Wednesday, 7 May 2025 Issue#030

Transition Smarter. Tech-Driven Guidance for What’s Next

Every step you take toward your next chapter is a chance to build something better. This week, we're sharing tools and insights designed to help you work smarter, stay focused, and use technology as a force multiplier—not a crutch. Let’s turn uncertainty into momentum, one smart move at a time.

Weekly Spotlight

Tool of the Week: Make – Automation you can see, flex, and scale!

Make.com is a powerful no-code automation platform that enables individuals to visually design, build, and automate workflows without writing any code. Formerly known as Integromat, Make offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that allows users to connect over 2,000 applications—including OpenAI, Slack, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google Workspace—to streamline tasks.

With Make, users can automate repetitive tasks, synchronize data between platforms, and create complex workflows that enhance productivity and reduce manual effort. For example you could use Make to scan job postings from LinkedIn, pull ones that match a set of keywords, use AI tools to customize your resume to that job, and send you the results in an email to review. Its visual approach to automation makes it accessible to both technical and non-technical users.

Whether you're looking to automate simple tasks or build intricate systems, Make.com provides the tools and flexibility to transform your ideas into automated solutions.

Why we like it:

✅ Can be huge timesaver

✅ Lots of free templates

✅ Easy to follow "How To" videos

✅ Wide array of potential uses

What We Are Tracking

Tech Update: Privacy in the Age of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are rapidly transforming the modern landscape, offering new ways to streamline tasks, boost productivity, and generate insights that were once time-consuming. Whether it’s writing assistance, data analysis, or project management, AI is stepping in to handle the busywork and free up humans to focus on more strategic efforts. It’s a shift that’s hard to ignore—AI is here, and it’s making work a lot more efficient. But as people rush to embrace these tools, they’re also confronting a major challenge: how to harness AI's power without compromising the privacy and security of sensitive data.

AI-driven tools often rely on massive datasets, some of which can include personal or confidential information. This raises valid concerns about how data is collected, stored, and shared—especially when using tools or cloud-based platforms that aren't always transparent about their practices. Privacy isn’t just a legal or compliance issue; it’s about trust. People want to know that their data isn’t being misused, especially in environments where sensitive information is routinely handled. Balancing productivity and privacy means taking a thoughtful approach to deploying AI, ensuring that efficiency doesn’t come at the cost of exposing critical or personal information.

An effective way to get a better understanding of how a tool may treat the data you provide is to read the terms and conditions...but when's the last time you did that? A useful hack is to use AI (like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, etc.) by letting it help you review the fine print. Terms and conditions for digital tools are often long, dense, and packed with legal jargon—making them easy to skip and hard to understand. But AI tools can break down these documents quickly, highlighting key points like data sharing policies, permissions, and whether your information might be sold to third parties. Some AI-powered platforms can even summarize or flag risky language, helping you make informed decisions before you click “accept." One such tool is Tosdr.com which stands for Terms of Service Didn't Read. Its a web based application dedicated to helping users understand Terms of Service and it's free to use!
It not a stretch to think that during a military transition you'll be putting more data into online tools and applications than ever before. Searching and applying for jobs requires you to give up a lot of personal data. The key to mitigating risk is understanding it first and knowing how your data will be treated before you enter anything is crucial.

Bonus Feature

In a recent Fast Company article titled “5 Common AI Mistakes That Are Derailing Your Job Search,” Dr. Serena Huang explores how job seekers are unintentionally hurting their chances by misusing AI tools.

Key Mistakes Identified:

1. Over-reliance on AI-Generated Résumés and Cover Letters: Using AI to craft entire application documents can result in generic content that lacks personal branding and uniqueness.
2. Automated Mass Applications Without Customization: Employing AI to apply for numerous jobs without tailoring each application can lead to missed opportunities, as personalized applications are more effective.
3. Using AI or Deepfakes in Interviews: Some candidates use AI tools or deepfakes during interviews, which can be unethical and problematic when actual job performance is required.
4. Ignoring AI Biases: Failing to recognize and address biases in AI tools can perpetuate discrimination, especially if these tools are used without oversight.
5. Neglecting Human Oversight: Relying solely on AI without human input can lead to errors and missed nuances that a human reviewer would catch.

Bonus Pitfall: Not staying updated with AI advancements and ethical considerations can hinder job search effectiveness.

Dr. Huang advises job seekers to use AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for personal effort, ensuring applications are authentic and tailored.

For a more detailed exploration of these points, you can read the full article here: Fast Company Article.

Productivity Spotlight

Tools that help you stay, or get, productive

✅ What the Font- A free tool the identifies font type with just an image. Useful for dressing up your presentations, cover letters, and resumes.

✅ Noun Project - Free icons and stock photos for everything.

✅ Inseparable Notebook Pen - Quite wasting time looking for your lost pen, attach it to your notebook!

Check us Out

"Want to connect with other transitioning veterans and share war stories? Join Our New Facebook Group!