when Emily discovered VirtForce, and landed a job with Sitka, a health care technology company that has been 100% virtual since day one, enabling Emily to work from anywhere.

Emily looked for virtual work for nearly a year before finding the right employer, so she advises listeners to stay true to themselves, set expectations and get creative.

Emily did her research to understand the company she was applying to and their product. She tailored her work experience and got creative with her application.

Applying to a company that connects patients, physicians and specialists through video calls, Emily made a video cover letter that really impressed the hiring manager and made her stand out from the other 200 applicants.

Really do your due diligence, she says. Don't just slap your resume in an email and send it off. Get creative, so your resume will shine through.

Since Sitka is growing so quickly, Emily has taken on projects outside of her role on the clinical operations team. She's excited about the opportunity to wear multiple hats and help the company grow.

VirtForce helped Emily in so many other ways than just its job board. She regularly listens to the podcast because its resources are multidimensional and not focused on a particular job or title.

When she was #hired at Sitka, Emily went back and listened to the episode on how to set up a work-from-home office to make sure she had everything she needed for her new remote role.

Tune in to hear more about what Emily thinks of startup culture and how she stays connected to her coworkers without ever leaving the house.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

VirtForce Job Board

Your Work From Home Office

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Emily Snyder LinkedIn

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) – https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course – http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

Should I Stay? — Resigning Part 171. #Hired: Work Social Media70. VA Certified in 5 Weeks69. #Hired: Finding a Job that will PCS with Me68. Transition & Remote Work67. #Hired: Don't Wait to Apply

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Show Notes | September 10, 2020 | Episode 72

When you get an offer for a promotion or higher-paying job, it can be tempting to immediately turn in a resignation letter. However, there are several reasons why you should stop and think it over first.

When a great coworker leaves, you wonder, "Why didn't the company make a counteroffer?" You'd be surprised to learn it's often because the employee never asked!

In one case, the employee assumed if the company wanted them to stay or was willing to pay them more, the boss would have said so. On the other hand, when the company received the employee's resignation letter, they understood it to mean, "I quit!"

A leadership team and an employee can be on completely different pages about what giving notice means.

Tune in to the first episode of this two-part series that will help you decide if leaving is right for you, and if it is, the most amicable ways to let your employer know.

Resigning from a position is a major decision that will ultimately leave your personal character on display. The pressure is real when the offer is better for you and your family, but you don't want to let your current boss and coworkers down.

If you do decide to leave, timing is everything, and while the pay might be better, there's always risk when taking a new job — Will you get along with the new team? Will you live up to the pay scale and performance expectations?

Before you accept an offer:

1: Do your research on the company and set clear expectations 2: Talk to your current employer

You must advocate for yourself. Management is not always going to do it for you. A conversation with your employer can often lead to a better position within the company.

It's important to state your goals early and often. Let your company know about your changing lifestyle needs and that they might lose you.

The employer will likely see your initiative as an asset, and you will know by their reaction if staying is an option for you or not.

Remember, the first offer that comes along may not be the best and showing loyalty can ensure your next job comes with a better title and salary.

Your 3 and 5-year marks of employment are when your value goes up as well as benefits such as hourly wage, salary, PTO and 401k, which can all be part of the negotiation when you're ready to move into a new role.

In reality, it's not always about a higher salary, new title or climbing the career ladder. Sometimes, leaving is about finding a better fit for the lifestyle you want.

Tune in to this week's episode to learn more.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

MilSpouse CoffeeHouse Podcast

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60): https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium: http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

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Show Notes | September 8, 2020 | Episode 71

As a working mom of three and a PhD candidate, Lantisha Scott overcame COVID-19 quarantine layoffs with a flexible opportunity that supports her busy lifestyle.

Lantisha discovered VirtForce through a Facebook Group for military spouses with advanced degrees. Lantisha is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in clinical psychology.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the school where Lantisha was working as a substitute teacher transitioned to online learning, leaving her without a job.

After a month of searching, Lantisha landed a job as a customer service expert with SimplrFlex. Through VirtForce, Lantisha found a job she could do from home while OCONUS.

She loves the opportunity to work from home, help other people and earn an income on her terms. She can adjust her workweek to full-time or part-time depending on what works best for her schedule.

Lantisha encourages other job seekers to engage with the VirtForce community on Facebook, and plans to continue in her role as she finishes her degree.

Tune in to hear more about how VirtForce and SimplrFlex help Lantisha balance her busy lifestyle.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

Military Spouses with Advanced Degrees

VirtForce Job Board

SimplrFlex

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Lantisha Scott LinkedIn

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) – https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course – http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

VA Certified in 5 Weeks69. #Hired: Finding a Job that will PCS with Me68. Transition & Remote Work67. #Hired: Don't Wait to Apply66. Army Wife Network65. #Hired: Know What Your Skills Are Worth

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Show Notes | September 3, 2020 | Episode 70

April Wilhelm built a successful remote career all while taking care of her premature newborn daughter in the NICU and living from hotel to hotel.

Now, she's created a course so other spouses can take care of their families and have a career by becoming a Certified Remote Virtual Assistant.

April and her husband, who is active duty Navy, are both military brats and wanted to create something that would affect others and make a difference in the military community.

They each saw their fathers have great careers in the military, and that their mothers could have used something to help support them make a bigger impact for their families.

April was a single mom before she reconnected with her middle school sweetheart and followed in her mother's footsteps, becoming a military spouse stationed in Japan.

A year and a half later, April was expecting her second child. She had gone home to visit family, and en route to LAX to go back to Japan, April went into preterm labor. She was only 26 weeks.

April gave birth to her daughter Annabelle at an unfamiliar hospital in Pasadena. She was a world away from the base and her family and friends.

She and her husband were unable to stay at the hospital, and ended up paying $3,000 over the course of 90 days just to find a hotel to go to at the end of the night.

As a self described workaholic with a need to support others by nature, April needed to regain control and give back, so she poured herself into the remote digital marketing business she had at the time.

It saved her life. She regained her identity. She built up her confidence, and the work gave her the control she didn't have in her personal life. It was also flexible enough for April to provide an income, while being there for her family.

Thanks to technology, employment has changed. The workforce has changed. Being a virtual assistant allows you to have a career you can mold into any lifestyle.

Tune in to this week's episode to learn more about the VA industry, the types of people who typically thrive in this role and what April's course has to offer.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

Remote Virtual Assistant Course

aprilwilhelm.com

Stay At Home Profit: The VA HUB

MilSpouse CoffeeHouse Podcast

April Wilhelm LinkedIn

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60): https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium: http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

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Show Notes | September 1, 2020 | Episode 069

As a milspouse, Megan Wollenberg got tired of getting hired, working for a year or two, then leaving for the next duty station and having to do it all over again.

So she set out to find a job that would move around the country (or even the world) with her. That's how she discovered VirtForce.

Although not directly hired through VirtForce, Megan used its resources to set up her resume, get advice on interview questions, figure out who to talk to and where to look for remote jobs.

Now, she's a contractor for the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

Currently at their last duty station in Honolulu, Hawaii, Megan and her husband plan to move to Kansas in a few years when he retires.

With her new remote job, Megan will be able to pause work during the PCS and pick up with the same job once they get settled.

Megan was previously a GS employee. Moving every few years made it difficult for her to climb the ladder. Knowing she will be able to take her job with her wherever she goes is a huge relief.

Megan encourages job seekers to set time aside when looking for a job. Otherwise, they could be up all night looking at job postings and networking on LinkedIn.

Don't give up. Don't just take anything, and ask questions, she says.

Many jobs come through connections and oftentimes, military spouses don't know where or when they'll be moving, so take the time to network.

Tune in to hear more about Megan's new way of life - from changing jobs at each duty station to now having a job that will move with her.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Job Board

VirtForce Facebook Group

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Megan Wollenberg LinkedIn

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) – https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course – http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

Transition & Remote Work67. #Hired: Don't Wait to Apply66. Army Wife Network65. #Hired: Know What Your Skills Are Worth64. VirtForce Candidate Profiles63. #Hired: New Remote Career + New Friend

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Show Notes | August 27, 2020 | Episode 68

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partners at Instant Teams.

In this episode, Kimber talks with Jen Amos of US VetWealth about military transition and how remote work can support.

We also learn from Jen how suicide is a very present danger in transitioning service members. We explore some of the causes and potential solutions to overcoming this issue in the transitioning community.

Jen lost her dad while he was on active duty in the US Navy. The death certificate said his death was unknown or that he may have drowned at sea.

As Jen and her sister learn more about his story, they’ve discovered he may have committed suicide, but the Navy classified his death that way so his family could still receive their military benefits.

Jen recognizes there are many reasons why a veteran could commit suicide. One way she and her husband Scott are combating the trend is by giving veterans a sense of purpose after they transition out.

Military members always know what’s coming next for their career. When they transition out they have to make those decisions on their own.

Through US VetWealth, Jen and Scott are helping veterans figure out their purpose and how to align their finances to support it.

Members of the US military are unique. When they retire, they are young and still have several more decades before they can officially retire.

The internet has been a common theme throughout Jen Amos’ life.

Jen started building an online community beginning with MSN chat rooms in the 5th grade.

After being fired from several jobs after college, she then went into sales, which led to running her own social media and marketing agency.

Today, she is the director of community relations at US VetWealth. She is also the producer of the Wealth and Liberty podcast and the producer and host of the podcast Holding Down the Fort.

Jen started Holding Down the Fort about a year ago to better understand the current needs of active duty military spouses.

She’s found that military spouses don’t always need help because they are so resilient and resourceful, but she hopes the podcast provides additional stories and resources that validate where military spouses are on their journey.

The podcast covers financial benefits, specifically for spouses who might not be receiving the information first hand, entrepreneurship and mental health.

Links and Resources

US VetWealth (Contact: jen@usvetwealth.com)

The Transition Savings Plan

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60): https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium: http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Instant Teams Workforce

Instant Teams LinkedIn

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

About Our Sponsor

Instant Teams serves professionals across the military-connected community whose lifestyles demand communication and flexibility. Their automated remote team innovation software, Arti, uniquely positions Instant Teams to serve a high growth customer base, and improve the employment prospects of military spouses and other military-connected individuals.

Join the Instant Teams workforce today at this link: bit.ly/InstantTeams

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Show Notes | August 25, 2020 | Episode 067

Considered a nonessential employee, Elizabeth Raines was laid off from her tutoring job at a local elementary school during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After joining VirtForce, she quickly turned her situation around and got a remote job with e-commerce giant Amazon.

Elizabeth discovered VirtForce a year ago when she met founder Kimber Hill through the Spouses of Student Aviators group while their husbands were going through the same training in Florida.

Since she came across VirtForce, Elizabeth had been looking for jobs casually, unsure if she wanted to work from home. Elizabeth enjoys working with others and wasn't sure if remote work would be her ideal job.

Given the current situation with COVID, she was forced into it. So far, she likes it a lot. With a team group chat, she still gets the social interaction she needs from her coworkers without being face to face.

Elizabeth's biggest piece of advice? Be proactive! Don't wait to apply. Once Elizabeth stopped waiting a few days to apply, she got a call back.

Literally the same day Elizabeth received the news that she would not be returning to her tutoring job, VirtForce posted an opportunity with Amazon.

Elizabeth jumped on it, applying within a few hours.

Tune in to hear more about how Elizabeth bounced back after being laid off and kicked her job search into high gear!

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

Spouses of Student Aviators Facebook Group

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Elizabeth Raines LinkedIn

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) – https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course – http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

Army Wife Network65. #Hired: Know What Your Skills Are Worth64. VirtForce Candidate Profiles63. #Hired: New Remote Career + New Friend62. Digital Skill Readiness61. #Hired: Don’t Rely on Online Applications

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Show Notes | August 20, 2020 | Episode 66

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partners at Instant Teams.

In this episode, Kimber talks with Army Wife Network Owner and "Commander" Sharita Knobloch.

Sharita refers to the events that led to her current job as "one big no-plan plan." First of all, she didn't expect to fall in love with a soldier, and she never could have imagined volunteer blogging in 2014 would lead to her role today.

Army Wife Network is a source for all things military life. The network's mission is to engage, educate, encourage and empower its members through resources, podcasts, blogs and more.

Even though Army is in the title, the network's resources apply to all branches of the military, and not just spouses, but also friends, parents, siblings and even business owners.

When a military family gets PCS orders, they have questions: What's the best school district? Restaurant? Dentist? What's the weather like?

Which makes Post with the Most, a detailed guide of 45 Army-specific duty stations around the globe, one of Army Wife Network's most popular resources.

Most of the network's content is generated by an army of volunteers spread across the globe, writing about their experiences ranging from PCSing and how to embrace the suck, to parenting and infertility.

Milspouse life is an adventure and Sharita wants other spouses to know they are not alone in this journey thanks to resources like Army Wife Network and VirtForce.

Tune in to this week's episode to hear what's next for Army Wife Network and how you can get involved.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

Army Wife Network (contact: info@armywifenetwork.com)

Army Wife Network Podcast

Army Wife Talk Radio Show #742: VirtForce

Post with the Most

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60): https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium: http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Instant Teams Workforce

Instant Teams LinkedIn

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

About Our Sponsor

Join the Instant Teams workforce today at this link: bit.ly/InstantTeams

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Show Notes | August 18, 2020 | Episode 065

Jeannine Ricker heard about VirtForce by accident.

She was perusing through a couple of other military affiliated and spouse employment opportunity websites when she just happened to stumble upon the VirtForce podcast.

Through the podcast Jeannine was able to improve her LinkedIn profile and virtual interview skills to get #hired.

After a PCS, Jeannine explored virtual employment for about four to six months before she solidified the direction she wanted for her remote career.

With a master's degree, Jeannine was overqualified for many part-time remote positions, but found an opportunity where she can prove her worth.

She is now a remote administrative assistant for a small medical practice focused in infectious disease. She works about three hours a day, or 15 hours a week, in her part-time role.

Jeannine landed the job after learning remote interview tactics through VirtForce's free course How to Ace Your Virtual Interview. It gave her a window into what the hiring manager would see during her virtual job interview.

Jeannine's advice for listeners? Perfect your elevator pitch and know what your skills are worth.

Even if a salary is posted and you are overqualified, Jeannine advises to at least give the opportunity a shot to show what you are really worth.

