Take advantage of the various resources the military offers, like TAP and Yellow Ribbon events.

In addition, here is some more information and supports to ensure you succeed.

“One-Stops”

Most states call their local employment and unemployment services offices One-Stop now because they offer so many services, programs, and referrals. Be sure to also check there for specific services offered veterans.

Federal government programs

There are a wide range of training, education, transition, and career development services offered to veterans by the federal agencies. These include:

• The GI Bill
• VETS – Veterans Employment and Training
• The National Resource Directory for all military and vets services

If you are interested in continuing to work for Uncle Sam, read the Federal Government Job Search articles for excellent information.

Job Fairs

There are a wide range of job fairs across the country. The most effective ones in terms of your job search are those which have the most employers in your target area.

Job fairs which are focused on a specific field, like finance, or related career, like technical jobs, or are for those with security clearances are most likely to be worth attending if appropriate for you. Employers come to these ready to hire.

This is also true where a specific company puts on a job fair for its own needs — often in conjunction with opening a new operation. If you have the skills they are looking for, they are a good match.

Job fairs which are more general are likely to have fewer targets. You need to check them out carefully to see if they are worth your time. When you see a job fair offered by a community group or for a specific group like women or seniors – check them out in advance. Are there going to be a number of employers you have targeted who are attending, or not?

In attending any job fair, remember to go prepared. This is an interview and you should be appropriately dressed and groomed and ready to discuss your experience and interests. Even if you have registered in advance with your resume, bring plenty of copies with you. And don’t forget to network while there with other job seekers as well as the people working the booths and giving talks.  You never know who you might meet.

Virtual job fairs can also be useful, but again, you need to ensure that your target employers will be there. Check out Successfully Navigating Job and Career Fairs for more tips and information.

References

I bet you do not think of your references as a part of your job search support system, but they are. You should pick as many past bosses as you can who can talk about your great work, and ask them to be your references.

But do not stop there. As a part of your job search plan, ask each what they see as your strengths. Or ask for ideas on career fields they think you should check out. Once you have a resume, send each a copy of it too.  And, when you update it or change your target, send them the updated version.

When you have potential job interviews coming up, send your references a note and tell them a bit about the job. Remind them that you asked them to be a reference, and confirm that they are still willing to do that. Verify that you have their current phone numbers.

This preparation increases the likelihood that your references will be raving about what a top quality person you are and able to give the details that are most relevant to the position. Hiring managers love such references!

College Professors

If you have recently completed a degree or are taking courses for it, make friends with at least one professor in your field. Then you can ask that professor to become a reference. This will boost your educational credentials for the jobs you seek. College professors get a lot of these requests, so be sure you choose one you know well and have asked for this support early.

About the author…

Patra Frame has extensive experience in human capital management and career issues in large and small corporations. She is an Air Force vet and charter member of The Women In Military Service for America Memorial.  Patra speaks and writes regularly on job search and career issues through her company Strategies for Human Resources (SHRInsight) and PatraFrame.com where she blogs advice for veterans and other job seekers. Watch Patra’s ClearedJobs.net job search tips videos on YouTube, and follow her on Twitter @2Patra.
More about this author…

The post Your Job Search Battle Plan appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Yet, when it comes to the highly-valued and highly-sought-after soft skills required to keep organizations operating effectively, members of the military have a definite advantage.

[Related: What are Soft Skills? Definition & Examples.]

How Veterans Can Get and Retain Good Jobs

At a workshop on workforce development, large corporations described the needs they had for certain skills. All the speakers were worried about the lack of US college students pursuing degrees in math and science, especially advanced degrees.

But all were also concerned about the lack of “soft skills” – for people in all sorts of jobs. What does this mean to you?

Meeting the “Soft Skills” Requirements

There are always going to be jobs for people who can interact with and understand the customer or who have the ability to work within a team effectively.

These are skills almost every military person has learned and can demonstrate on their resume and in interviews.

Here is a short list of common soft skills needed in many jobs. You can use this as a checklist.

• Customer Service – understands and meets “customer” (the people who need your work) needs fully
• Interpersonal Skills – deals with a diverse range of people effectively
• Planning – plans and organizes own (or others’) work to meet requirements
• Written communications – writes clearly, identifies critical information needed and presents it to achieve desired goals
• Oral communications – speaks clearly and effectively, tailors message to audience needs to achieve understanding, presents well to groups.
• Listening skills – listens intently to understand others’ ideas and views
• Integrity – recognized for positive ethical approach, behaves consistently with values
• Initiative – self-starter, makes good suggestions
• Flexibility – deals with change or ambiguity without increasing stress or creating additional problems
• Problem-solving – effectively assesses and resolves problems
• Coping skills – handles difficult situations and people effectively
• Teamwork– works well with others to achieve desired results
• Leadership – encourages others to achieve, creates effective teams, inspires others to do their best.
• Conflict resolution – able to identify underlying problem, reach out to others involved, offer solutions for differences.

Create Your Soft Skills Cheatsheet

1.  First rate yourself on each of the skills above.

2.  Where you have good skills, develop a “success story” which tells about an achievement you have in the specific area.

One “success story” can serve as a demonstration of many possible soft skills. You will find that each could answer questions in several areas. Here is an example which could demonstrate Planning AND Problem-solving AND Communications skills.

