Google's new email writing system? It needs a reset.

I just got access to Google's new email rewriting tools. 

So, I took it for a test drive.

 I wrote my friend Roy, a retired newspaper columnist and humorist an email to test its ability to improve my email writing.

 I started with: "Do you believe that robots will change the world that we send messages to…." 

Here's the response that Google's new email writing system suggested when I used the "I'm Feeling Lucky" option. 

"My dearest friend, I write to you today To ponder on the future of our world, A world where robots soon will rule the day, And send our messages with perfect twirl. These robots will be wise and strong and kind, They'll never lie or cheat or steal, They'll always be there to lend a hand, And never once will make us feel. But still I wonder, will they know our hearts? Will they understand our deepest fears? Will they be able to truly love? Or will they always be machines? I do not know the answers to these questions, But I will keep an open mind, And hope that robots will bring us joy, And not just pain and suffering. So let us welcome our new robot friends, And hope that they will make our world a better place." 

After sending this beta test message, Roy's response was classic: "ChatGPT should not quit its day job. That letter blew chunks." 

Someday, some search bot will find Roy's published articles and regenerate them with a better version when people ask for their help. And, this will sadly destroy human creativity.

The missing element in any LinkedIn connection? It's the tieback element.

How can novice LinkedIn users make connections with both their colleagues and total strangers? That’s easy.

It’s important to understand how to use a tieback in every connection note. Tiebacks are typically used in news stories. In journalism, a tieback is a brief reference to a previous story that is related to the current story. With a LinkedIn request, tiebacks can help readers understand the context of the connecting person’s relationship. For long-time acquaintances, I would mention something such as a military assignment served together. Meanwhile, a tieback for someone like a professional colleague or influencer really needs that tieback. When you send a connection request with a personal note and that extra tieback element, you are showing the other person that you have taken the time to learn about them and that you are genuinely interested in connecting with them. Here are some tips for writing effective personal connection notes on LinkedIn: Keep it short and sweet. People are busy, so they don’t have time to read long, rambling notes. Get to the point quickly and clearly. Be specific. Don’t just say something generic like “It was great meeting you at the conference.” Instead, mention something specific that you talked about or that you found interesting about the other person. Be genuine. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. People can spot a fake from a mile away. Just be yourself and let your personality shine through. Proofread your note before you send it. Typos and grammatical errors make you look unprofessional. Take a few minutes to proofread your note before you hit send. By following these tips, you can write effective personal connection notes that will help you to build relationships and grow your network on LinkedIn. Here are some sample letters you can use when making future connections. I highlighted the tieback element in each of them. However, if you would like to share with me your best connection notes, please do so.

Facing a job interview? This video can help you master the process

ast week, I did an interview with Keith Cassant about the job interview process. The interview focus was on the military members I serve as the president of the Military Transition Roundtable. All are facing future job interviews. I’m sharing this YouTube video for those of you facing a job interview either for the first time or if it’s something you haven’t done in your recent memory. While we covered a lot in this interview, I want to thank Brian Stacey, one of my Marine students who noted that by getting there early, he was able to observe the culture of the company where he was doing a job interview. After posting the video on Linkedin, he posted this comment: “I love the “be early” advice. I have arrived early in person which allows time to have a meaningful discussion with the support team (receptionist/assistant) and see how the company runs and how happy employees are to be there.” Thanks for reading this post. If you want to follow me, here are the best ways to keep up with my posts and articles.

Storytelling: the most underused part of your LinkedIn profile

Who doesn’t like a great story or two? For years, I spent a lot of my post-college career as a volunteer storyteller. I loved it when young children light up to the power of a great story. I still remember one elderly person acknowledging a story about how a henpecked man pushed his wife into a dark hole with a classic “It served that b352ch right.” I have found through my 15 years on LinkedIn that it can also be used as an exceptional storytelling platform. Here are some thoughts on using LinkedIn as your storytelling platform: Choose your stories wisely. Not all stories are created equal. When choosing a story to share, make sure it is relevant to your audience and that it will add value to their lives. Be authentic. People can spot a fake from a mile away. When you share your stories, be yourself and let your personality shine through. Keep it short and sweet. People have short attention spans, so make sure your stories are concise and to the point. Use outstanding photos that add to your story. People are more likely to remember information that is presented visually. When you share your stories, use images, videos, and infographics to make them more engaging. It will take time to create LinkedIn as your storytelling platform. You can’t overpromote yourself in this endeavor. Patience and attention to detail will help. So, will personally responding to every person who comments on your stories. (Note: a significant part of this post was generated from some well-defined input to my personal Google Bard account.)

