Whether you’re active duty or a military veteran looking to make a transition into a civilian career, there are going to be some barriers to entry. It can be daunting to try and break into a field that you have unique knowledge and passion for, but little information on how to get your foot in the door. Thankfully tools like LinkedIn, if used right, can connect you with individuals who can at least point you in the right direction. The key, however, as Jose Vasquez says quoting the influential Simon Sinek, is “knowing your why.”
Jose Vasquez, District Service Manager with Varian Medical Systems and former Army Special Forces, speaks with MedTechVets (formerly MVPvets) Operations Manager, Victoria Hathaway, about “Knowing what you want to do when using LinkedIn to build your network” and explains how to use the platform to start conversations with people you’d want to shadow or learn from on how to break into the healthcare industry. His advice before even starting this process is to be clear on what your goals are, short-term or long-term. The reason being to a) give you a clearer idea of which professionals to start networking with, and have that guide how you craft your message and b) being upfront about what you want your future to look like is helpful for the people you’re networking with to steer you in the right direction. Even if you fail to hear anything, or get more No’s than yes’s, you still “fail forward, learn from it, and keep going.”
View the Entire Interview
0:00 – As a transitioning veteran, how did you use LinkedIn to connect with people?
2:15 – What questions did you ask about what you want to do to help identify your LinkedIn profile?
4:01 – Why is knowing what you want to do important when using LinkedIn to build your network?
6:22 – What did you ask your LinkedIn network when you were ready to make the transition?
8:38 – Do you recommend getting the LinkedIn Premium Account?
9:40 – Who do you connect with on LinkedIn?
11:26 – Did you ever hear “no”?
11:44 – Did people ever say “no” to an information interview?
13:46 – What are helpful tips when talking with someone?
15:30 – How did MedTechVets help with your transition?
See the full interview with Jose Vasquez, discussing the role LinkedIn played in his transition.