Knowing what you have and what you can do to help build your career is going to make employers more willing to pay you what you should be getting paid, she says.

As a military spouse, Jeannine finds remote work - or as she puts it, the opportunity to do what she can whenever she can - very helpful.

Tune in to hear more about why you should do your research on skills and salary.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

How to Negotiate Like a Pro

Jeannine Ricker LinkedIn

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) – https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course – http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Candidate Profiles63. #Hired: New Remote Career + New Friend62. Digital Skill Readiness61. #Hired: Don't Rely on Online Applications60. Apply with Confidence59. Cover Letters & Design: Your Secret Weapons

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Show Notes | August 13, 2020 | Episode 64

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partners at Instant Teams.

In this episode, we're walking you through the ins and outs of your VirtForce candidate profile, including how to complete a profile of your own and why it's important.

Your candidate profile is a way for us at VirtForce to track what you're interested in and what kinds of jobs you're looking for. It's going to help you get contacted when opportunities in areas you're interested in arise.

Start your profile: https://cpr.members-only.online/

Step 1: Share contact info including your name, email, LinkedIn, Facebook, (Definitely share! Sometimes we like to see what you look like professionally when considering you for a job) and education details, including certifications, software/tech, skills and licenses.Step 2: Overview the info you entered and review it for accuracy.

Next, you will be prompted to take qualification questionnaires that apply to the industry you are interested in working in such as tax and finance, medical and health care, real estate and customer service.

We want you to know any and all information included in your candidate profile is secure and can be updated at anytime. It's recommended to check your candidate profile every 90 days.

Request to update your profile: https://cp.update.members-only.online/

Tune in for a step-by-step guide to creating and updating a VirtForce candidate profile. This episode was created after a Facebook Live demonstration on how to complete a candidate profile.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

Join the Instant Teams Workforce

Instant Teams LinkedIn

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Start your profile - https://cpr.members-only.online/

Request to update your profile - https://cp.update.members-only.online/

Resume Boot CampFreemium Course (Episodes 47-60) - https://bit.ly/RBCEp47Premium Course - http://bit.ly/vf-bc

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

About Our Sponsor

Join the Instant Teams workforce today at this link: bit.ly/InstantTeams

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Show Notes | August 11, 2020 | Episode 063

After joining VirtForce, Alicia Emmel found two surprises – a killer new remote career AND a new friend.

She researched different companies by combing through the VirtForce Facebook Group's posts and comments, and found an opportunity to become a revenue cycle analyst at Ensemble Health Partners.

Alicia also met amazing Army wife Kristy Stearnes (not pictured) through the group who sent her job postings and positive vibes through her entire job search process.

As a piece of advice, Alicia (pictured above with her wife Tiff) would encourage you to do your research and put in the time. A job is NOT going to fall in your lap!

She admits, while it is easy to get discouraged, if you put in the time and effort, you will get a call.

Every time a hiring manager asked, “Alicia, how did you hear about this job?” She said, “VirtForce!”

Nine times out of 10, HR recruiters were interested in the group. Not only did they ask Alicia more about it, but they became members to see who is out there looking for jobs.

So, keep in mind, there could be HR recruiters among us checking out the group. Hi recruiters. Welcome! ????

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Facebook Group

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Digital Skill Readiness61. #Hired: Don't Rely on Online Applications60. Apply with Confidence59. Cover Letters & Design: Your Secret Weapons58. Federal Resumes57. Overcome Lack of Experience & Defeat Resume Gaps

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Show Notes | August 6, 2020 | Episode 62

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partners at Instant Teams. It comes with a Free Download: Remote Tools by Instant Teams.

Just knowing how to use the Internet does not prepare you for a remote job. That’s why learning digital office communication and collaboration tools now, will give you a leg up when the right opportunity comes along.

Whether the company you work for prefers to manage projects through an app or simply keeps a running spreadsheet, once you become familiar with the functions and purpose, you can apply those skills to any platform.

Think of a new or beginner piano player. At first, they are concentrated on which keys their fingers should be hitting. Once they’ve mastered the keys, that's when they really start making music.

In this episode, we’re taking you beyond digital literacy. We’re making sure you take the next step towards digital readiness.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and ResourcesTake the Digital Skills Readiness QuizJoin the Instant Teams WorkforceInstant Teams LinkedInAnne Schons LinkedInKimber Hill LinkedIn

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Remote Tools by Instant Teams

Digital Skills Readiness Quiz

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

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Show Notes | August 4, 2020 | Episode 061

What’s the one piece of job search advice Laura would get tattooed across her forehead if she could? "Don’t solely rely on online applications!"

After taking a few months off after having her daughter and moving back to the US from overseas, Laura landed her dream job as a part-time, remote career coach. Laura is certain she would NOT have the job she has today if she just applied online. It was an informational interview that led to Laura getting #hired.

Laura will be the first to admit, it is intimidating to network. It’s hard to build a network, especially when you’re looking for a remote job because it all must be done virtually. But, informational interviews, which is simply talking to people who have the job you want, can help determine if you are even searching in the right career field.

You can also get special access to opportunities that might not be posted yet because you took the time and effort to build up your network. Tune in to hear more about how Laura balanced devoting time to her job search with a new baby.

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60. Apply with Confidence59. Cover Letters & Design: Your Secret Weapons58. Federal Resumes57. Overcome Lack of Experience & Defeat Resume Gaps56. Frame for Career Pivot55. Sculpt Work Experience

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Show Notes | June 29, 2020 | Episode 060

Guess what? You've made it to the end. You've polished a stellar resume and written a persuasive cover letter that are sure to get you the job. But what's next? In this episode, we prepare you to apply with confidence. From going through your final checklist to actually saving and exporting the files, we've got you covered. Make sure to tune in to hear our inside tip to stand out from the crowd even after you've applied.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

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Check Out Other Resume Boot Camp Episodes47. Resume Real Estate48. Resume Format & Content49. Strategy for Targeted Resumes50. Strategy for Keywords51. Strategy for Quantifying Resumes52. Featuring Education53. Hard & Soft Skills54. Transferable Skills & Work Experience55. Sculpt Work Experience56. Frame for Career Pivot57. Overcome Lack of Experience & Defeat Resume Gaps58. Federal Resumes59. Cover Letters & Design: Your Secret Weapons60. Apply with Confidence

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Show Notes | June 29, 2020 | Episode 059

Cover letters. Phew. Okay. Let's take a deep breath. We know these are often an applicant's least favorite thing. Want to know a secret? The trick to cover letters is not to skimp or provide the minimal amount of effort. Your cover letter is not just an extra chore, rather it is an opportunity to show off experiences that are not easily verbalized in a resume. In this episode, we talk about how cover letters (both written and video) and design are your secret weapons when applying for a job.

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Show Notes | June 29, 2020 | Episode 058

If you’re writing a federal resume, you’ve got to follow a considerable set of standards which detail your full work experience. When you’re applying for federal jobs, your resume is considered your job application form and not just an overview of your skills and work history. In this episode, we walk through what makes a federal resume different, how to format a federal resume, and how to sculpt your work experience specifically for a federal resume. Don't get overwhelmed by the idea of a federal resume. Tune in now to break it down.

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Show Notes | June 29, 2020 | Episode 057

Lack of experience and resume gaps are oftentimes something we dread. But guess what? There are many ways to overcome these issues. In this episode, we recommend focusing on 2 areas over the course of the next 12 weeks: 1) Volunteer Work and Internships 2) Pursuing a new certification. We also cover one of the best ways to overcome the resume gap or to avoid looking like you have arbitrarily hopped from job to job. Did you ever realize you can totally ditch specific dates? You can also pursue organizing your work experience functionally instead of chronologically. Let's dive in.

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Show Notes | June 29, 2020 | Episode 056

So, you’re in a career field that you’re tired of and you want to pivot. Maybe you’re good at more than one thing, like Digital Marketing and Sales. You’d like to explore both career avenues while you’re applying rather than limiting yourself to one industry. In this episode, we introduce you to a magical strategy to help you create a resume that speaks to the career you want, not the one you have. Tune in to see how this strategy can revolutionize your job search process.

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Show Notes | June 29, 2020 | Episode 055

There are many approaches and ways to compile your work experience on your resume, but VirtForce has set the BAR as your standard to remember moving forward. Consider the following three strategies that encompass the acronym B.A.R.: Bullet Points, Action Verbs, and Relevancy. To learn how to apply this method and raise the BAR on your resume, tune in to this episode of Resume Boot Camp.

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Show Notes | June 29, 2020 | Episode 054

Many military spouses and transitioning service members ask, “How do you take your military job and put it into civilian terms?” The answer is that you have to learn to recognize the skills you developed, verbalize them, and highlight them. One of the easiest ways to do this is to add your experiences to your resume as work experience. In this episode of Resume Boot Camp, we cover transferable skills and how you might write about them in the work experience section of your resume.

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Show Notes | June 29, 2020 | Episode 053

Your skills appear in every section of your resume and cover letter, not just your skills section. There are two types of skills that are important to know and represent: Hard and Soft Skills. You might be asking yourself,"What’s more important for the skills section of my resume: Hard or Soft Skills?" In the remote work force, your ability to harness technology and hard skills is arguably more important to demonstrate on your resume than soft skills; however, we should not neglect soft skills altogether. Tune in to this episode of Resume Boot Camp to learn our favorite strategy for integrating both hard and soft skills into your resume.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!Resume Boot Camp

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Show Notes | June 29, 2020 | Episode 052

One of the first things people wonder when tackling their resume is, "How and when should I highlight my education?" In this episode of Resume Boot Camp, we walk through how to feature education on your resume whether you have Completed or In-Progress Degrees, Incomplete Degrees, High School Diplomas or GEDs, and/or Certificates, Licenses, and Professional Development. Regardless of the level of your educational attainment, we have a strategy for you.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

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Show Notes | June 29, 2020 | Episode 051

One of our favorite strategies for developing an outstanding resume is QUANTIFYING the content in your work experience. Quantifying means to express the quantity or to measure your work in some way. We love this strategy because using it is easier than you might think. We encourage you to try to quantify as many work experience bullet points as possible and associate numerical digits with your work experience because it stands out! In a sea of words, numerical digits pop!

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Show Notes | June 29, 2020 | Episode 050

Don’t let the term “keyword” mystify you. Keywords are nothing more than basic search terms. For example, if you’re looking for someone to remodel your house, you may search the internet for the following keywords: general contractor, home remodel, or construction services. Similarly, when a company is looking for the right candidate, they may search your resume for keywords that are relevant to the position they want to fill. What does this mean for you? You need to pick the right keywords for your resume and stash them like buried treasure throughout the document!

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

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Show Notes | June 29, 2020 | Episode 049

A resume template, which we talk about in previous episodes of Resume Boot Camp, is the frame for your resume. You can augment or tailor this template for each position to which you apply. In this episode, we want to encourage you to have a template for every position or industry type you would like to work in. In the long run, this not only makes your application process more smooth but also positions you as an ideal candidate.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

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Show Notes | June 29, 2020 | Episode 048

Have you struggled with wondering where to even start on your resume? How to format it and what in the world even goes in it? There are many ways to format your resume, and some are more creative than others; however, we want you to master the foundation of the VirtForce Standard Resume Format before we embark into a colorful resume. In this episode, we break down not only the Standard Resume Format but also the sections that go into creating your resume content. Pull out your resume and let's get to work.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

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Show Notes | June 29, 2020 | Episode 047

Have you ever heard the phrase, “If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter”? It’s a joke about how being concise actually takes more time than writing dense and lengthy content. The same concept applies to your resume. In this episode of Resume Boot Camp, we talk about how to make the most of limited resume real estate.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

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Show Notes | June 25, 2020 | Episode 46

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partners at Instant Teams.

We are thrilled to sit down with Ben Killoy from Military Veteran Dad. After his position was eliminated at a traditional brick-and-mortar, Ben was able to transition his "side hustle" into his purpose. He created his business entirely from home and is able to virtually serve dads worldwide while still being the best parent he can be. If you are asking yourself, "How can I work from home and be a great parents?" this episode is for you. It's all about achieving balance and letting everything fall under one job title: parent.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

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Hired: Don't Let Job Descriptions Get You Down
Top 5 Strategies for Protecting Yourself From Scams
Hired: Networking Works
Top 5 Red Flags For Spotting Scams
Hired: Invest In Yourself
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In today's episode, we are thrilled to sit down with Ben Killoy from Military Veteran Dad. Through his podcast, Ben is teaching dads to ignite passion for fatherhood and creating an environment to help male veterans come home physically and mentally.

There is a joke in the military, "if the military wanted you to have something, they would have issued it." There are no orders or issued resources that teach you how to process a feeling or how to deal with that feeling in reality. While service members spend months training to go to war, they spend mere days training to come home.

Ben launched his business, while being a stay-at-home dad, to raise the bar on the fatherhood journey and to help dads realize that they can step powerfully into this journey and be present with the gift that is your family. After his position was eliminated, Ben was able to transition his "side hustle" and the podcast he had on his heart into his purpose. He has created his business entirely from home. Military Veteran Dad is a 100% virtual organization that is able to serve fathers all over the work. By doing this without a brick-and-mortar, Ben has realized the power of remote work and that it is a lot more attainable than people think.

Ben looked at losing his job as an opportunity to recognize his passion and the kind of freedom that chasing your passion and working from home can bring to you, especially as a parent. Working from home helped him to give himself permission to create the version of his life he wanted to be living.

So here's the hard question: How can you balance working from home while still being present as a part of your family and as a parent? Ben's advice is to start with yourself. Look five years into your past and think about the resource that you wish you would have had five years ago.

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Show Notes | June 23, 2020 | Episode 045

How many of you have passed up the opportunity to apply for a job because you disqualified yourself after reading the job description? We have all done it at some point. We read the job description and think there is no way they would consider us for this position. We come up with excuse after excuse (usually all made up in our head). But here’s the truth: you are what you speak. If you feel like you qualify for a job but are unsure because of the description, reach out and ask for clarification. You never know, it could help you get #hired!

