By Veterans Transitional Services

VTS has talked about the importance of using all your contacts to network and help you in finding a job. As we discussed the power of the group comes from ability that a network has to leverage your reach in the community and thereby multiply your efforts.

Today, we would like to introduce another way that you can use the power of networking. For years now, many business groups have met once a month in cities around the country to share leads as well as ideas with each other. These networking groups are sometimes run by national companies such as Le Tips and Business International. Basically they meet once a week, to once a month for about two hours, and share ideas and leads with each other. A lot of the groups limit the number of people that can join and have yearly and monthly dues to belong. Despite the fees these groups are in demand. Why? Because the members get benefits and results from belonging. Business people that meet regularly are able to not only exchange leads, but also ideas and get encouragement. These meetings are also powerful because the members are all business owners. The fact is that one business owner can understand the success and frustration of another business owner.

So what does this have to do with veterans you may ask? Well, you can take this same idea and use it by forming your own veteran's roundtable. This group does not have to be big and complicated, and can be as small as two or three veterans. The benefit of having a group made up of only veterans is that you would relate better to each other due to having the same backgrounds and similar experiences.

The purpose of this meeting could be to talk about issues, assisting each other in finding jobs, providing business leads and opportunities, and basically being a sounding board for each other. The meetings can be held at a local Starbucks, a restaurant or anywhere where you feel comfortable to host the meeting given the size of your group.

To set up the group simply pick a date every month that all the members agree to. This could be as simple as the second Tuesday of every month. Next choose a time that will work for everyone. For example, one of the business groups that I mentioned above meets in the early morning for breakfast and the other usually meets in the evening hours after the close of business. The bottom line is that it is totally up to you. The importance is that you keep it consistent each and every month.

After having the roundtable for a few months you will discover the power and importance that having this meeting will have on each of the members. Do not be surprise if the group continues to grow and more people want to join your group.