Posted on Jan 29, 2014
How do you "Pitch" your military experience in the civilian sector?
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With the looming cutbacks effecting many service-members who have served our great nation, I am curious how many Rallypoint members have begun to think about their military experience and view it through the lens of a civilian employer. For several of our nations bravest, the biggest challenge they will face won't involve bullets and flak vests, but will include translating the blood, sweat and tears they have shed for their country into a piece of paper aimed at summarizing who they are, what they do, and what they can do for their target company.
My question (and challenge) for the Rallypoint community is this: What is your pitch? Can you answer the questions of Who you are, What you do, and What you can do for your target company in 5 sentences or less while focusing your answer into a specific job or position?
Figuring this out is tough, I know, but this could quite possibly the most important thing you do in your professional (or post-professional) military career. Need some help? Here is a great article written by Forbes Magazine contributor Carmine Gallo that might be able to help: http://onforb.es/1iM5Fow
Would love to hear your pitch, so feel free to share it below.
-GD
Military experience can be difficult to translate in a resume. This article gives veterans and others tips on how to best prepare a resume.
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Employment
Civilian Career
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 16
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While it is no secret that civilian employers lack the understanding of what we have done in the military, Veterans also lack the information in some cases to clearly identify and express what they have done in the service so with that in mind I would like to say Thank you for posting this thread, this should get interesting.
During my transition back in 2008 I really didn't say much about what I did. I just told the interviewer that I served 8.5 years as a communications expert and it ended there. Now during my last job search as a result of downsizing, I was more vocal about it. Now I guess you can say my pitch is this when discussing my military experience.
I served in the Army for a total of 8.5 years as a communications expert providing the much needed voice and data communications to the front line commanders. Through the time I served, I learned invaluable lessons such as how to make quick decisions and how to over come many difficulties. I learned to work well within small and large teams as well as work with little to no supervision.
This then opens the floor to a lot of questions from the interviewer that through all the interviews I been, have been worked out in my mind and come fairly quick to me allowing the interviewer to see more of what I'm all about.
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SSgt Garrett Deese
SGT Keen,
You are very welcome, and thank you for your response! Great summary, I can sense the expertise and drive behind what you do best and even see how you got there. It is great that you are having success in using your story in your interview. If you don't mind sharing, in your past experiences, what techniques and language did you use to showcase how your military background gave you a distinctive edge on your competition to drive the business directives of your target companies?
Once again, I really appreciate your willingness to share
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I recently received my MBA from the university of Hawaii. While in attendance we had the opportunity to receive mentorship from actual CEOs in Hawaii. The main thing all of them told us about this particular topic, was to tell your story. One person had a box with a picture on each side, and she told her story through each picture. Another person had a small cup of play-do they used to make things that augmented their story as they told it. The bottom line is, you have to research the industry and company you will be interviewing with, and you have to craft a story that highlights why you are the perfect person for the position and how you are a great fit for the organization. Finally, your delivery has to be uniqe and in such a way that the interviewer remembers you.
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SSgt Garrett Deese
Maj Becker,
Thank you for your response! I most definitely agree that there is a certain art to telling your story which can be accomplished in a variety of creative ways. I wonder though, how could one relate this in a way that could be formatted into a resume response? I have seen some pretty creative resumes come down the pipeline at my current position (ie video games and interactive videos submitted for technical positions) and I would love to see some of our returning veterans relate their experiences in creative and "relatable" ways. Love your comment about how you have to "craft a story that highlights why you are the perfect person for the position and how you are a great fit for the organization." I think this is absolutely correct, but I would event take it a step further by saying that your story has to also be your personal brand, consistent in many respects with any position that you apply for, but framed in such a way that is perfect for your target position and company.
Thanks again for your insights!
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Maj Becker brings up a great point in his response above ^. What unique, relatable, creative, and memorable techniques has the Rallypoint community used to tell your military story in an interview? Would anyone be willing to share a success story?
I thought I would also open up a question that I proposed to SGT Keen to the floor as well:
What techniques and language did you use to showcase how your military background gave you a distinctive edge on your competition to drive the business directives of your target companies?
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SGT Ben Keen
While I didn't share just one specific experience to highlight my military experience, I used the entire time I was in. I told several stories including events like opening a school in Mosul, Iraq and how that helped shape my leadership skills. <div><br></div><div>As far as language, I try to keep it simple. Rather than saying I was a Multi-Channel Transmissions Team Chief; I say I ran a small team responsible for providing the voice and data network. I do find myself sometimes answering requests with "WILCO" but after a simple explanation my co-workers now what I mean. I also find it important to talk to them. They know they can ask me anything. I of course can refuse to answer any questions but I try to tell them what it was like for me and how it shaped me. I think it helps us all know how to work together. They know that sometimes I need to go for a walk and collect my thoughts and I know sometimes my approach to things can rub them the wrong way. However, through sharing things, we have gotten to figure ways to best work together.</div>
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SSG Mike Angelo
I was Fire Control and to civilians that job is perceived and associated with forest fires...like Smokey the Bear.
Then I tried to tell them that I was an Ordnance Soldier. Some employers perceived that my army job was to blow things up.
Then I say, after I retired from the military I went into the rodeo circuit. That got their funny bone and keen interest. Most people out here were farm kids and so they kept me around for awhile until I found something different to do.
You have to find a pitch that gets ur foot in the door. For me, the military pitch in a blue State does not work so well. Some folks wonder if you to killed somebody or go off like Rambo.
It is all about perception.
If civilians don't ask, don't tell them. Just say you did your job and leave it at that.
Then I tried to tell them that I was an Ordnance Soldier. Some employers perceived that my army job was to blow things up.
Then I say, after I retired from the military I went into the rodeo circuit. That got their funny bone and keen interest. Most people out here were farm kids and so they kept me around for awhile until I found something different to do.
You have to find a pitch that gets ur foot in the door. For me, the military pitch in a blue State does not work so well. Some folks wonder if you to killed somebody or go off like Rambo.
It is all about perception.
If civilians don't ask, don't tell them. Just say you did your job and leave it at that.
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