Job Seekers: What are you specifically doing that will lead you to a successful job/career?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 18:23:22 -0400

Can you provide information to all the RP job/career seekers out there? Is finding a post-military job more who you know than what you know? Did you use your military network? Did you use an employment agency/online job center (USAJOBS/Monster, etc)? How long did it take you to land the job you wanted/searched for?

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2015 6:50 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 18:50:48 -0400

Knowing someone in the post military career field that you plan on pursuing is always a plus but don't rely on that alone. You have to make yourself more marketable to the civilian world. Ensure that you have a really good resume. There are plenty of Veterans Assitance programs aimed at helping Soldiers prepare their resume. While you are still in, use the Military to your advantage. Get as much education as possible, both college and Military. These are just a few helpful hints.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jun 22 at 2015 6:57 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 18:57:10 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member it’s a combination of things that need to accomplished:

1. Understand your employment objective and put it down into a nice precise paragraph ready to be inserted into a resume.
2. Build a really nice resume - you can find all kinds of free examples online - don't pay money for this - you know what looks right
3. Start signing up for job boards on the Internet. There are bunches that are absolutely free. Use those first. Fill out all the information that they ask for and make yourself assessable. Set up daily reminders.
4. Be prepared to "shine" on all telephone interviews. Take those military skills and transition them into civilian skills that the potential employer can relate to. Sell yourself, but do it professionally.
5. Be a good listener. Listen to what the potential employers are looking for and asking for - then respond appropriately.
6. You should be signing up and sending out resumes daily (at least 6 to 7, if not more) if you have signed up for the right job boards. Most will send you the messages when positions are available that you are looking for.
7. Always be prepared for the "in the person" interview once you get past the telephone interview. Dress for success!
8. Look for all the local job fairs in your local area or the next biggest city and go to them - be prepared and confident.
9. Don’t' get discouraged - stay motivated and positive even if you don't get the first couple of jobs. Outgoing and positive will win all day long.
10. Do steps 1 through 9 again to make sure you have all the TTPs down!

There are a lot of other things you can do besides what I just shared - this is the quick hit list. There are lots of great experts out here on RallyPoint that work for placement companies - find them and network. I base this on my own work searches and my experience in hiring 100s of employees over the last 35 years in my civilian industry. Good luck and I hope this helps!

Response by PO2 Bernard Burney made Jun 22 at 2015 7:29 PM

PO2 Bernard Burney — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 19:29:02 -0400

Knowing someone is always helpful. But here are some things that every veteran should know about job hunting.

Point 1. Must have several resumes, there is not a one size fit all situation here. Veterans should tailor their resumes to the actual job they are applying to. It is important to take out as much military jargon as possible. Use different sites like TAOnline and other sites to translate your skills. Ensure your resume is identical to the job posting as most companies have systems that look for key or buzz words in your resume. Remember, the recruiter will only spend 3 to 5 minutes on your resume, so make sure those words are in your resume.

Point 2. Network, Network, Network..find organizations that are specifically tailored towards the career or company you are interested in. Always do your research before applying, make sure you can speak to the companies overall purpose or mission. Join different associations and attend local networking events, this will provide you with instant credibility. It will allow you the opportunity to speak with individuals who are in the career or works for that particular company. Also make sure you social media sites are accurate and up to date. Most recruiters use LinkedIn, make sure you have a professional picture (Civilian) and that your linkedin profile is crisp and detailed. Make sure Facebook, Instagram or any other site are either private or does not have any derogatory information.

Point 3. Practice interviewing..use your spouse or others to help you with mock interviews. Practice your spill so that it comes across natural and genuine. Most veterans struggle with the interview process, always sit straight in the chair, posture is important. Also, relax..there are stereotypes out there that veterans are rigid and uptight. Make small talk with the interviewer. Research the interviewer prior to the interview if you can..look for their profile on LinkedIn or other Social Media sites. If you research the interviewer, most would think this is impressive and commend you for doing your homework. If you are doing a in office interview and the interviewer has pictures, take note, identify things you can create a conversation with the Interviewer about. If not, you can always ask them about their experience with the company or what the company offered that appealed to them.

Point 4. Remember to always close the interview with the question, what are the next steps? Also do not be afraid to ask for feedback from the interviewer. This is how you know what areas you need to work on and correct for your next interview.