In this episode, Samantha talks about how she inquired after a position that she wasn’t too confident about securing due to her location and ended up landing it.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

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Top 5 Strategies for Protecting Yourself From Scams
Hired: Networking Works
Top 5 Red Flags For Spotting Scams
Hired: Invest In Yourself
How to Negotiate Like A Pro
Hired: You Gotta Put In The Work

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Show Notes | June 18, 2020 | Episode 044

Last week, we talked about how sophisticated scams are becoming. This week, we're giving you all the tools you need to protect yourself. From reminders on when (if ever) to provide sensitive information to leveraging your network, we've got you covered. After listening to our mini-series on Scams, our VirtForce community will know what to watch for and how to protect themselves.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

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Top 5 Red Flags For Spotting Scams
Hired: Invest In Yourself
How to Negotiate Like A Pro
Hired: You Gotta Put In The Work
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Last week, we talked about how good scammers are getting. They are copying everything from the company logo to the Hiring Manager's name - anything and everything to make you believe this is a legitimate opportunity. But you know better, right?

We all know that scams are getting sophisticated. They can be hard to spot and are easier than ever to get caught up in. That is why we want to focus on the Top 5 Strategies to Protect Yourself From Scams.

Our 5 Strategies to Protect Yourself include:

Leverage your network and ask around.Do your homework - research the opportunity.Wire Transfers = An Absolute No Go

To hear the other two strategies, tune in to this week's episode.

Make sure to tune in and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify).

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Show Notes | June 16, 2020 | Episode 043

Did you know that networking really can get you #hired? Alex shares her story on how she heard about VirtForce in another Facebook group and then joined our community. This episode dives into the support, tips, and tricks Alex learned from VirtForce that helped her find a remote job as a Health Coach with Noom.

Tune in now to hear how networking helped Alex get #hired!

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

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Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

Top 5 Red Flags For Spotting Scams
Hired: Invest In Yourself
How to Negotiate Like A Pro
Hired: You Gotta Put In The Work
Your Work From Home Office

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Show Notes | June 11, 2020 | Episode 042

Scammers are getting incredibly good at scamming you and it's terrifying. "Hiring managers" are copying the company logo from LinkedIn, the HR director's photo and name, and even setting up an email with the HR director's name. Offer letters are being send by these scammers. We want to make sure the VirtForce community knows what to watch for and how to protect themselves. In Part 1 of our mini-series on Scams, we are covering 5 Red Flags you should be looking for.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

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In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Better Business Bureau

VirtForce Job Board

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Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Hired: Invest In Yourself
How to Negotiate Like A Pro
Hired: You Gotta Put In The Work
Your Work From Home Office

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Show Notes | June 2, 2020 | Episode 041

Virtual Job versus Virtual Career. What's the difference between the two, and how does it apply to you? In this episode, Tanairi shares the story of why she had to take a step back to think about what she wanted for herself in a virtual career. Taking the time to focus on this helped her discover how she could obtain her next virtual job. After receiving a scholarship to complete an online course in Digital Marketing, Tanairi was able to shift her application process and apply to positions that aligned with her career goals.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

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How to Negotiate Like A Pro
Hired: You Gotta Put In The Work
Your Work From Home Office
BONUS: Distance, Direction, and Description
Hired: Negotiate or Bust

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Show Notes | May 28, 2020 | Episode 040

Time for a truth bomb: women are far less likely to negotiate their job offer than men. Crazy, we know. Since our VirtForce community is primarily women (92% women, 8% men), we want to take the time to teach you how to develop your negotiation skills. Remember: once you receive that offer letter, you could be negotiating for a variety of things. You could be negotiating for higher pay, more paid vacation time, fully-remote work, or a guarantee that your job will be secure through a PCS.

In this episode, Kimber walks listeners through specific scenarios and gives you the tips and tricks to navigate each one (hint: not everything is negotiable).

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

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In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Career Coaches

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

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Hired: You Gotta Put In The Work
Your Work From Home Office
BONUS: Distance, Direction, and Description
Hired: Negotiate or Bust
3 Tips for Reframing Your Work From Home Mindset

About Our Sponsor

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Remember: once you receive that offer letter, you could be negotiating for a variety of things. You could be negotiating for higher pay, more paid vacation time, fully-remote work, or a guarantee that your job will be secure through a PCS.

Let’s go back and reread that last paragraph. Did you notice we said “once you receive that offer letter”? This is such an important part of negotiating - knowing the right time to bring up money and the strategies you can use to be successful.

One of the most important things to understand is that not everything is negotiable. You have to learn to use your best judgment and know when negotiation is and isn’t on the table.

Once you understand that (don’t worry, we’ll tell you what to look for), you’ll start to see where there is room to negotiate. This episode is bursting at the seams with specific scenarios, strategies to use, and fully-laid out timelines to support you as you negotiate your way through your career.

Make sure to tune in and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify).

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Show Notes | May 26, 2020 | Episode 039

Putting in the work can be, to state the obvious, a lot of work. But in the end, we all know it’s worth it. We love to see our growing community get #hired. During this time of uncertainty, we want you to remember that this is the perfect time to build your network, target that resume, and work on your interview techniques.

In this episode, a VirtForce community member (and our Podcast Producer!) joins us to share her #hired story and a few tips that helped her land her virtual dream job. Tune in now to hear how Kirstin got #hired!

If you are a new listener to the VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

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Your Work From Home Office

BONUS: Distance, Direction, and Description

Hired: Negotiate or Bust

3 Tips for Reframing Your Work From Home Mindset
How to Be A Pro Virtual Assistant

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Show Notes | May 22, 2020 | Episode 038

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partners at Instant Teams.

Remote work is amazing and rewarding (yes, we're biased) but it can be so hard if you don't have a great Work From Home set-up. In this episode, Kimber breaks down everything you need to have a productive and relaxing home office (even if that office is at your kitchen table). To get VirtForce's recommendations for everything from desks to surge protectors to ring lights, tune in.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today. Links and Resources Join the Instant Teams Workforce VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts VirtForce Podcast on Spotify VirtForce Linktree Kimber Hill LinkedIn

About Our Sponsor Instant Teams serves professionals across the military-connected community whose lifestyles demand communication and flexibility. Their automated remote team innovation software, Arti, uniquely positions Instant Teams to serve a high growth customer base, and improve the employment prospects of military spouses and other military-connected individuals. Join the Instant Teams workforce today at this link: bit.ly/InstantTeams

Ring Light Your ring light is completely optional, but here are three reasons why you should invest:

Your ring light makes your lovely face appear much brighter and clearer which can help interviewers remember you and can help your coworkers feel more of a connection with you. Your ring light doubles as a Seasonal Affective Disorder device, meaning if you don’t get a lot of sunlight, your Ring Light LED function can help boost your mood! Your ring light can help wake you up. If you’re feeling dull or draggy, turn on your ring light and get an extra boost of energy!

Headphones For your video and audio meetings, you need great headphones. When purchasing, remember that bluetooth is not always reliable so purchase headphones that are bluetooth capable and will plug into your computer. Low cost over the ear options include Plantronix and SkullCandy.

If you have loud neighbors or distractions at home, consider noise cancelling headphones. I personally use the Bose Noise Cancelling 700, but the older mode, Bose Quiet Comfort, is also a wonderful more cost effective option.

If you need more motivation to choose Bose, their products come with unparalleled customer support and warranty protection. If you have to replace a product, your warranty starts all over brand new with your replacement product. Ethernet Cable & Dongle An ethernet cable runs from your internet router directly into your computer providing you uninterrupted cable access to consistent internet. When you’re on calls and video meetings, you should always be connected to ethernet for best quality.

An Ethernet Dongle is an adapter that will convert that big bulky ethernet head to a USB port if your computer does not have an ethernet port. You may or may not need this dongle, but if your computer is newer, it is essentially a requirement these days. Additional Monitors Every work from home PRO will tell you that adding a monitor is a complete GAME CHANGER for productivity. You can add 2 additional monitors to supplement your primary screen comfortably. You can even purchase an extra large gamin monitor or gaming TV screen to support the visual real estate you may need for your role. Outlet Organizer and Surge Protector In a home office, or in any office, cord management can be the thorn in your side. The most useful desktop gadget to eliminate this problem is a surge protector that organizes your devices.

This is one I personally own and I love it because it has 12 outlets included USB outlets.

Worth every penny! External Hard Drive Did you know your computer will run slower as you start to use more of its memory? A great way to extend the life of your computer and enhance its speed is t...

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Show Notes | May 20, 2020 |Episode 037

We are so excited to release this bonus episode where we sit down with Melissa, a military spouse and Aira Agent. In this jam packed conversation, Melissa and Kimber break down the tips we need to hear as applicants. Melissa, who has two years of experience with Aira, really digs into how you communicate with an Explorer. If you are considering applying with Aira and are nervous about completing the aptitude test where you do a trial run of working with an Explorer , this is a "don't miss" episode.

Links and Resources

Join the Instant Teams Workforce

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Melissa Nunley Facebook

Explore These Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Aira Agent on VirtForce Job Board

Aira Agent Interest Form

Google Maps 101

Here are the important things to learn and minute markers where you can find them.

1:00 interchanging google maps view vs google earth view2:16 Distinguishing alternate routes2:20 Determining your mode of transportation2:50 Route Options3:10 Departure and Arrival Times3:35 Adding more than 1 destination4:40 Street View (north, south, east, west)5:40 Traffic and terrain 6:35 the Nearby feature

Google Maps Public Transit

Here are the important things to learn and minute markers where you can find them.

1:14 -3:30 Public Transit3:40 - 4:45 schedule explorer

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Applying with Aira? What You Should (And Shouldn't) Say To Blind People

Milspouses: The Perfect Fit For Aira

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Show Notes | May 19, 2020 | Episode 036Negotiation takes a lot of patience and persistence. It can be challenging to push through the application process and to keep the momentum going. Often we find ourselves taking the first offer that’s extended to us just so that we can get back into the workforce.

VirtForce member Laura joins us to share her #hired story. She is here to encourage, inspire, and remind you that patience is critical when looking for your next #remote opportunity. Laura talks about how difficult it was to make it to the last round of an interview process and then not be selected. However, not getting selected for that position allowed her to become the top candidate for another fantastic job. Laura was able to not only negotiate her salary but also negotiate a partially remote position into a fully remote opportunity.

Tune in now to hear how VirtForce founder and podcast host Kimber helped Laura negotiate the role of a lifetime!

If you are a new listener to the VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Laura Briggs LinkedIn

Explore These Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Career Coaches

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

Applying to Aira? What You Should (And Shouldn’t) Say To Blind People
How to Get Security Clearance
3 Tips for Reframing Your Work From Home Mindset
How to Be A Pro Virtual Assistant

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Show Notes | May 14, 2020 | Episode 035

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partners at Instant Teams.

Hear us out on this: the job market does not have to be a scary place right now. There are amazing opportunities out there, from open jobs to volunteer work to courses designed to develop new skills. This strange time is also a great time to learn how to engage as part of a remote team and how to be successful while working from home. In this episode, career coach Kristen Earp gives us tools and strategies to reframe our mindset while working from home during a global pandemic.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today.

Links and Resources

Join the Instant Teams Workforce

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Kristen Earp LinkedIn

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

15-Minute Power Session with Kristen Earp

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Applying to Aira? What You Should (And Shouldn’t) Say To Blind People
How to Get Security Clearance
How to Be A Pro Virtual Assistant
Is Volunteer Work Hurting You?
How to Freelance with Laura Briggs

About Our Sponsor

Join the Instant Teams workforce today at this link: bit.ly/InstantTeams

Blog

In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome back to the podcast our friend Kristen Earp. You may recognize her from the VirtForce community. She is one of our fantastic vetted career coaches.

It’s no secret we are living in strange times right now. As milspouses, we are definitely used to a certain amount of uncertainty and, let’s call it what it is, weirdness in our lives. However, this is magnified and is unlike anything we’ve dealt with before.

We are going to break down Kristen’s 3 Tips to Navigating Remote Work and Social Distancing.

Stop calling it social distancing. Reframe it in your mind as physical distancing.Think about where you can make an impact.Know that eventually this will pass.

Hear us out on this: the job market does not have to be a scary place right now. There are amazing opportunities out there, from open jobs to volunteer work to courses designed to develop new skills. This strange time is also a great time to learn how to engage as part of a remote team and how to be successful while working from home. We need to be open to engaging in different ways and unlearning practices that no longer benefit us.

Yes, there is so much opportunity that isn’t there right now. But there are also so many opportunities we can take advantage of and take into our own control. Use intentional thought and consider what this might look like for you. This is the time to brainstorm and dream big. What will your new normal look like? What do you want to do away with?

Amazingly, we are proving certain things, like remote work, actually work right now. Before quarantine, there were so many misconceptions about remote work and/or working from home. You won’t be able to get work done, you won’t be productive, you can’t run a team remotely, and on and on. But here’s the thing - you absolutely can work from hom...

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Show Notes | May 8, 2020 | Episode 034

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partners at Instant Teams.

Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day and we want to take a minute to thank all of the amazing military spouses that are part of the VirtForce community. From our fearless leader Kimber Hill, to our staff, to our amazing volunteer Brand Ambassadors, to the men and women that make up this incredible community. From the bottoms of our hearts: thank you.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

Join the Instant Teams Workforce

VirtForce in The Huffington Post

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Applying to Aira? What You Should (And Shouldn’t) Say To Blind People
How to Get Security Clearance
How to Be A Pro Virtual Assistant
Is Volunteer Work Hurting You?
How to Freelance with Laura Briggs

About Our Sponsor

Join the Instant Teams workforce today at this link: bit.ly/InstantTeams

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Show Notes | May 7, 2020 | Episode 033

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partners at Instant Teams.

Have you ever dreamed of running your own empire? Setting your own hours? Choosing the clients that you want to work with? Then scrolling and click play. Kimber sits down with six-figure Virtual Assistant pace setter, April Wilhelm. Through April’s company, Stay At Home Profit, you can learn VA work from a true pro. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “why can’t I have my cake and eat it too?” this is the episode for you.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

Join the Instant Teams Workforce

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

April Wilhelm LinkedIn

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Stay At Home ProfitStay At Home Profit Podcast

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Applying to Aira? What You Should (And Shouldn't) Say To Blind People
How to Get Security Clearance
Is Volunteer Work Hurting You?
How to Freelance with Laura Briggs

About Our Sponsor

Join the Instant Teams workforce today at this link: bit.ly/InstantTeams

Blog

Have you ever dreamed of running your own empire? Setting your own hours? Choosing the clients that you want to work with? Then quit scrolling and click play.

