Takeaways from ASIS Anaheim

by chokedoutradio

Jairo Borja is currently the Director
of Business Development at
Berkeley College and has been on
the ASIS YP Council since 2012.

This year marked my third ASIS International Expo and it was
a great event. I got to see new products, new trends and
learned a great deal. One particular panel, What Security
Employers Look For & What Makes Candidates Stand Out,
stood out. The panelists each presented a unique perspective shaped by t
heir diverse backgrounds.

Law Enforcement/Military Transferable Skills
Some people think that after years of service in the military
or law enforcement they do not possess the skill set necessary
to transition into another industry. I’m here to tell you
that is not true. If your previous career had you interact with
the public and resolve tense situations without escalation.
you can communicate clearly and effectively, perfect for a
sales or customer service role. If you served in a supervisory
capacity, you have management experience. Leading others
in pursuit of a common goal is a skill, whether in law enforcement,
the military or business.

A critical factor in the job seeking process is translating those
experiences to skills on a resume. Recruiters may be searching
through hundreds of resumes; it is important to make yours
stand out. A mistake free resume explaining your management
and customer service skill sets may get you in the door,
but it is up to you to “close the deal” by being prepared for
the interview. Remember, learn about the company, its specialties and how it works before
your interview.

Volunteering/Networking
The panelists stressed the importance of volunteering and
networking. Volunteers are critical partners in society, community
and in business; whether you teach, tutor, mentor,
coach or financially support, it is important to give back.
Volunteers make possible the programs that teach today’s
youth that the value of leadership and teamwork. So they
can then be successful in the future.
If you are currently between jobs, volunteering can be critical
to your future success as well. Employment gaps on
your resume are a red flag for recruiters and employers,
volunteering is an excellent way to create an uninterrupted
work history, demonstrate community involvement and
project a high moral character. Once you are employed,
think of staying involved and help shape someone else’s
future.

The importance of networking cannot be overstated. It’s
not what you know it’s who you know, and how else will
you be exposed to the people who may be able to directly
or indirectly assist you? If you are in transition or just in
between employment, now is the ideal $me to get involved
and participate in networking events both inside and outside
of the industry. Your local Chamber of Commerce
pulls from diverse industries and is a great way to get a
warm introduction to potential employers or clients. Once
you are well known within the group, you can ask for introduction
to specific companies or industries and they will
open doors for you.
Joining and becoming an active participant in industry specific
organizations affords you tremendous benefits. You
are exposed to emerging trends and technologies, allowing
you to stay in front of the curve and plan ahead instead of
reacting. It also presents partnership opportunities: your
company may have limited resources, either financial or
physical, and finding a suitable partner may be the difference
between closing the deal and losing it. If you are in
transition or currently looking for employment, these
events will allow you to get a better idea about a company
and its employees before joining, or your contacts could
introduce you to potential employers.

It was a great expo in Anaheim and in particular I loved this
panel. Thank you to the panelists and moderator. See you all in Orlando,
next year !

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