Separating From the Service Soon? Here Are Some Job Search Tips! By Jake Kim
January 18, 2010 | admin | Job Search Techniques
Separating From the Service Soon? Here Are Some Job Search Tips! By Jake Kim
You’re ready to separate from the military. Even with a recession and the news that many companies have stopped hiring - you’ve done your hitch in the military and you want to return to the civilian world, spend more time with your family, and work. No problem - just remember that in this economy you have to approach getting a job with the same sense of mission that you did as a member of the armed forces.
The first thing you’ll need is a resume; if you aren’t much of a writer, there are a ton of people in the Internet who will create a resume for you. If you write one yourself, just make sure that you have a friend check it over for typos or spelling mistakes.
The next thing you’ll need, along with a resume, is a cover letter for each job you apply for; now the guts of each cover letter can be the same, but you should tweak each one for the job you’re applying to. Think of the cover letter as your attempt to personalize your resume and demonstrate you are the best candidate for the job. If you fire off a resume without a cover letter, you are hurting your chance of being considered for the position.
It’s worth mentioning that you should list your military service on your resume, but with the warning that you should try to translate “military-speak” into roles and responsibilities that civilians understand. Even if you were a Marine in the infantry, you can emphasize the mission planning and the management of Marines under your supervision; you can also emphasize the military schools you attended and even some of the deployments you were on - many civilian employers value and respect the dedication and service of service members.
This leads to the job search itself; the days of buying the local newspaper and circling job ads is nearly over. Your best bet is to go online and check out what your local paper has on its website. You should also check a number of national Internet job sites like Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com - you just punch in your zip code, the job you’re looking for, and you’re off to the races.
Even in a poor economy likes this one, you’ll find that many companies will still post job ads hoping that they may run across a candidate that is perfect for them; and even if times are tough - the candidate with the rights skills can always help a company.
So you find the right job, fire off your resume and cover letter, and get a call for an interview - great news! The most important thing to remember, despite what some might say, is that appearance is everything. You must - I repeat - you must wear a tie and a suit. Some people in warm climates like California or Florida may try to say that the business culture is more relaxed, and that you don’t need to be so formal - they are wrong. You can never overdress for an interview. This goes for women as well, who should always dress in professional business attire.
The best way to have a good interview is to prepare for it: rehearse your answers to standard questions, research the company’s website, be prepared to ask questions and basically act as if this was already you’re first job assignment from the company.
And after your interview, don’t forget to email or send a card to the person who interviews you. This personal touch can go a long way. Good luck and thanks for your military service.
Jake Kim is a editor of Education4Military.com offers military education in real estate, professional, medical and business programs.
Originally posted 2009-01-02 22:18:49. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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