In this episode, Kimber sits down with six-figure Virtual Assistant pace setter, April Wilhelm. Through April’s company, Stay At Home Profit, you can learn VA work from a true pro. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “why can’t I have my cake and eat it too?” this is the episode for you. Kimber and April talk all about how you can be there for your kids/spouse/family/dog/etc while still working and pursuing your own at-home career.

April built her business from the NICU after her daughter was born premature at only 26 weeks. She was surrounded by circumstances she had no control over. She needed to feel in control of something and she threw herself into building her business from the ground up. She knew that working would not only give her control over at least part of her life, but it gave her back her self-identity and a sense of fulfillment.

Stay At Home Profit is focused on digital marketing strategy. In the training they offer, soon-to-be Virtual Assistants not only identify their personality type and skillset, but also start to understand their confidence level. This training program will end with you knowing yourself from the inside out.

Graduates of this program are equipped to understand who you want to work for and what skillsets you can apply to provide solutions for business problems. Whether this is in digital marketing, website design, general administration, or finances, you can easily find your niche in the VA world. This diverse program focuses first and foremost on helping you hone your skillset and find your confidence.

As a military spouse, you inherently have a special skillset that only our community has. There is something so unique that we all take from this experience and that is exactly what Stay At Home Profit is helping you to e...

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Show Notes | April 30, 2020 | Episode 032

This episode is sponsored by our military spouse employment partners at Instant Teams.

The opportunity to apply to be an Aira Agent will open again soon, so buckle up for a crash course in “blind people for dummies.”

Our team recently traveled to Military Creator Con and Podfest 2020 in Orlando, FL where Kimber was lucky enough to meet David Goldstein of the iCantCU podcast. David has been visually impaired his entire life. In this episode, Kimber and David sit down to chat about what it was like for him to navigate a huge conference like Podfest, how he uses Aira (shout-out to one of our favorite employment partners!), and the things you should (and shouldn’t) say when talking to or guiding a visually impaired individual.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

Join the Instant Teams Workforce

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

iCantCU

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Aira

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

How to Get Security Clearance
Is Volunteer Work Hurting You?
How to Freelance with Laura Briggs

Blog

The opportunity to apply to be an Aira Agent will open again soon, so take a minute to think about this: how would you give directions to a visually impaired individual that would allow them to cross a street safely and without running into anything? How would you explain where the restroom is in a giant conference center? If you’ve ever looked into the VirtForce partnership with Aira, you may have asked yourself these questions.

In this episode, Kimber sits down with David Goldstein of the iCantCU podcast. The two met while attending Military Creator Con and Podfest in Orlando, FL. David, a lifelong entrepreneur and podcaster, has been visually impaired for his entire life. He says that the iCantCU podcast is “blind people for dummies.”

In this episode, Kimber and David sit down to chat about what it was like for him to navigate Podfest, how he uses Aira (shout-out to one of our favorite partners!), and the things you should (and shouldn’t) say when talking to or guiding a visually impaired individual.

Not only is this episode a great resource for anyone interested in working with Aira and their worldwide community of explorers like David, but it is also a great resource for us as community members and human beings.

Make sure to tune in and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify).

We want to give a special thanks to our military spouse employment partners at Instant Teams for sponsoring this episode!

About Our Sponsor

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Show Notes | April 23, 2020 | Episode 031

We know security clearances can be tricky, especially when navigating life after service and telework. In this episode, we break down how to put your security clearance to use, how to maintain your clearance, and how to obtain security clearance. Kimber sits down with Jeff Bennett of DoD Secure and Red Bike Publishing to answer all of our questions about security clearances and gives us hope that, yes, you can work from home in a job that requires security clearance.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Jeff Bennett LinkedIn

In this episode, we discussed the following resources:

Red Bike Publishing

Insider’s Guide to Security Clearance

DoD Secure Podcast

Security Clearance Application

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

Tiger King Video Chat Do’s & Don’ts

How to Freelance with Laura Briggs

Famous Remote Workers from Cavemen to Walt Disney

Telework in the Time of Corona

Blog

We know security clearances can be tricky, especially when navigating life after service and telework. In this episode, Kimber sits down with Jeff Bennett of DoD Secureand Red Bike Publishing to answer all of our questions about security clearances and gives us hope that, yes, you can work from home in a job that requires security clearance. Jeff is a veteran and security clearance guru. Together, he and Kimber break down the following questions:

How do I put my security clearance to use after the service? How do I maintain my clearance? How do I even start the process to obtain security clearance?

If you are transitioning out of the service, or are already considering what life after the service may look like for you, rest assured that any clearance you may have when you exit the service can easily be transitioned to a new job. But here’s the catch – you must transition your clearance to a new role within 24 months. If you don’t, you will need to restart the process to get re-cleared.

So, if you’ve got your eye on a job with a government entity or government contractor that requires a clearance, we’re going to cover what that means.

Here is a pro-tip from Jeff: if you know you want to do work that will require a security clearance, go online and download a form (SF-86 or the Security Clearance Application). Start by gathering your addresses for the last 7-10 years, the places you’ve worked, the people you’ve known, etc. Having this list ready is something you can control and a great way to prepare.

What is a security clearance?

To break it down simply, there are three levels of clearance:

1) Confidential (lowest level),

2) Secret (could damage national security), and

3) Top Secret (could cause extreme grave damage to national security).

If you have a low-level clearance, you can absolutely apply to a role that requires a higher clearance. If you have no clearance, absolutely still apply. What is important is your skill level. You should be communicating is your ability to do the job, do it right, and do it better than anyone else. Your strategy is to get your foot in the door with an organization that can get you security clearance or will accept the clearance you already have. It is easiest to start in a position like this actually on-site. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of positions that will start out as telework friendly. However,

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Show Notes | April 23, 2020 | Episode 030

Warning: This episode covers potentially triggering topics including suicide, substance abuse, and sexual assault.

In this episode, we are sharing a raw conversation with entrepreneur and veteran John Krotec of GreenZone Hero. John is using his experiences, including a traumatic brain injury and childhood sexual assault, to bring what he has learned from them to the military community. We are proud to share John’s story during Sexual Assault Awareness Month and to shine light on a conversation that is often times hard to have.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

John Krotec LinkedIn

Explore These Resources

If you or someone you know is struggling, please consider these resources:

The National Resource Directory

Veterans Crisis Line

Vet Call Center 1-877-WAR-VETS

National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline 800-656-HOPE

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

In this episode, we discussed the following resources:

GreenZone Hero

Straight Outta Combat

Task Force Zen

Fractals Poetry

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

How to Freelance with Laura Briggs

Tiger King Video Chat Do’s & Don’ts
Telework in the Time of Corona

Famous Remote Workers from Cavemen to Walt Disney

Blog

In this episode, we are sharing a raw conversation with entrepreneur and veteran John Krotec of GreenZone Hero. John is a firm believer that, “living is people.” It is people who create our experience and our existence here. He is using his experiences and what he has learned through them, including a traumatic brain injury and childhood sexual assault, to pour back into the military community. GreenZone Hero is an online directory of businesses (both veteran and non-veteran owned) that support freedom in one way or another. This includes giving special pricing to veterans and active duty, employing veterans, or supporting the military community in some other way. John is also the mind behind Straight Outta Combat Radio and Task Force Zen Radio, podcasts that tell the stories of our combat veterans so we can change the negative stereotypes surrounding veterans and have an open conversation.

It is clear through spending even just 5 minutes with John that he has a powerful mindset and is a necessary voice for combat veterans whose stories need to be told. Everything he does is with the goal of benefitting our military community. This includes staffing GreenZone Hero with milspouses. Through his work, John is unveiling what it’s like to be a veteran and what it’s like in the life of a service member.

John’s story is a powerful one. He is an Army veteran who has served both active duty and in the Army Reserves. After his service, John married his wife and opened a business that they owned together for 23 years. In 2012, things came to a boiling point in John’s life. He was involved in a drunk driving accident (where he was the driver) and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Following this trauma, demons from his childhood sexual assault came to the surface. John began struggling with mood swings, anger, and insomnia. He was forced to sell his business and faced the potential of losing his marriage.

In 2015, John called a crisis hotline to get the help that he needed to live his life again. Since then, John has been on a journey of self-discovery and has rei...

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Show Notes | April 16, 2020 | Episode 029

Volunteer work may be hurting you and may be leading you to self-sabotage your job prospects. In this Resume Bootcamp Teaser episode, we offer some ideas for how to take advantage of #stayinghome to volunteer and bolster your resume. Right now, it feels like a lot of things are out of our control, but something we can control is how shape our volunteer experiences to help us in our job search rather than hurt us. Learn how by listening now.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

Kimber Hill LinkedIn VolunteerMatch.org

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Resume Bootcamp Wait List

“You are what you speak” with Mark England

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

27. Tiger King Video Chat Do’s & Don’ts

How to Freelance with Laura Briggs

Famous Remote Workers from Cavemen to Walt Disney

24. Telework in the Time of Corona

Blog

In these chaotic and uncertain times, when unemployment is skyrocketing and quarantine has become the norm, it is daunting to think about our resumes, our work experience, and what our future in the workforce might look like.

Here at VirtForce, our hearts go out to everyone experience economic hardship. One of our core values is servant leadership - our team is always working to give back to our community. Because of that, we want to share this teaser for an upcoming resource called Resume Bootcamp.

In this episode, we talk about how you can frame volunteer experience to your advantage, both on your resume and in interviews.

So why are we talking about this now?

If you are able, you can take this time to support your community and volunteer. We found over 120,000 virtual volunteer opportunities using VolunteerMatch.org. Why not use your skills and time to not only bolster your resume and LinkedIn, but also contribute to the greater good while we all find our way through this #pandemic.

As you look to bolster your work experience with volunteering, make sure you are considering how you may be using your volunteer work to self-sabotage your job prospects. Yes, your volunteer work can actually hurt you on your resume, LinkedIn, and in interviews.

This is the bottom line: volunteer work may not be exchanging your time for pay but it is exchanging your time for experience. Because of this, volunteer positions should be listed with formal titles (not just “Volunteer”) and should be treated like any other job on your resume and LinkedIn.

Kimber walks you through exactly how you should be listing your volunteer work, how to ride the confidence wave, and how to check yourself to make sure you are using architect language. We also talk about how the word “JUST” is your enemy and you should stop using it.

Think about it: Are you self-sabotaging? Are you using conflict language? Tune into this episode to learn how to turn your volunteer experience into the special thing that lands you your next role. Make sure to tune in and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify).

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Show Notes | April 9, 2020 | Episode 028

Solopreneur. Milpreneur. Mompreneur. Do any of these words resonate with you? Good, because this episode is full of advice for anyone considering freelance or contractor work. Kimber sits down with VirtForce family member and wildly successful freelance coach Laura Briggs. They chat about everything from the differences in remote and freelance work to facing the fears that come along with being your own boss.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Laura Briggs LinkedIn

Advanced Freelancing Podcast

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Xero Accounting Software

GoDaddy Online Bookkeeping

Laura’s Books:

How To Start Your Own Freelance Writing Business

The Top 24 Most Profitable Freelance Side Hustles

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

Tiger King Video Chat Do’s & Don’ts

Famous Remote Workers from Cavemen to Walt Disney

Telework in the Time of Corona

Blog

Thinking about a stronger financial future for your family? Have you ever wondered if you can have a job and a freelance side gig? This episode focuses not only on how to become a freelancer, but really on how to create a business (or job) that brings you joy and allows you to take some much-needed time for yourself.

Kimber sat down with Laura Briggs, a VirtForce family member, milspouse, and wildly successful freelance coach. Laura has trained over 5,000 freelancers, has published several books on the topic of freelancing, and has her own podcast. She really is an example of being able to do it all.

In this amazing episode, Kimber and Laura chat about everything from the difference between remote and freelance work to facing the fears that come along with being your own boss.

Make sure to tune in and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify).

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Show Notes | April 2, 2020 | Episode 027

Hear us out: The Tiger King teaches us how to be our best on video chats like Zoom. We know, that sounds about as far-fetched as believing Carole didn’t kill her husband. On this week's episode, we use hilarious memes and lessons learned from the Tiger King to share with you VirtForce’s 15 Must-Know Zoom Tips. We’re going to prove that you can learn how to be a better remote employee, interviewee, and Zoom video participant just by watching Joe Exotic. Join us for a live Zoom social, where milspouses across the country got together to share not only their best Zoom tips and tricks but also their Tiger King theories (spoiler alert: we all think Carole did it).

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Explore These Resources

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

Famous Remote Workers from Cavemen to Walt DisneyTelework in the Time of Corona

Nonprofit Megaphone Partnership Reveal

Free Mentorship Program with ACP

Go Remote by Landing Virtual Opportunities

Ace Your Virtual Interview

Blog

Hey all you cool cats and kittens. If you’ve been on the internet lately, you’ve likely seen the Tiger King on Netflix as well as the amazing memes this show has inspired. This week, we use fresh memes and lessons learned from the Tiger King to share with you VirtForce’s 15 Must-Know Zoom Tips. We’re going to prove that you can learn how to be a better remote employee, interviewee, and Zoom video participant just by watching Joe Exotic. In this crazy time of social distancing and quarantine, Zoom is the place to be.

This episode is not only full of helpful tips and tricks for looking your best on Zoom, but it’s also filled with hilarious conversations between milspouses swapping Tiger King theories. Did Carole do it? How does Joe Exotic maintain his signature hairstyle? Where can I get a sequin leopard print blouse?

Here’s one of our favorite tips from the discussion: don’t get poorly framed like Joe (sound off in the comments if you think he was set up). Your face should be appropriately framed in the video chat. You should be about two feet away from your device and we should be able to see from your shoulders to the top of your head.

If you’re ready to laugh, get Joe Exotic’s hit country tunes stuck in your head, and learn how you can become a Zoom rock star during #socialdistancing, don’t miss this episode.

To follow along with the memes discussed in this episode, head over to VirtForce’s Instagram.

Make sure to tune in and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify).