Job fairs are wonderful places for #mpits or military professionals in transition to practice informational reconnaissance. Keith Cassant, 𝙈𝘼𝙊𝙇, 𝙎𝙋𝙃𝙍, 𝘾𝙀𝙃, one of the Military Transition Roundtable facilitators and advisors, posted that he was traveling to El Paso for a job fair. I reposted Keith’s post so that others could see this opportunity, but I also used this to share some key thoughts on what I would term as informational reconnaissance or “info recon.” If you are someone in transition and attending a job fair, here are some basic steps to make a quality connection with someone like Keith. First, look up Keith’s LinkedIn profile.(https://lnkd.in/gsrswUxa). If you are going to attend this job fair, write a connection note with something like this: “Keith, I’m a soldier who is retiring next year. I am working in information assurance and would like to meet you to discuss post-military opportunities” Second, show a little patience. It may take Keith a couple of days to respond to your connection. While I know my friend is usually responsive to LinkedIn messages, not everyone reads through their connection requests every day. If I wanted to truly connect with Keith, I might look at his corporate profile and send an email. If there was more than 10 days before an event like this, I might even send him a short note. Even better, if a friend knew Keith and had his phone number, I’d call Keith and mention that his friend suggested I call him. Third, make sure to talk to Keith at the job fair and then follow up with a note. May I suggest something like this: “Keith, thanks for taking the time to meet with me about the path I need to take to get the training I would need to qualify as a candidate.” Fourth, suggest a follow-up meeting and bring something of value to the conversation. Perhaps, it’s a referral to something Keith needs like the name of other candidates who may be available before your departure from military service. Or, you heard that Keith had a son or daughter who wanted to go to your college. Maybe, you know a recent graduate that could assist Keith’s child make an informed choice about college or a major. Now that Covid-19 is over, #mpits will see more chances to meet professionals like Keith in person. I have to admit that not every recruiter will respond like him, but my experience is that you’ll find some truly amazing resources during your transition.

The persistence to overcome transition issues with the support of others

 

This is a story about Nathan, a sailor, and the journey he took to get his DD Form 214.

And, it’s also a story about how Nathan’s Mastermind group, the Military Transition Roundtable, helped him get this form after his discharge from the Navy.

First, for those who don’t have U.S. military family or friends, let me explain why the DD Form 214 is significant.

The DD Form 214 is an important document for veterans because it provides a complete summary of their military service. It includes information such as the veteran’s name, rank, branch of service, dates of service, awards, and decorations, and type of discharge. The DD Form 214 is used to verify a veteran’s military service for a variety of purposes, including:

• Applying for veterans benefits, such as VA disability compensation, home loans, and education benefits.
• Getting a job, as many employers prefer to hire veterans.
• Joining veterans organizations.
• Obtaining a passport.
• Renewing a driver’s license.
• Determining eligibility for burial in a national cemetery.

Nathan needed the form to apply for his VA disability with an accredited veterans services officer in Arizona.

When the psychiatrist assigned to the USS Harry S. Truman diagnosed that Nathan had depression issues, he was told he could no longer serve in the ship’s nuclear engineering department.

The military believes that depression will impact those who work around nuclear devices for a number of reasons. These reasons include:

• The stress of working around nuclear devices can be overwhelming.
• The knowledge that sailors like Nathan are working with a weapon of mass destruction can be anxiety-provoking.
• The fear of being exposed to radiation or being involved in a nuclear accident can be debilitating for some military professionals..
• The isolation of working in a remote location can lead to loneliness and depression.
• The stigma associated with mental health problems can prevent people from seeking help.

Nathan's diagnosis came as the Navy carrier was getting ready to deploy for another tour in the Middle East.

Just seven days before the Truman deployed, Nathan was given a discharge and a ticket home to Ohio. In other military services, military professionals are given a physical evaluation board. Nathan was not given this option.

Had he served in another military branch like the Army or Air Force, the physical evaluation board would work with the VA to get him a disability rating.

The DD Form 214 acts as the key element to any VA claims. The Navy has had some issues with providing these forms to sailors.

There are a number of reasons why the Navy may fail to provide discharge papers to its sailors. Some of the most common reasons include:

• Administrative errors: The Navy is a large organization, and it is possible for mistakes to be made when processing discharge paperwork. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as human error, computer glitches, or lost paperwork.
• Complex discharge procedures: The Navy has a complex set of discharge procedures, and it can be difficult for sailors like Nathan to understand the process. 
• Lack of communication: The Navy does not always communicate effectively with sailors about the discharge process. This can lead to sailors being unaware of the steps they need to take to get their discharge paperwork processed. 
• Bureaucracy: The Navy is a bureaucratic organization, and it can be difficult to get things done quickly. This can lead to delays in the processing of discharge paperwork. One other Navy MTR member, a sailor named Mike told me he had to badger other chiefs and influencers to get his DD Form 214 as his retirement approached last year.

Nathan’s mother encouraged him to join the Military Transition Roundtable over a year ago. It took Nathan some time to get the confidence to share his story with others who are facing transition issues.

Several months ago, Nathan told his story about his discharge and the issues he faced.

His fellow military professionals helped him recognize the need to get the form and also gave advice on how to get his form. For Nathan, a visit to his Ohio veterans commission got him the form he needed.

The military won’t publicly admit it, but a ton of red tape plays a significant barrier in any discharge, separation, or retirement. Many military professionals in our group helped others recognize the issues, the delays associated with them, and the way to work through the bureaucracy. 

For those who served, transition never ends. A Mastermind group or other forms of support can help people adjust to their new roles.

Sadly, not everyone makes it.

For some, transition puts them into homeless situations because they didn’t get the info on their VA benefits or the claims process. Veterans today have a wide variety of options not only for training in new jobs but the mental health services they need for PTSD and TBI injury. 

At the Military Transition Roundtable, we are one of the many non-profits that support people like Nathan to capitalize on their VA benefits and post-service opportunities.

If you know of a veteran who is facing transition issues, please let me know. 

(Matt Scherer is the president of the Military Transition Roundtable. He and another co-founder created their nonprofit three years ago to help veterans find the resources to deal with the stressors of their exodus from military service.)