Hope this helps..if anyone has specific questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Response by Sgt Jesse Bailey made Jun 22 at 2015 8:40 PM

Sgt Jesse Bailey — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 20:40:18 -0400

I left the USAF in the early 90's, Desert Storm was already starting but the economy was tanking. I had to pretty much start from scratch. I was a Ground Radio Specialist and I left the USAF after six years because I assumed I already had a job lined up for me with Allied Signal as a civilian. When they found out my TS clearance from DOD did not carry over easily to the State Dept. , that was it, my job was also gone. I finally worked my way back to school and got my degree and this helped me eventually work for the UN and corporate America. I felt that my training in the military was lost . Draft a plan on paper and execute, taking baby steps until you reach your goal. Best luck!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2015 10:17 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 22:17:58 -0400

I had no contacts to get a job. I use online search engines and kept hearing I was too shy for the position. I have finally been given a chance to get real world experience in my chosen field. I think it is more about not giving up.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 22 at 2015 10:34 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 22:34:57 -0400

I was given the most effective advice I received from a placement advisor. He said that networking is critical. His advice was to not ask your contacts for a job directly, but ask them if they know anybody that is looking for someone with your qualifications. This takes the pressure off of them and helps them to see through your perspective.

If they have a job for you, they will make the offer; otherwise they may give you several other people to call that they know might be hiring people like you.

When you call the people your contact referred you to, be certain to use the contact's name and say that he/she thought that they might know someone hiring people like you. Again, they will either offer you an interview or a job or give you other leads.

The placement advisor said that by the time you hit the third level of references you will be certain to be asked in for an interview or offered a job.

The key to the system is to put out feelers into the industry you are interested in, and to be guided in your search as a friend of a friend by people that know that industry and are actively working in it.

It worked for me, and I never got to the third level.

Good luck and good hunting.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 23 at 2015 1:44 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 01:44:54 -0400

Lot of great advice. As one who has hired a number of Vets but would not hire many more, I'll drop some dimes on what can help.

1. Make sure you can translate what your skills and leadership would mean to a prospective employer. They won't do the translation for you and will conclude you don't know what your looking for. When you see a job advertisement, do some web research and see what the company is about. See if it is something you want to be a part of.

2. Don't forget to be a combination of exciting yet comfortable. Employers don't want people near the ends of the bell curve as that's a signal for high maintenance.

3. Take a course in Technical Writing and/or English Composition. I've see great people with crappy resumes which is a flag that you can't write. Another flag that you'll be high maintenance. 80+% of Vets don't write well enough for higher end commercial sector. Sorry you don't like this, but the mirror can be a cruel thing. That said, most Federal employees need a writing booster shot too and is an inhibitor to their promotion.

4. Be ready to describe how you can help a prospective employer. Once you've interviewed a few times, you'll learn how you can key into where they're coming from.

5. You'll always second guess yourself on interviews. It's the woulda, coulda, shouda said or not said. Don't beat yourself up. As long as you're cheerful, sound intelligent, respectful, and act like you'll be there for them; that sticks in their memory. Many don't get into the door the first time, but a different job may have them calling you.

6. Work on breaking your "MIL Think" habits. You need to join their culture, not the other way around.

7. Think twice about some jobs, especially those with high turnover such as call centers, sales, etc. I've seen many companies hire Vets for Business Development and then dump them about 18 months later because they don't bring business in. Retired O-5s take notice.

8. If you're looking at Federal, State, County, etc. most have some sort of "Merit System" hiring process. The better you understand that process, the better you can navigate it. Vets many times can't or won't learn how and shoot themselves down chasing these positions because they're stubborn.

9. Check out the NFPs (Not for Profit) and fraternal organizations. They tend to be more directly mission focused and have more of a dislike for politics. Sound familiar? Exceptions include many of the large ones. Special Olympics comes in third behind the Vatican and FIFA in politics.

10. Sell your strength. That means you have to recognize where you are on the technical, leadership, management, people skills, etc. continuum. Overselling in any area typically means short employment.

11. Word will get out on you in the commercial sector if you are perceived as untruthful in your resume, interview, and employment. OK workers don't get mentioned at the pub but great and bad workers do. Negatives hang around.

12. Finally for this episode, get a mentor who'll help you define what it is that excites you. Nothing like having a crappy job you hate waking up for. You want the win-win so you need to sort out good fits. You have to have realistic expectations about yourself. That means you don't shotgun everything out there but rather be somewhat shrewd in what you'll do, for what price, at what locations.

Good luck.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Jun 23 at 2015 8:16 AM

1SG Michael Blount — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:16:00 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member - people in the finance/accounting/auditing fields interested in living in the DC area should send me their resumes NOW. Personal email address is [login to see] . At the very least, I can provide some guidance as far as a job search is concerned. If things pan out, a job is in hand.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Jun 23 at 2015 8:22 AM

1SG Michael Blount — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:22:15 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member - who you know - aka networking - is part of what Rally Point's about. Veterans helping veterans. It's what we do.

Response by SrA David Roby made Jun 23 at 2015 1:13 PM

SrA David Roby — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 13:13:47 -0400

USAJOBS, keep applying to everything you are qualified for and be willing to relocate for a position.