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Show Notes | March 26, 2020 | Episode 026

Disney. Calculus. Gravity. Macbeth. The Declaration of Independence. Can you guess what all of these things have in common? They were all born out of a home office. That’s right, remote work isn’t some new trend. It has been around for over 1.4 million years. In this episode, we take a break from all of the noise surrounding our current pandemic and celebrate the amazing innovations, creations, and leaps forward that have been made while working from home or during times of economic and social crisis. Tune in now to hear Kimber share a whole episode of one of her favorite things: factoids.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Sources for This Episode

Wikipedia

Science20

Science Direct

Fast Company

Business Insider

Forbes

The Atlantic

Saint Albans Messenger

National Park Service

LA Mag

DC Writers Homes

History

FlexJobs

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

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Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes

Telework in the Time of Corona

Nonprofit Megaphone Partnership Reveal

Free Mentorship Program with ACP

Go Remote by Landing Virtual Opportunities

Discover Your Purpose with Brian Mohr

Ace Your Virtual Interview

Blog

Did you know that remote work, or working from home, has been around for 1.4 million years? From cavemen to Shakespeare to Disney to those of you listening to this while you work from home during the coronavirus pandemic. History shows us that amazing things have come from both working from home and times of crisis.

This episode is filled with one of host Kimber’s favorite things: factoids. She gives you a crash course on remote work history, from the time of the cavemen (yes, there is evidence to support this) to today.

So let’s talk about a few things that came out of either working from home (do you really think people were going outside during the Bubonic Plague?) or dealing with major world crises like World War I.

When theaters were forced to shut down due to the Black Death, Shakespeare wrote some of his most famous plays, including Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra.While quarantined at home during the Bubonic Plague, Sir Isaac Newton discovered gravity.While working in an office in his Airbnb, Thomas Jefferson wrote The Declaration of Independence.

These are just a few of the major contributions that have been made to civilization from the comfort of a home office.

Look around you. Are you sitting in your office? At home? Going stir-crazy while social distancing and quarantining? Instead of focusing on the fact that you can’t go out to eat, focus on this instead: something incredible is going to come out of this crisis. Will you be the one to discover it?

Check out the show notes above to find the sources used for this episode.

Make sure to tune in and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify).

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Show Notes | March 19, 2020 | Episode 025

If someone asked you if you wanted to make a difference in the world, would you say yes? If so, tune in. This episode delves into amazing opportunities with Nonprofit Megaphone, a company helping nonprofits acquire and manage the Google Ads Grant. Kimber sits down with fellow milspouse and NPM employee, Heidi, to talk about the 7 positions they are currently hiring for and what it is about NPM that makes it such an amazing place for milspouses looking to go remote and make a difference.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Nonprofit Megaphone

Explore These Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

VirtForce Job Board

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Corona Coaching Pt. 1

Free Mentorship Program with American Corporate Partners

Proximity Learning Partnership Reveal

Go Remote by Landing Virtual Opportunities

Blog

This episode takes a deep dive into amazing opportunities with Nonprofit Megaphone, a company helping nonprofits acquire and manage the Google Ads Grant. Our guest, Heidi, is an amazing advocate for the military spouse community and is a fantastic example of going after what you want. We are so lucky to sit down with her in this episode.

So what does NPM do? They help nonprofits acquire and manage the Google Ads Grant, which is $10,000/month in Google Search Ads. They make sure the organizations are staying compliant with all necessary policies laid out in their grant. This fantastic company is supporting organizations such as animal shelters and adoption agencies.

As NPM is a small organization, employees get the opportunity to be cross-trained and wear several different hats. They are currently hiring for three different positions: Client Happiness Manager, Google Ads Manager, and Website Analytics Specialist. You can apply on the VirtForce Job Board for any of these positions.

Responsibilities within these positions include being the face of NPM that the clients get to know and interact with, working directly with the Google Ads account, and providing an easy to understand explanation of the client’s Return on Investment.

Experience is not required for these positions and NPM offers a very robust training program. However, a Bachelor’s degree is required.

Other exciting things about NPM include:

You have the opportunity to move from a 1099 to a W2 employee after a set period of time. This allows both you and the company the time to really understand if this is the right fit for you.NPM goes on a yearly annual retreat. Yes, in person! Even though they are a fully remote team, they meet up once a year for professional development and team bonding.

To learn more about the SEVEN open positions with Nonprofit Megaphone, make sure you have signed up for our Job Board.

Client Happiness Manager (multiple positions open!)

Google Grant Ad Manager

Website Analytics Specialist

Make sure to tune in and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify).

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Show Notes | March 17, 2020 | Episode 024

Working remotely in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic? One of the biggest changes, for a lot of employees and companies, has been a sudden shift to remote work. As a subject matter expert in the virtual workforce as well as in business processes, host Kimber is sharing her 8 Strategies to Mitigate Risks for your business and your team. These strategies apply to businesses, business owners, employees, and anyone else who currently finds themselves working remotely (either by choice or by necessity). Tune in to hear how you can make remote work work for you in this season of unknowns.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Go Remote by Landing Virtual Opportunities

Discover Your Purpose with Brian Mohr

Ace Your Virtual Interview

Intuit Partnership Reveal

Blog We’ve all been reading or watching the news. We know that in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, life is changing drastically. One of the biggest changes, for a lot of employees and companies, has been a sudden shift to remote work. Kimber Hill, VirtForce founder and podcast host, is a subject matter expert in the virtual workforce as well as in business processes. Kimber is sharing her 8 Risk Mitigation Strategies to support remote work for your business and your team. These strategies apply to businesses, business owners, employees, and anyone else who currently finds themselves working remotely (either by choice or by necessity).

Make sure to tune in and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify).

These 8 strategies are easy to implement and will benefit everyone as we navigate a world that is currently filled with a lot more remote teams. Kimber’s suggestions center around the need to have a remote flexible business plan in place so you are prepared for the unexpected. In this brief 20 minute episode, Kimber will cover the following 8 strategies in detail, supporting how they can keep you and your colleagues in business during quarantine. 1 Practice Remote Flexibility 2 Maintain a data back-up 3 Establish a Call Tree 4 Create a recent travel list 5 Support working parents 6 Agree on a communication plan 7 Set communication ground rules 8 Manage Client Expectations

Listen to the full episode to hear our tips and tricks for not only succeeding as a remote team, but also communicating with clients and supporting your employees. Make sure to tune in and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify).

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Show Notes | March 12, 2020 | Episode 023

Free Mentorship Program with American Corporate Partners

We all know the story - finding meaningful careers while living this crazy milspouse life is challenging to say the least. None of us will be surprised to learn that 70% of military spouses do not believe their education or work experience is being fully utilized in their current job while 56% of working spouses reported they were underemployed.

If you’re part of our VirtForce family, then you’re likely struggling with these very things or know someone who is. Luckily, American Corporate Partners is here to help. In this episode, Kimber sits down with both the Manager and the Operations Associate and Outreach Specialist of ACP’s Active Duty Spouse Mentoring Program. In this amazing program, ACP hand-selects a Mentor for each spouse Protégé for year-long, customized, one-on-one mentorship. The best part? It is totally free! Tune in to learn more about how to take advantage of this incredible opportunity.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

American Corporate Partners

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

ACP Spouse Program

ACP Spouse Application

ACP Veteran Application

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

VirtForce Job Board

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Proximity Learning Partner Reveal

Go Remote by Landing Virtual Opportunities

Discover Your Purpose with Brian Mohr

Ace Your Virtual Interview

Intuit Partnership Reveal

Blog

We all know the story - finding meaningful careers while living this crazy milspouse life is challenging to say the least. Between frequent moves, dealing with deployments, and everything in between, it’s easy to become frustrated. None of us will be surprised to learn that 70% of military spouses do not believe their education or work experience is being fully utilized in their current job while 56% of working spouses reported they were underemployed.

Whether you are considering a new career, are an entrepreneur looking to start your own business, or have recently done a PCS, ACP has mentors who can help. Mentors have years of experience and expertise in areas such as career exploration, resume review, interview prep, networking, and overall professional development.

We know a lot of our VirtForce community members have worked their rears off and have found meaningful careers. If this is you, and you are interested in giving back to fellow milspouses or veterans, you can also volunteer with ACP as a Mentor!

Whether you’re looking for support as you make moves towards work that fulfills and excites you or you are ready to give back to the community with your knowledge and expertise, ACP is the place for you.

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Show Notes | March 5, 2020 | Episode 022

Calling all educators! We are thrilled to reveal our Partner for the Virtual High School Teacher role. Proximity Learning is offering a fantastic High School Teacher W2 position where you can teach in a live classroom. This amazing company is bringing education to students who are underserved, whether it is a rural area or an area where there aren’t a lot of teachers.

In this episode, Kimber talks with Hiring Managers from Proximity Learning to answer all of your questions (we know our teachers have a lot!) We cover everything from the application process to curriculum to teaching multiple subjects to opportunities for professional development.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast on Apple Podcasts

VirtForce Podcast on Spotify

VirtForce Linktree

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Proximity Learning

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Apply to Proximity Learning

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

VirtForce Job Board

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

VirtForce on Instagram

Check Out Recent Podcast Episodes:

Go Remote by Landing Virtual Opportunities

Discover Your Purpose with Brian Mohr

Ace Your Virtual Interview

Intuit Partnership Reveal

Blog

One of the coolest parts of this opportunity is that it offers you the chance to teach in the subject that you want to teach. They are currently focused on hiring math, science, and physics teachers.

So what makes teaching with Proximity Learning such a fantastic opportunity? They are focused on making education equitable for everyone. They are bringing education to students who are underserved, whether it is a rural area or an area where there aren’t a lot of teachers. This company is truly developing and innovating in order to reach students where they are. If working for a company where you are actively making a difference in the world aligns with your core values, this could be the place for you.

Think about your own core values. Do you value positivity? Do you value growth? We think you’ll find that Proximity aligns with both of these things. So not only will you be actively making a difference in student’s lives each day, you’ll be working for a company that has a culture of support and positivity.

Another bonus: Proximity really values hiring from within. What does this tell you? It tells you that upward mobility is available and there is definite growth potential.

So now that we’ve talked about why this company is so great, let’s get down to why it’s so great for YOU, a milspouse. This position is ideal for someone who moves a lot and needs flexibility

Because you are able to stay with the same school district no matter where you go. You don’t have to start over. You can keep your status and the ability to move up in the company - how great is that?

To learn more about how to apply, what the interview process is like, and how a day in the life works as a team member with Proximity Learning make sure to tune into this week’s podcast episode.

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Show Notes | February 27, 2020 | Episode 021

We know there is a love-hate relationship with working remotely. Most of us love the idea of working from home, yet we fear if it will be the right fit for us. What if we told you we have come up with the 5 easy steps to landing a virtual job? Although it may seem like an easy world to get into, that’s not always the case. In this competitive remote workspace, you have to narrow down your job search to focus on positions that truly speak to you. In this episode, we discuss securing a virtual job in just 5 easy steps. We’ll share tips on how to brand yourself as a professional by targeting your resume, fixing up your LinkedIn, and narrowing your focus to positions that speak to you.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Career Coach

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

VirtForce Job Board

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

Check Out More VirtForce Programming

Intuit Partnership Reveal

Military Creator Con and Podfest 2020

Stand United, addressing NS Pearl Harbor and NAS Pensacola

Flexible, PCS Friendly #JobOpp with Tiny Troops Soccer

Blog Post

The struggle is real when it comes to finding the perfect work-life balance. We know that finding a remote job is the ideal opportunity for our military spouses so they can optimize their time at home. However, we also understand the application and interview process can be tricky to navigate. Many members of our VirtForce community want to know, “how do you successfully land a virtual job?” Well, we got you covered!

In this episode, our host Kimber gives FREE career coaching that will help you get #hired as we dive into how to find virtual opportunities and what you can do to secure the virtual position that’s right for you! We discuss “5 Steps to a Virtual Job” and what it means to network and brand yourself as a professional looking for a job rather than an applicant who is looking to take any position out of desperation.

Real talk: At some point, we have all been there. We have all been stuck exactly where you are right now but you got this. We’re here to give you some tough love to help you, “get your rear in gear.” It’s important to understand the different types of remote opportunities available so that you can apply accordingly. Remote opportunities are competitive and we know you have what it takes to land a position that is just right for you.

Think about how you can narrow down your focus to help you decide what you want to do based on what you’re good at and your core values. This will better align you with positions that interest you while allowing you to be intentional about the application process. Consider how branding yourself as a professional doing your favorite hobby will help you when applying for a remote position. It shows the employer that you have taken the time out to target your resume for the position and show where your skills align with their needs. Additionally, conduct an informational interview for your prospective company and network with individuals in your industry to help you become a competitive candidate.

We are here to help you get #hired. Tune in now and listen to the full episode to learn more about landing your virtual opportunity.

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Show Notes | February 20, 2020 | Episode 020

Discover Your Purpose / Igniting your Purpose VirtForce founder Kimber and Brian Mohr, Operations Manager at Yelp and Life Coach, sit down to talk about igniting our purpose. Discovering your purpose is finding the one thing you can do excitingly, the gift no one else can do or take away from you. It’s fine to not know your purpose, you can start with your vision. Make it a goal. Start ugly and just do it because finding our purpose is all about inspiration and action.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please email support@virtforce.wpengine.com and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Brian Mohr LinkedIn

Explore these ResourcesIn this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Brian Mohr Masterclass

Join the ConversationOur favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

Check Out More VirtForce Programming

TCDI, A Path for Milspouses into Legal and Cyber Services

Let’s Talk Military Taxes with Brandyn Cox

You are what you speak – with Mark England

Instantly create a profile with Kara of Instant Teams

Blog Post

Often times, we put ourselves in a box by placing a limit on what we are capable of doing, based on our beliefs (or lack thereof).

The best way to discover your purpose starts with the belief that you can do it! Kimber and Brian Mohr, Operations Manager at Yelp and Life Coach sit down to discuss igniting your purpose and what you can do right now to get you on the right path of discovering your purpose.

Recently, Brian Mohr expressed that he envisioned being a life coach in 2005 but didn’t live in the moment that would allow him to take advantage of pursuing his purpose. Although he didn’t take advantage of the moment, he always knew he would be helping people discover their greatness. This really inspired him to take baby steps to find the path of his purpose. When you think about a goal or a vision for your life, do you feel like it aligns with your purpose in life? Do you know what your purpose is? If not, that’s not a problem because this episode is just for you. Kimber and Brian Mohr talk about living in the moment and what steps you can take to find your purpose.

Think about a time when you felt like, “Wow, I really am good at this.” Can you name something you’re really good at? If so, you just might be on the path of discovering your purpose simply because discovering that purpose requires us to own our gifts. Many of us struggle to say, “I’m really good at this,” because we take our talents for granted and don’t realize the superpower that’s within us.

