Transitioning to civilian life after a long stint in the military is hard enough without the added pressure of finding employment in a fragile and slumping job market.
Recognizing this, President Obama has extended a partnership between the federal government and private industry to help make sure more veterans are able to find work when they make the transition. By offering tax incentives, the president has created a program that will make it more lucrative for private corporations to agree to hire those with prior military service.
It's a win-win situation. Transitioning veterans gain employment outside of their military service, and companies get the benefit of tax breaks and the discipline and sense of duty that military personnel bring to the workforce. Public entities have joined suit, as well, with many law enforcement agencies directing their recruiting efforts toward members of the armed forces. Across the nation, the push is on to employ more and more military veterans.
Obviously, there are significant differences between civilian employment and military service, and many people find the transition to be cumbersome. There are, however, some valuable things you can do to improve your chances and take advantage of the current interest in putting veterans to work.
Before sending out applications, the first thing veterans need to do is evaluate their skills and their experience to see where and how it matches up with civilian jobs. This is often the hardest part of beginning any job search.
During the self assessment, veterans will want to look back on the jobs they performed while they were in the service. It’s helpful to pay particular attention to the specific type of skills obtained, such as computer programming, data analysis, mechanics or supply requisition. No matter what the MOS, there is an industry in which a veteran's specific skills will translate well. In short, round pegs need to find round holes in which to fit.
In addition to the skills they've attained specific to their job, veterans will do well to evaluate the ancillary skills that coincide with their duties and rank. As veterans move up the chain, they acquire additional responsibility and experiences in supervising and managing people. They've learned to build and maintain important relationships, even among people they may be in conflict with personally. These are valuable leadership skills that that will make a transitioning service member a more attractive candidate.
After the assessment, veterans need to craft a resume that highlights the skills and abilities they've identified. The goal here is to showcase everything the candidate has to offer while ensuring to present the experience in a manner that shows relevance to the job sought. A good self assessment will have identified critical skills and matched them with relevant civilian job functions.
A resume should also highlight relevant specialized training and make it a point to demonstrate how that training translates and compares to a traditional college education.
At all costs, transitioning service members need to avoid jargon. Unfortunately, too many veterans fail to properly translate their military experience into non-military language.
During the job interview process, veterans can refer to their experiences in the military to highlight their skills and abilities. They should answer questions about how they might confront or deal with issues that may come up by relating a relevant story about a similar situation during their time in the service. This is an excellent way for servicemen and women to show that they're well qualified for the job and to show that they have the ability and experience to handle issues in the workplace.
One of the most important things transitioning veterans need to remember is that it's okay to accept help when help is offered. There's nothing wrong with needing assistance. Veterans should take advantage of the networks they've built and the contacts they've made during their time in the service.
Many industries, both public and private, value the dedication and work ethic associated with former military service members. The key to a successful job search for returning veterans is to accentuate their unique knowledge, skills and abilities and to clearly articulate what sets them apart from job seekers who have no military experience.