Response by SrA David Roby made Jun 23 at 2015 1:41 PM

SrA David Roby — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 13:41:58 -0400

I would also like to say that some AFSCs or MOSs do not translate over to the Civilian job market. So you can do one of two things, cross train into something that you can do as a civilian or use you GI Bill and all education benefits while you serve. That way when you get out you can go into a job you have trained or prepared for.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2015 1:53 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 13:53:20 -0400

I made the transition from Active Duty to a Contractor/Reservist a year and a half ago. While my skills impress on paper, I found that the largest obstacle to overcome was the interview. If I could go back, this would be the skill that I would polish. I had a few turn-downs from the interview process, and it was a bit painful to learn. I'm currently looking for another job transition, and I understand the system much better now, but it took practice.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jun 23 at 2015 1:54 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 13:54:46 -0400

I have applied for positions similar to how I would apply for anything else, researching jobs which relate to what I want to do/have the skill set to do.

I would then fill in all my work experience with the skills and experiences I have picked up through the years. Resumes may need to be tweaked depending on what you want to do. As military members we are experienced in both technical and administrative roles, because of forms documentation, etc. so you are looking for something more administrative, focus on the documentation and database management aspect.

I have signed up for the military/veteran employment agencies with little to no luck, and have had better results just searching through various companies' career pages and applying for jobs which match my skill set.

I started about a month prior to my release in February 2015, and got the position I'm currently working in a week after my EOS.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2015 3:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 15:36:48 -0400

I am in the process of leaving and I have used everything and anything to make contacts and to search for work. Here are my tips:

1) Figure out what you want to do post-military. Without this you will have a tough time finding work.

2) work on your resume as far out as possible. Don't call it quits on it once you think it is good, keep working on it. If I was to show you my first draft and my current draft, you would laugh at me. Tailor your resume for the work you want, no generic, one type does all!!

3) LinkedIn is a tool!! Make a full profile and start connecting. once you have made your profile, resume, and figured out what you want to do start connecting with people in the industry. Remember quality over quantity. You don't want 500 connections that do nothing for you. Come up with an introductory statement you can send people to connect. Don't just connect and expect them to talk to you. Give them a reason to talk to you!!

4) Once you connect with others on LinkedIn ask questions. The worst they will do is ignore you. I asked for people to review my resume, help with interview questions, what it was like to work for such and such company, how did they get hired, etc....

5) Develop a good elevator speech. One that sells who you are, what you did, how you can benefit where you want to work. Keep it under a minute.

6) Go to a job fair where ever you live and use this as practice to give your elevator speech. Show interest in the job and try to get an interview so you can practice interviewing (don't feel bad about this as most of the jobs locally are not what you want anyways, if offer is made, decline it. Doesn't affect either one of you).

7) Use agencies like Bradley-Morric, Oracle, The Lucas group. They will assist in the job search process. You don't have to accept, but they do help.

8) there are a lot of agencies that will help vets like Hire A Hero, Hero4Hire, The Commit Foundation, MilitaryMOJO.org, and a plethora of others. I have used several and they are all helpful.

9) My response isn't the be all know all but it is what has worked for me. I have interviews with Ethicon (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson), Georgia-Pacific, and Perrigo all this week. Waiting on interviews with General Mills and a couple other companies.

Hope this helps for someone!! Don't get frustrated as it is easy to during this process. Take what you have learned in the military by planning and thinking logically and all she be good.

Response by SSgt Chris Enslow made Jun 23 at 2015 4:56 PM

SSgt Chris Enslow — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 16:56:01 -0400

I worked hard my last year of active duty to finish a technical school, get some certifications, and learn a trade (in my case, Information Technology). While I spent a year working this school, I also volunteered on several occasions to help the systems administrator of my military unit. This process is of course easier if you already have a marketable skill that translates well into a civilian job, but even then you must work on a good resume.

So first would be marketable skills: what can you do, do you enjoy it - are you good at it, and if not, how much training and time would it take to make you marketable?

Second would be your resume: does it reflect exactly where you want to go? If not, what is missing from this resume and what can you do RIGHT NOW to update and fix that?

And finally, yes, networking is key: After all of the above is said and done, you must get your hustle on, talk to people that are doing what you want to do, and find out the process - who to send the resume to - etc.

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made Jun 24 at 2015 6:53 AM

SFC Christopher Perry — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 06:53:18 -0400

I applied for a position that was posted on Glasssoor (yes, one of the places they tell you about at TAP/ACAP). I went on leave on Friday and started the following Monday. I am one of the lucky folks. But I am also one of the folks who payed attention during TAP-ACAP.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2016 2:25 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 14:25:50 -0400

Try to tie your professional goals with that of the company you apply at. Most locations will have mission statements, charters, and goals.