If you are ready to ignite your purpose and tap into your inner strength you need to download this episode to listen to all of the gems that Brian Mohr shares with us.

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Show Notes | February 13, 2020 | Episode 020

Ace Your Virtual Interview

You asked and we listened! VirtForce is here to help you ace that virtual interview. Host Kimber gives us pointers not only on how to stick out during your virtual interview but also how to strategically answer common interview questions. If you find yourself struggling with what questions are truly asking, technical issues, or simply preparing for an interview, we’ve got you. This episode is packed with so much knowledge that will help you go from an interview to an offer. Listen and subscribe now!

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce Career Coach

How to Ace Your Virtual Interview

VirtForce Job Board

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

Check Out More VirtForce Programming

Intuit Partnership Reveal

Military Creator Con and Podfest 2020

Flexible, PCS Friendly #JobOpp with Tiny Troops Soccer

Blog Post

You asked and we listened! So many of our spouses have expressed the “interview struggle” and we are here to help you ace your next virtual interview. Let’s face it, interviews bring out the jitters in everyone. Virtual interviews are a completely different situation that many of us aren’t prepared for because this is not your typical interview setting.

In this episode, we want to give you a few gems that will help you with your next interview, but most importantly, your next virtual interview. The tips shared in this episode will help you stand out from other candidates and make you more competitive by doing just a few simple tasks before interviewing.

Often times, we get so excited about the opportunity to finally land the interview, we tend to forget that we have to prepare for a virtual interview just as we would an in-person interview. Although many of the questions in interviews are the same, there is so much more that goes into the preparation process.

On average, how much time are you spending researching this company and their culture? This is something that so many of us don’t spend enough time doing. When you take the time to really research the company, it makes answering some of those really tough questions a little bit easier.

We also touch on a few technical tricks that will help you “Glow Up” so that you’re able to stand out on your screen. We want to help you prepare for your next virtual interview and Ace it! It’s so hard to not spill all of the beans, just go ahead and download this episode now!

We also have a phenomenal 30-minute course that gives you a visual of what we discuss during this episode.

Tune in now to hear questions from our community answered by podcast host Kimber Hill. We take a deep dive into a few common interview questions including, “Why do you want to leave your current job?” “Why do you think you’re a good fit?” and, “Why do you want to work for our company?”

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Show Notes | January 30, 2020 | Episode 018

Partner Reveal: Intuit

Are you ready to officially meet our new partner, who is not only providing amazing opportunities for milspouses to start a virtual career but has also been voted one of Fortune 100’s Best Places to Work? Meet Intuit! In this episode, Kimber chats with Intuit Hiring Manager Karina Decker. They take questions from our community, talk about why Intuit truly is such an amazing place to work, and share all the details on two positions Intuit is currently hiring for: QuickBooks Live Expert Bookkeeper and TurboTax Live Tax Expert. If you are looking to put your bookkeeping or tax knowledge to use in a flexible, work from home environment, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

About Intuit

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

TurboTax Live Tax Expert - Book Phone Interview

QuickBooks Live Bookkeeper - Book Phone Interview

Ace Your Virtual Interview

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

Check Out More VirtForce Programming

Military Creator Con and Podfest 2020

Stand United, addressing NS Pearl Harbor and NAS Pensacola

Flexible, PCS Friendly #JobOpp with Tiny Troops Soccer™

Jobisode #1: QuickBooks and TurboTax Live by Intuit

Blog Post

Alright VirtForce family - are you ready to officially meet our new partner, who is not only providing amazing opportunities for milspouses to start a virtual career but has also been voted one of Fortune 100’s Best Places to Work?

Meet Intuit! If you’re familiar with products like TurboTax, QuickBooks, or Mint, then you already know them. Intuit doesn’t just claim to be a fantastic place to work. They have the evidence to back it up. In this episode, Kimber talks with Intuit Hiring Manager Karina Decker. Karina has been crushing hiring goals season after season for TTL, building bi-lingual Spanish recruiting function, has gone from hiring a few hundred agents to when she started to a few thousand agents now.

Karina shared that at Intuit, “You are not just a number. Everything you say matters. You have a say in providing your feedback and your voice is heard. They are really big on the voice of the customer.” Intuit is giving back, creating opportunity, and is not going to treat you like a number - what more can you ask for?

So are you looking to put your bookkeeping or tax knowledge to use in a flexible, work from home environment? Intuit is currently hiring for two positions: QuickBooks Live Expert Bookkeeper and TurboTax Live Tax Expert.

What do you need to know about the QuickBooks Live Expert Bookkeeper position?

This is the perfect platform for bookkeepers looking for a part-time gig (year-round, 20-29 hours per week). The goal is to support small business owners so they can focus on actually running their business.All training is done remotely. During training (while you’re getting paid!), Intuit will help you get the QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification.No certification required to apply; You do need at least 5 years of experience using a tax prep or bookkeeping software and/or have a degree; Having a CPA is helpful but not required.You are an advisor, helping self-employed and small business owners use QuickBooks software, to help alleviate what they may not have the bandwidth to do

Do you feel like this is a good opportunity for you? Throw your name in the hat and go for it.

What do you need to know about the TurboTax Live Tax Expert position?

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Show Notes | January 21, 2020 | Episode 015

Military Creator Con + Podfest

Do you have a passion for content creation and development? Do you love connecting with others in the military community, to grow and learn together? Then this is the episode for you. Join us as Kimber and James van Prooyen (founder of the Military Podcast Network) share all the exciting details of Military Creator Con and Podfest 2020, including how VirtForce is helping YOU get there.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

James van Prooyen

VirtForce Ticket GiveawayCoupon Code: wesaluteyou

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Military Creator Con

Podfest

Avery Skipalis (Speaker)

Austen Alexander (Keynote Speaker)

MCC Facebook Group

Purchase Tickets (For a limited time, use discount code “wesaluteyou” for 50% off!)

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

Check Out More VirtForce Programming

TCDI, A Path for Milspouses into Legal and Cyber Services

Let’s Talk Military Taxes with Brandyn Cox

You are what you speak – with Mark England

Instantly create a profile with Kara of Instant Teams

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Show Notes | January 16, 2020 | Episode 016

Stand United

In December 2019, the military community was rocked by two shootings, just days apart, at NS Pearl Harbor and NAS Pensacola. Like many of you, the VirtForce team struggled to process the events and figure out how to move forward as a community.

In an effort to support our community and provide a resource, as well as create a safe space to heal, host Kimber talks with Tesa Saulmon about the psychological impacts of an event like this, as well as how they personally felt in the aftermath of the events. We also speak with Melinda from GFI Apparel to share all the details on their Stand United fundraiser and how you can help support the families of the fallen.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Tesa Saulmon

GFI Apparel

ABC News

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

My Abundant Life: Secondary Trauma

Stand United Fundraiser (Purchase you shirt here)

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

Check Out More VirtForce Programming

TCDI, A Path for Milspouses into Legal and Cyber Services

Let’s Talk Military Taxes with Brandyn Cox

You are what you speak – with Mark England

Instantly create a profile with Kara of Instant Teams

Blog Post

In December 2019, the military community was rocked by shootings at NS Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and NAS Pensacola in Florida. The shootings occurred just two days apart, on opposite sides of the country.

If you are interested in learning more about the events that transpired, we encourage you to read the above articles and to talk to those around you who may have been impacted.

One of VirtForce’s core values is that we believe in the power of true community and advocacy. We wanted to provide a resource to our military community where they can process, speak openly, begin to heal, and hear how they can support our community moving forward.

In this two-part conversation, we cover how we respond to tragedies such as this, what it feels like to be a part of the military community at this time, and what you can do moving forward.

In Part 1, host Kimber talks with Tesa Saulmon about the psychological impacts an event like this can have on a community. They discuss secondary post-traumatic stress as well as what it feels like for them personally to have significant others who have gone through the aviation pipeline.

In Part 2, Kimber speaks with Melinda from GFI Apparel to share all the details on their Stand United fundraiser and how you can help support the families of those who lost their lives at NS Pearl Harbor and NAS Pensacola.

As always, VirtForce is here to Stand United with our fellow military spouses, veterans, reservists, and active duty military brothers and sisters.

The news clip you heard at the beginning of the episode is from ABC News and can be found here.

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Show Notes | January 9, 2020 | Episode 015

Flexible, PCS Friendly #JobOpp with Tiny Troops Soccer

Have you struggled since joining this crazy #milspouse life to find flexible employment that you enjoy? Your VirtForce fam has all been there, including Tiny Troops Soccer founder and coach Amy Schweizer. Her desire to find flexible work that could fit into her military lifestyle is what inspired her to create TTS. She chats with VirtForce podcast host Kimber all about flexible work, why Tiny Troops Soccer is such an amazing opportunity for both milspouses and military kiddos, and why you should apply.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Tiny Troops Facebook

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Tiny Troops Application

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

Check Out More VirtForce Programming

TCDI, A Path for Milspouses into Legal and Cyber Services

Let’s Talk Military Taxes with Brandyn Cox

You are what you speak – with Mark England

Instantly create a profile with Kara of Instant Teams

Blog Post

Have you struggled since joining this crazy #milspouse life to find flexible employment that you enjoy?

Your VirtForce fam has all been there, including Tiny Troops Soccer founder and coach Amy Schweizer. Her desire to find flexible work that could fit into her military lifestyle is what inspired her to create TTS.

Tiny Troops Soccer is a year-round, developmental soccer program that focuses on teaching the fundamentals of the game as well as developing gross motor and social skills, body and spatial awareness, and the ability to thrive within a group setting. This is accomplished through fun games and activities that are specifically designed to support proper early childhood development.

TTS is inspired by military families, with the goal of not only providing flexible employment opportunities for military spouses, but also providing flexible sports for military kiddos.

In this episode, Amy shares with Kimber how she went from a position working for the Jacksonville Jaguars to moving across the country and coming up with the idea for Tiny Troops Soccer. Like many of us, Amy knew that she needed flexible opportunities while she balanced frequent PCSs, being mother to three boys, and the general craziness of military spouse life.

So who is Tiny Troops Soccer looking for? Unfortunately for some of us, they do require that you have some soccer experience. They have what Amy calls, “Soccer Integrity,” and want to make sure that their coaches have at least a basic understanding of the game so they can best support and coach their troop. However, it’s okay if you haven’t played in awhile!

Most importantly, they are looking for coaches who are fun, silly, and willing to put themselves out there. If you think this describes you, it’s very likely that you have a place on Soccer Island. Time commitment can vary per week, anywhere from 3-8 hours. You are able to set your schedule but you need to be able to have a consistent schedule for the first three weeks of the month.

Tiny Troops Soccer is currently hiring at bases nationwide, and is preparing to launch programs overseas. If you don’t see your base listed, Amy encourages you to still apply. They are always open to launching programs at new bases. For tips and tricks for applying, as well as an insider tip to prepare for an interview, make sure to listen and subscribe to our podcast.

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Show Notes | December 20, 2019 | Episode 014

Work with a Fortune 100 Company!

In our very first jobisode, Kimber spills all the details on the two of the hottest positions currently on the VirtForce job board. These W2, Salary, and OCONUS-friendly virtual jobs are being offered with one of Fortune 100’s Best Places to Work. This is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Expert Bookkeeper Application

Tax Expert Application

VirtForce Job Board

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

Check Out More VirtForce Programming

Let’s Talk Military Taxes with Brandyn Cox

You are what you speak – with Mark England

Instantly create a profile with Kara of Instant Teams

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Show Notes | December 26, 2019 | Episode 013

TCDI: A Path for Milspouses into Legal and Cyber Services

VirtForce founder Kimber and Caragh Landry, President of Litigation Services at TCDI, sit down to talk about what exactly it is that TCDI provides to their clients and how their commitment to hiring military spouses happened after they accidentally hired a milspouse and started to learn what a powerful community they could tap into. If you are interested in legal or cyber services, this is the episode for you.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Caragh Landry LinkedIn

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

TCDI

TCDI Careers

Military Spouse Managed Review (MSMR)

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

Check Out More VirtForce Programming

Live Q&A With Career Coach, Kristen Earp

How MilSpouses Can Take A Step into Remote Work

Launching a Career in IT When You Do Not Have A Degree

How VetForce Can Help Military Spouses Launch A Career in Tech

Blog Post

Are you interested in legal or cyber services? TCDI could be the place for you.

Kimber and Caragh Landry, President of Litigation Services at TCDI, sit down to talk about what exactly it is that TCDI provides to their clients and how their commitment to hiring military spouses happened after they accidentally hired a milspouse and started to learn what a powerful community they could tap into.

TCDI (Technology Concepts & Design) has been helping corporate and law firm clients with legal and cyber services for the past 30 years. They provide a wide range of litigation support services, including outsourced services such as document review, litigation coding, data entry, marketing, and finance opportunities. They focus on helping legal departments function. While they are part of the virtual workforce, they also have offices in Greensboro, NC and Cleveland, OH.

Recently, TCDI launched Military Spouse Managed Review (MSMR). This program offers reliable and flexible career opportunities for milspouses while also creating a diverse pool of qualified, adaptable and experienced reviewers for TCDI clients.

One skill you may not even realize you have as a milspouse, that will definitely come in handy if applying to TCDI, is familiarity with information security. Because of our military lifestyle, we are used to dealing with and managing sensitive information (#OPSEC). Kara points out that milspouses tend to show a much higher commitment to data security. It is almost innate to us and is a soft skill that TCDI doesn’t have to work to explain or train.

The only way to hear all of the tips for applying that Caragh has to offer, as well as how VirtForce is helping our community find opportunities with TCDI, is to listen to the full episode! Subscribe and listen below.

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Show Notes | December 19, 2019 | Episode 012

Let’s Talk Taxes

Understanding taxes is a foreign concept to most of us. Host Kimber sat down with taxation expert Brandyn Cox from BMC Accounting LLC to discuss 1099 contractors, W2 employees, the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act, and so much more! Brandyn dives into understanding the difference between a W2 wage employee and a 1099 Independent Contractor as well as what you need to know about the two when it comes to filing your taxes.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Brandyn Cox LinkedIn

Taxes for Independent Contractors and Businesses Master Class

Book a Consultation with Brandyn - Free if you click the VirtForce Block

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Military OneSource

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

Check Out More VirtForce Programming

Portable & Fulfilling Work in Your Field with Freedom Learning Group

LinkedIn Hot Tips from Jaime Chapman

Scott Tucker on Finding Purpose & Unlocking Financial Wellness

Milspouses: The Perfect Fit for Aira

Live Q&A With Career Coach, Kristen Earp

How MilSpouses Can Take A Step into Remote Work

Launching a Career in IT When You Do Not Have A Degree

How VetForce Can Help Military Spouses Launch A Career in Tech

Blog Post

As virtual positions begin to grow, so many of us have questions about what it means to work in a virtual workspace.

What does it mean to work remotely? Will I have to commute to an office? What is the difference between a 1099 contract and a W2 position?

Quite frankly, these questions will scare you out of the opportunity to work in a virtual environment if you don’t have the resources that can properly answer your questions. Today’s episode will provide helpful insight on what it means to be a W2 employee, 1099 Independent Contractor, and most importantly the tools needed to help you prepare for filing.

VirtForce founder and podcast host Kimber sat down to talk with Army veteran and amazing accounting professional Brandyn Cox of BMC Accounting LLC, to talk all things taxes. Don’t worry, we made sure to leave out all of the things that make you cringe when you hear taxes. Instead we are talking Military Spouse Residency Relief Act, an exciting educational master class available to our VirtForce members, LLC versus S-Corporation for your business, and so much more.

Brandyn was a military police officer in the U.S. Army before he developed an interest in accounting.In 2017 BMC Accounting LLC was born. Brandyn wanted to focus on convenience, value, and affordability for small business owners, not knowing this would turn into a national business with clients in 40 states.

Since 2017, Brandyn has helped countless service members and milspouses with tax preparation and has taught them how they can be better prepared moving forward. In this episode, Brandyn talks about how to avoid tax penalties, W2 vs 1099 Independent Contractor, rental properties, and how they can be a good thing for your taxes. Now, I’m sure you’re wondering what all of this means and how does it affect you when it’s time to file taxes.

One topic that is really important to everyone, but more specifically the milSpouses and veteran community, is understanding the difference between a W2 employee and a 1099 Independent Contractor position. When a company lists a position, they’ve already decided if it will be a W2 or 1099 position. You don’t get to choose which type of position you want.

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Show Notes | December 12, 2019 | Episode 011

You Are What You Speak

We all struggle with self-doubt. This week’s episode provides us with the tools and resources needed on how we can reprogram our mind to have architect vocabulary instead of conflict vocabulary. We have all been in a situation where we have talked ourselves out of an opportunity or have experienced self sabotage. TEDx speaker Mark England discusses procabulary and the impact it can have on us when we take away conflict words and replace them with architect words instead.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Mark England Instagram

Procabulary

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Mark England TED Talk

Scott Tucker on Finding Purpose & Unlocking Financial Wellness

Join the ConversationOur favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

Check Out More VirtForce Programming

Portable & Fulfilling Work in Your Field with Freedom Learning Group

LinkedIn Hot Tips from Jaime Chapman

Milspouses: The Perfect Fit for Aira

Live Q&A With Career Coach, Kristen Earp

How MilSpouses Can Take A Step into Remote Work

Launching a Career in IT When You Do Not Have A Degree

How VetForce Can Help Military Spouses Launch A Career in Tech

Blog Post

Finding the right way to verbalize our emotions and feelings can be tricky, often leaving us to feel as if we simply can’t find the words we need in order to say something so simple.

Our vocabulary is such a big part of who we are and has a big impact on how we view our life and what’s happening around us. So much so, that we are what we speak. What if I told you there was a way that we can change our vocabulary to help us change our mindset?

In today’s episode, that is exactly what we are talking about. We discuss conflict vs. architect vocabulary, the kind of impact those words have on our daily life, and most importantly how we can change our vocabulary to Procabulary.

VirtForce had the amazing opportunity to shine this week’s spotlight on Mark England. Podcast host Kimber sat down with Mark to discuss procabulary and how we can transform our mindset to talk like a professional. Mark is a TEDx speaker, with a background of business and international education where he uses his skills to help others. He has professionally coached thousands and transforming the lives of so many with the strategy he uses in his courses.

As we get ready to close out this year, this decade, listen closely as Mark shares a few gems with our VirtForce community. We want you to use these gems and apply them to your goals for 2020. May they be big or small, there is no right or wrong. Change your perspective on how you view your life, by changing the way you talk to yourself. We want you to use your words to not only influence yourself but those who are around you.

Our challenge for you, at the end of this episode, is to start thinking about your goals for 2020. Ensure that your goals are reflecting architect vocabulary, using words of affirmation that make you feel happy. Remember, we’re working on building ourselves up. If making a goal for the entire year makes you anxious try making small monthly goals. Once you’ve been able to accomplish your monthly goals, start thinking of expanding your timelines and thinking of different ways to achieve your aspirations.

Make sure to listen and subscribe so you don’t miss things like virtual spotlights and interviews with military influencers!

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Show Notes | December 5, 2019 | Episode 010

Instantly create a profile with Kara of Instant Teams

If you are looking for inspiration, or for something to light a fire in you to finally make that leap into remote work, this is the episode for you. We are diving into a deep discussion with VirtForce Power Partner, Instant Teams! Kimber talks with Kara Smith, who is the Director of Customer Operations for Instant Teams. As an Army spouse and seven year remote career veteran, Kara is a subject matter expert on remote work and personal life balance.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Kara Smith LinkedIn

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Instant Teams Profile: Click Join As Talent

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

Check Out More VirtForce Programming

Live Q&A With Career Coach, Kristen Earp

How MilSpouses Can Take A Step into Remote Work

Launching a Career in IT When You Do Not Have A Degree

How VetForce Can Help Military Spouses Launch A Career in Tech

Blog Post

We’ve all been at the point where we didn’t realize that virtual work was an option or a possibility for us. On top of that, as military spouses our community is often times overlooked because employers think we don’t have the necessary skills because we move so often.

Kimber talks with Kara Smith, Director of Customer Operations for Instant Teams (previously MadSkills). As an Army spouse and seven year remote career veteran, Kara is a subject matter expert on remote work and personal life balance.

As active duty milspouses, we need portable jobs in order to maintain careers. We want to PCS and know that our professional life is one thing that will remain constant. There is so much out of your control not only with virtual careers, but in the military lifestyle. It is incredibly easy to get into a negative mindset and think things like “I’m not worthy of this position” or “they’re going to judge me for being a milspouse.” Kara recommends owning what your life is. Do you like your life? Show that! Be honest with your potential employer and talk about your journey and what has brought you to remote work.

“If there’s one thing I can say to anyone applying for remote positions: Don’t have the mindset that I did. Think like you’re going to get it and let the person on the other end know that you want it. It’s definitely possible,” says Kara. Basically, you should be treating every opportunity like it is the opportunity you are going to get.

So what is Instant Teams? They build remote teams for their customers, who may have never worked with a virtual team before. They also focus on building up the culture of a remote workspace. As an organization, Instant Teams prioritizes encouraging people and building them up while cultivating relationships with both talent and customers.

One of the best things about Instant Teams is that they are CONUS and OCONUS friendly. If you are interested in being a part of their team, the first thing you absolutely need to do is fill out a profile (Click on Join As Talent, make an account, and get to work on filling out your profile). This is the best way to reach Instant Teams and makes the matching process easier and more efficient. Because the profile is your first introduction to Instant Teams,

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Show Notes | 11.21.2019 | Episode 009

Freedom Learning Group: Portable & Fulfilling Work in Your Field

Finding fulfilling work in your field sometimes seems impossible with virtual employment. Host Kimber sat down with Kristin Arkema from Freedom Learning Group to learn more about what it really means to develop educational content, how Freedom Learning Group is helping military spouses and veterans, and why this is the ideal role to both enhance and develop professional skills in your field.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Kristin Arkema LinkedIn

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Kristin Arkema Email

FLG Career Opportunities

FLG Subject Matter Expert Profile

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

Check Out More VirtForce Programming

Live Q&A With Career Coach, Kristen Earp

How MilSpouses Can Take A Step into Remote Work

Launching a Career in IT When You Do Not Have A Degree

How VetForce Can Help Military Spouses Launch A Career in Tech

Blog Post

Freedom Learning Group: Portable & Fulfilling Work in Your Field

Finding fulfilling work in your field with the opportunity to learn, grow, and develop new skills while using your professional background sometimes seems impossible with virtual employment. Today’s episode will not only show you that, yes, this opportunity does exist but also give you the tools necessary to apply.

VirtForce is putting our virtual employer spotlight on Freedom Learning Group. They focus on educational content development. VirtForce founder and podcast host Kimber sat down with Kristin Arkema to learn more about what it really means to develop educational content, how Freedom Learning Group is helping military spouses and veterans, and why this is the ideal role to both enhance and develop professional skills.

Kristin has been a military spouse for the past 14 years. She has PCS’d nine times (make sure to listen to the episode for a pro packing tip) and has mothered three boys, all at different duty stations. She is a project manager and attorney while also controlling recruiting at Freedom Learning Group. She has been with the company since Summer 2017 and has filled several roles - subject matter expert, project manager, and now staffing.

So what exactly are you doing when creating educational content? You might be developing supplemental resources to go with textbooks (i.e. exam banks, quiz questions) or creating a curriculum for specific courses. Other projects Freedom Learning Group tackles include accuracy reviews and accessibility work.

Freedom Learning Group helps milspouses stay in their own field, work virtually, and try new things. What could be better than that? The company was founded on the idea of giving opportunities to unemployed and underemployed military spouses and veterans.

“It’s hard to go to school for years and then suddenly feel like you aren’t able to work in your field. It’s important to feel like you have that ability to keep your skills and your resume current,” says Kristin.

Educational content development spans a huge range, from chemistry to business and everything in between. There are endless employment opportunities in all different fields. You are also able to branch out from your specific field. Coming in as a new employee, you do not necessarily have to have experience in the field of education.

Make sure to listen and subscribe so you don’t miss things like virtual employer spotlights and interviews with military influencers!

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Show Notes | November 14, 2019 | Episode 008

LinkedIn: Engage, Engage, Engage

In this Do’s and Don’ts episode, Kimber talks with LinkedIn evangelist and military spouse Jaime Chapman about how to set yourself up with a killer LinkedIn profile. Not only do you have to make sure you have great photos (that’s right, photos, plural) and content, but you also have to make sure you are engaging with the community. It’s not enough to make your profile and leave it. You have to be active, current, and engaged.

Jaime walks us through her top three tips for LinkedIn. With over 3,500 hours of experience in the military community, Jaime is an incredible resource for the VirtForce family.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

LinkedIn Do’s and Don’ts Master Class

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Jaime Chapman LinkedIn

Jaime Chapman Consultation

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Military Spouse Advocacy Network

Begin Within

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

Check Out More VirtForce Programming

Scott Tucker on Finding Purpose & Unlocking Financial Wellness

Live Q&A With Career Coach, Kristen Earp

How MilSpouses Can Take A Step into Remote Work

Launching a Career in IT When You Do Not Have A Degree

How VetForce Can Help Military Spouses Launch A Career in Tech

Blog Post

So what’s the big deal with LinkedIn? Do I need to be that active? Is it enough to just make my profile and let people come to me?

If you are asking yourself questions like this, this is the episode for you. Military spouse, Army veteran, and LinkedIn evangelist Jaime Chapman shares her tips and tricks for standing out among the crowd and outsmarting the algorithms. As a military spouse employment advocate, Jaime has helped over 1,000 veterans and has advocated for over 10,000 military spouses in the Military Spouse Advocacy Network.

Jaime is a VirtForce vetted career coach and we are thrilled to continue to grow our relationship with her.

According to Jaime, we should start thinking about LinkedIn as our living, breathing personal websites. We would never put the time and energy into building a beautiful website and then never think about someone looking at it! No, we would want to drive traffic, post updates, interact with viewers, and make sure we were presenting ourselves in the best way possible.

In this episode, Jaime shares her top three tips (really six tips) to turn your LinkedIn profile around. Above all else, she says you have to, “engage, engage, engage.” Whether you are liking other people’s posts, sharing content, commenting, or writing your own posts, engagement is key.

Jaime and Kimber cover everything from headshots (spoiler alert: all you need is a friend and a phone with Portrait mode) to bullet versus block formatting. If you are using LinkedIn, you need to listen to this episode. These tips could be the difference between a hiring manager stopping on your profile and someone clicking through without giving you a second thought.

Make sure to tune in for the full conversation and subscribe to the podcast for more incredible conversations with military spouse influencers.

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Show Notes | November 7, 2019 | Episode 007

Finding Your Purpose & Unlocking Financial Wellness

Kimber sits down with US VetLife founder Scott Tucker to cover everything from strategizing financial solutions for your family to overcoming depression and finding your purpose. USVetLife is an amazing company that is innovating both the financial and employment spaces for military families. This episode focuses on personal development and finding ways to align your passions to income. As an added bonus, Scott and Kimber come up with a pretty fantastic reading list.

If you're interested in applying to work with USVL (as mentioned in the Podcast Episode) Click Here.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Scott Tucker LinkedIn

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

US VetLife (Contact: info@usvetlife.com)

The Transition Savings Plan

The Rosie Network

VetForce

FourBlock

The Veteran's Guide to Life, Liberty, and Purpose by Scott Tucker

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Tribe by Sebastian Junger

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

Check Out More VirtForce Programming

Live Q&A With Career Coach, Kristen Earp

How MilSpouses Can Take A Step into Remote Work

Launching a Career in IT When You Do Not Have A Degree

How VetForce Can Help Military Spouses Launch A Career in Tech

Blog Post

Purpose. It’s something we all want, but how many of us have actually found it? And if we’ve been lucky enough to find it, have we found a way to make a career out of it? US VetLife founder and Army veteran Scott Tucker has not only found his passion and purpose but he is out there every day sharing it with the world. USVetLife is an amazing company that is innovating both the financial and employment spaces for military families.

Scott is all about financial wellness. There is a shocking statistic out there that the average military family gets out of the service with only $5,000 to their name. We are so used to benefits taking care of us and, honestly, our financial education isn’t working. Here is the goal: learn how to use our money. We should be positioning ourselves financially for the eventual transition out of the military. There has never been a time like this in the history of the world, where so much information and access is available to us. But here is the catch - you have to want to go out and find the information and opportunities. Then, once you find it, you have to ask. Ask for help, ask for explanations.

So how do we tackle this? Scott suggests a modern, proactive approach. “Do we want to leave it to the government? Are we happy with the efficiency of our PCSs or do we want to take control of it our own selves?” I think we all know the answer to this.

In regards to finding and following your purpose, Scott says the key is to find a sustainable interest. Once you have that, think about how you can monetize it and make it a career. The more you can customize and find your niche, the more likely you are to align your passion to income.

This is truly one of the most exciting conversations yet on the podcast. We cover everything from strategizing financial solutions for your family to overcoming depression and finding your purpose. This episode is all about personal development and finding ways to align your passions to income. As an added bonus, Scott and I come up with a pretty fantastic reading list.

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Show Notes | October 31, 2019 | Episode 006

Discussing How MilSpouses Can Grow In The Agent Role

In this episode, Aira Agent Hiring Manager Kyle Kozlowski sits down with Kimber to talk about why the Agent role is such an exciting opportunity and why Aira has made the commitment to hiring military spouse.

This one-of-a-kind company works to enhance the way low-vision people experience and interact with the world. The mission of Aira is truly about the people. They put their Explorers, the people who you are serving as an Agent, front and center. Aira is all about empowering people to live life on their own terms.

Kyle shares everything from his favorite moments working with Explorers to tips for prepping for your interview (hint: don’t do it in the back of a van).

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

Apply with Aira Through VirtForce at this Link

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Aira

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

VirtForce + Aira Application

Aira Commitment to Hiring Military Spouses

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

VirtForce on Facebook

VirtForce on LinkedIn

Check Out More VirtForce Programming

Live Q&A With Career Coach, Kristen Earp

How MilSpouses Can Take A Step into Remote Work

Launching a Career in IT When You Do Not Have A Degree

How VetForce Can Help Military Spouses Launch A Career in Tech

Blog Post

VirtForce is thrilled to have Aira as an employment partner. So what do they do? Aira transforms lives every day by providing objective visual information that enhances the way low-vision people experience and interact with the world. Agents (that could be you!) guide Explorers through things like visiting museums, vacationing on a beach in Hawaii, or making sure their kid is actually doing their homework.

Kyle Kozlowski is the Agent Hiring Manager at Aira. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in public health, is a two-year remote work veteran, is an avid outdoorsman, and is dad to goldendoodle Ellie. Kyle sat down with us to talk about why the Agent role is such an exciting opportunity and why Aira has made the commitment to hiring military spouses. As an added bonus, the Agent role at Aira is both CONUS and OCONUS friendly.

The mission of Aira is truly about the people. They put their Explorers, the people who you are serving as an Agent, front and center. Aira is all about empowering people to live life on their own terms. Aira is looking for candidates who are determined, have well-developed problem-solving skills, and have a service mindset.

Here is where the exciting news for the VirtForce family comes in: Aira is committed to hiring 100 military spouses, which is why they have partnered with us. They realize that because of our lifestyle, military spouses are detail-oriented. We are used to facing and overcoming adversity. These are skills and experiences they feel will translate into success as an Agent. Aira, like VirtForce, is a strong community. Isn’t that what we’re all looking for?

If you are looking for a flexible schedule, a remote career with growth potential, a professional community, and a job where you can spread goodness in the world, Aira is the place for you. Make sure to listen to the full conversation to hear Kyle’s tips for interviewing, applying, and to hear how VirtForce has got your back in the application process.

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Show Notes | October 22, 2019 | Episode 005

Just Start. Start Messy. Start Ugly. Just Start.

In this episode of the VirtForce Podcast, personal development coach and military spouse Kristen Earp and host Kimber take questions live from the VirtForce community. Topics include reentering the workforce, getting résumé ready, creating a flexible career plan, and avoiding getting discouraged while job hunting.

Kristen also asks listeners to consider what values they can’t live without in a job and how you can find alignment through understanding those values.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Finding Your Clarity and Confidence Master Class

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Kristen Earp

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Military Spouses with Advanced Degrees Facebook Group

Flawless Consulting by Peter Block

Institute of Management Consultants

Rebecca Okamoto on Elevator Pitches

Eventbrite

MeetUp

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section.

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How MilSpouses Can Take A Step into Remote Work

Launching a Career in IT When You Do Not Have A Degree

How VetForce Can Help Military Spouses Launch A Career in Tech

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Kristen Earp goes by many titles. These include seasoned consultant, certified leadership and development coach, and like many of us in the VirtForce community: military spouse. Kristen is a virtual career veteran, having worked virtually for over ten years.

Through her experience as both a working professional and a military spouse, Kristen has learned the importance of being able to identify what values you cannot live without in a job. For Kristen, these are service, connection, and growth. Her passion for training, consulting, and coaching combined with these values drives her to succeed in her role as personal development coach.

Kristen, along with VirtForce founder and show host Kimber tackle questions from the VirtForce community, such as “How do I reenter the workforce?” “How do we find alignment with our values?” and what career happiness really means.

This episode will give you the tools to needed to start building your network and developing meaningful connections. You will learn how to dust off your résumé, get pointers on interview techniques, and get access to a long list of resources to help you connect with your community.

Most importantly, Kristen wants to help you find clarity around what it is you want out of a job. Are you looking for a job to help you gain a new skill or are you looking for a job to move you forward on a career path? Clarity is something that evolves with time and as you grow, but it is something that can lead you to career happiness. You need to know your values and know where you want to take your next step.

You don’t want to miss out on Kristen Earp’s Live Q&A with the VirtForce community. Make sure to listen and subscribe so you don’t miss other incredible content and resources just like this.

Remember this when you feel overwhelmed in your job search: Just start. Start messy. Start ugly. Just start.

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How MilSpouses Can Take A Step into Remote Work

Show Notes | October 17, 2019 | Episode 004

In this episode of the VirtForce Podcast, we discuss how BOLD it is for Military Spouses to work from home.

We explore the company Boldly through the eyes of their Marketing Manager and former Military Spouse, Audrey Fairbrother.

Audrey discusses WHY Boldly loves hiring Military Spouses for virtual jobs. She also reveals some of the positions they are currently looking for: Paralegal, Project Manager, Executive Assistant, Accountant, and Paralegal.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast

Kimber Hill LinkedIn

Audrey Fairbrother

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Boldy Jobs for Milspouses (recently Worldwide101) American Corporate Partners (ACP) Military Spouse Employment Initiative

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Launching a Career in IT When You Do Not Have A DegreeHow VetForce Can Help Military Spouses Launch A Career in Tech

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Image from Boldly.com

Have you ever been in the position where you don’t know what might happen next? Do you feel like there is one foot planted and one ready to take a leap as far as life plans go? Are you a milspouse who wants to sustain their career? Audrey Fairbrother, Marketing Director of Boldy and former milspouse, understands theses questions very well and wants military spouses to be BOLD and bring work-life balance into your life by working remotely.

“Everyone can benefit from remote work. It just allows for a better work-life balance. It gives you that extra time with your family. Everyone has important priorities going on, so I think remote work helps even all out,” said Audrey.

Audrey has been working for Boldy for more than five years and has been able to sustain her career with them through multiple military moves and transitions. If you haven’t heard of Boldy, they are a 100% remote premium business staffing company that provides executives a highly-skilled remote staff to help represent their business and carry out responsible tasks.

Boldly currently provides its clients with a staff of executive assistants, marketing/social media experts, project managers, accountants, and paralegals. Boldly is also made up of several military spouses. They have a dedicated milspouse page!

“Military spouses make some of our best candidates. They are naturally adaptable, which is great for this type of position with different clients and industries. They are resourceful and independent. Military spouses have amazing soft skills, “ said Audrey.

If you have over 7 years of experience as an executive assistant, marketing/social media experts, project managers, accountants, or paralegals - Boldy is looking for you. If you don’t have the required 7 years of experience, don’t get discouraged.

Audrey recommends spouses to play up their experiences such as volunteer work, internships, part-time jobs, and side hustles. These experiences cumulatively add up and you are developing soft skills and it is relative to include. Anything that has brought you professional experience.”

Boldly has been a strategic partner with Virtforce for almost a year! We hope you learned a little more about Boldy and how they contribute to the remote and virtual workspace. Don’t forget to catch the full podcast episode with Audrey from Boldly.

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A conversation with Salesforce Experts Mike Wheeler and Brooke Bracy

Show Notes | October 10, 2019 | Episode 003

In this episode of the VirtForce Podcast, Kimber talks with Mike Wheeler of Mike Wheeler Media and Brook Bracy, Certified Salesforce Administrator and Bilingual Hiring Expert, on how Salesforce can impact the careers of virtual job seekers.

We EXPLORE how Vetforce, an online military community for the Salesforce platform, can catapult military spouses into a virtual career.

The panel discusses WHY learning about Salesforce can help those without college degrees work in the tech industry. They share how you can future-proof your skillset in a career and gain more relevancy.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast Kimber Hill LinkedIn Mike Wheeler Media Brooke Bracy

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How VetForce Can Help Military Spouses Launch A Career in Tech

Blog Post about this week's episode

Are you a Military Spouse that hasn’t finished your degree? Are you a Military Spouse who wants to gain job experience while working on a degree? Do you have a graduate degree, but still having a hard time finding a job? Would you like to break into the tech industry?

We had the opportunity to talk to Mike Wheeler of Mike Wheeler Media and Brook Bracy, Certified Salesforce Administrator and Bilingual Hiring Expert, on how Salesforce can help military spouses catapult their careers.

First, what is Salesforce?

Salesforce is a customer relationship management (CMS) software that helps companies and customers combine into one integrated platform. The web platform helps a companies' departments such as marketing, sales, commerce, and services combine into one platform online (also known as the cloud).

“Why Salesforce matters in terms of a virtual career? There is an extreme shortage of Salesforce talent and Salesforce professionals? So, the supply versus demand equation is in your favor, “ said Mike Wheeler.

You saw the words “cloud” “computing” and “software” and want to run. Keep reading. You do not need to learn to code or understand development to work on the Salesforce platform. Salesforce has created an educational community for the military community called VetForce that teaches participants how to use the platform by earning badges and a unique gamification process.

“Learning about Salesforce has given me more job security. It’s made me more hopeful about my career progress. Vetforce gives the military community an opportunity to earn certifications that can cost hundreds to a thousand dollars,” said Brooke Bracy.

The military community can join the Vetforce platform for absolutely FREE and earn industry certifications for FREE while launching a career at the same time. Salesforce provides job security for those who do not have a college degree. The skills are in high demand and can provide a sustainable and an increase in salary in the long term.

We encourage our readers to listen to the full conversation with our panel of Salesforce experts. They discuss WHY learning about Salesforce can future-proof your earning potential. You won’t want to miss out on the additional tips that Mike and Brook provides.

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The one about VetForce with David Nava

Show Notes | October 3, 2019 | Episode 002

In this episode of the VirtForce Podcast, we talk to Salesforce Lightning Champion, David Scott Nava, about Vetforce.

We explore how Vetforce helped him learn to love cloud computing and how the program helped launched his career into technology. David provides steps on how to start with VetForce and REVEALS how Military Spouses can utilize the free industry certifications (worth thousands) and jump into a career in technology.

If you are a new listener to VirtForce Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Links and Resources

VirtForce Podcast Kimber Hill LinkedInDavid Scott Nava SalesforceVetforce

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Launching a Career in IT When You Do Not Have a Degree

Blog Post about this week's episode

Are you recently transitioning from a stay at home parent into a career? Are you tired of starting entry-level over again? Do you want a career in technology? Are you unsure of how to jump into tech without spending more money on schooling?

If you’ve answered yes to all these questions. We want to talk Vetforce with you. Vetforce is a free education based platform provided through Salesforce in upskilling the military community with high demand technology skills and providing partners with a diverse and trained talent pipeline.

To talk more about the platform, we had the honor to talk to veteran David Scott Nava about his journey with the platform and how Vetforce launched his career into technology within months. David used Vetforce while transitioning from active duty service into a civilian career role.

After getting his MBA and project management certifications, David was unsure of what industry to apply his skills. He utilized his LinkedIn and heard about VetForce. He signed up and started training immediately. Through the module and gamification of the Vetforce training, David was able to earn 413 badges through the process and explained, “It’s such an awesome way to learn Salesforce, and it was completely free. I did a couple of badges and found out that I loved it. And very quickly found out that I do have a love for Information Systems. And began my journey down that path.”

(David Nava is in the middle, image from https://veterans.force.com/s/)

David was able to continue his learning and free education through Vetforce and earn free industry certifications (which can be valued in the thousands). David is a currently a Salesforce Lightning Champion and 6x Trailhead Ranger. If you don’t know what that means, he’s pretty much the big deal in Salesforce terms.

In our interview, David also provided some incredible insight into how military spouses can take advantage of Vetorce and how to gain real-life experience while training in VetForce “Salesforce created specific badges for military spouses because they understand the unique challenges military spouses face.

“If you do not have experience or a degree, Salesforce is making it easy to bridge the gap for our veterans and military spouses. If you are looking for a career transition, Vetforce (via Salesforce) is a great option for those interested in jumping into tech.”

David shared a wealth of information and we recommend listening to the full podcast interview to learn how to utilize the VetForce platform. We hope this information about Vetforce can help our military spouses who want to transition into tech.

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Show Notes | Episode 001 | October 3, 2019

In this episode, we discuss what VirtForce is and how we can help you.

This podcast is for EVERYONE. Every listener is welcomed here. Our content and information is beneficial to military spouses or anyone affiliated with the military community.

Whether you are employed, not employed, currently looking or on a career transition, we hope that our podcast helps you on your career journey.

Our podcast also helps business owners who are interested in the strategic advantages of remote team members and how they can help their bottom line.

What does VirtForce do?

We search for employers who hire virtual team members. We vet the jobs they are offering and bring you legit work from home positions.

We share these jobs on our membership only Job Board, we also email them to you and live stream announcements about them to our Facebook and Youtube channels.

We spend a lot of time creating just in time education and coaching about working remotely and the career search. So you might find the information you need in our Master Classes or video courses.

We provide resources like the Active Search Program which gives you access to monthly group coaching too!

Finally, we provide our free Podcast which gives you access to interviews from dozens of Military Influencers and Military Friendly Employers. This information will help inspire and guide you on your virtual career journey.

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