Selected to provide on-the-job safety training to newly assigned staff, created checklist of critical issues, worked with each person and with small groups to ensure understanding of safety issues and their actions; resulting in lowest rate of accidents in unit in five years.

Once you have looked at the skills checklist and assessed your best, then see how they relate to jobs which interest you. Look at position descriptions or job ads to find the most relevant ones. These need to be included in your resume.

Bottom Line

None of us is ever “too good” at most soft skills. But, you have more such skills from your military experience than most civilians at the same stage of their career. Use them effectively to enhance your resume and find the job you seek.

About the author…

Patra Frame has extensive experience in human capital management and career issues in large and small corporations. She is an Air Force vet and charter member of The Women In Military Service for America Memorial.  Patra speaks and writes regularly on job search and career issues through her company Strategies for Human Resources (SHRInsight) and PatraFrame.com where she blogs advice for veterans and other job seekers. Watch Patra’s ClearedJobs.net job search tips videos on YouTube, and follow her on Twitter @2Patra.
More about this author…

The post Veterans’ “Soft Skills” Advantage appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Not sure what you want to do?

Unsure of your next step? Here’s help!

What Do I Want to Do Now?

Start by making a list of those careers which you think might interest you. Some may come out of your military experience. Others not.

If you have few ideas on what you want to do, start by thinking about basics.

• Do you like to work with things or people or data?
• Are you happy or miserable in an office?
• Are you good with your hands or mechanical things?

What appeals to you? What did you learn in your military work that you would want to do?

Here at Job-Hunt, we have a lot of information to help you research career options and employers. Another terrific website specifically designed to help veterans figure out what work interests them and what careers they might pursue is MyNextMove, from O*Net.

Your Options: Location

One aspect of what your options are is where you live or want to live. If you love where you live, you will want to find those careers which allow you to succeed locally. If you are relocating, then you want to learn the options in your preferred location.

Don’t assume you know all the various career options in your local area even if you have lived there since birth. Most areas have many more than you might be able to list at first.

Once you have some options you like, check out what is available locally. See the employers listed in Job-Hunt’s Directory of Employers by State, which includes both government and non-government employers.

You can learn more about local needs through the local economic development agency (generally online, search the term with your city or county’s name).

Also do a search on Indeed.com, or any other large job board, using career titles or keywords, plus the location you want, to see what is currently available and what skills or experience are needed. Notice which employers seem to be listing the most jobs that interest you, and check out their websites to see if they might be good places to work.

Take a look at anything which seems interesting and explore it. Seek out people who do the work now. Check out how common the work is in your area – usually you have more job opportunities if you choose a locally common field.

Your Options: Education

I am sure you have heard often enough that education is critical to your future job prospects and income. But that does not mean your only options are a BA or BS. If your chosen career requires that, certainly it is worth the effort. But there are plenty of other education options.

Need information on your GI Bill rights? Check out Post 9/11 GI-Bill Benefits.

1. Consider the education you received in the military. How does it relate to your potential career choices? Take a look at Transcripts. This service will help translate your military training into college credits in specific subjects.
2. Look at the certifications you might need for a new career. There are a wide range of careers which only need certifications. You may be able to get these through a local community college or the OneStop (the former employment office in most states) in your area.Could any of your military training and education be applied to these certification requirements? For example, many truck and bus drivers need a Commercial Drivers License (CDL), and there is now a way to transfer your military driver training into a CDL.
3. Consider an Associates degree at a local community college. Most community colleges offer programs designed in connection with local industries to meet their needs. One example is nuclear technical staff. There is a huge need for people to run nuclear power plants, as current employees are aging. Community colleges near such plants offer programs to train you for such jobs. Another area with many needs is health care – and lots of community colleges offer a variety of related programs.
4. Consider starting a business. Check out the terrific training programs run by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families. They offer entrepreneurship programs at a number of universities and other locations.  Veterans have a higher probability of succeeding in business than people without military experience. (See How Military Veterans Are Finding Success in Small Business from Entrepreneur magazine.)
5. Fifth, consider getting your BA or BS, or an advanced degree. Lots of careers do require degrees. And much of your military training and education can be used for college credits. Even if you chose not to go to college after high school, you have matured and changed. Don’t ignore it if it will lead to work you love.Many colleges and universities have chapters of the Student Veterans of America that also will help you succeed at school, so don’t ignore this option.

It is your future – take a good look and choose options that will get you started in a career which interests you now.

Also, take a look around Job-hunt.org for many more ideas, including those in the column on the right.

About the author…

Patra Frame has extensive experience in human capital management and career issues in large and small corporations. She is an Air Force vet and charter member of The Women In Military Service for America Memorial.  Patra speaks and writes regularly on job search and career issues through her company Strategies for Human Resources (SHRInsight) and PatraFrame.com where she blogs advice for veterans and other job seekers. Watch Patra’s ClearedJobs.net job search tips videos on YouTube, and follow her on Twitter @2Patra.
More about this author…

The post What’s Next: Your Career AFTER Your Military Service appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Yes, you can skip this step. Many do, just jumping directly into the civilian job market after discharge.

But, as you have learned, methodically analyzing your options and making a plan is much smarter (and, probably, much better paying).

Do this research and analysis before you transition, if possible, to save you time and effort in your civilian job search. If you have already transitioned, do this analysis now.

You have many options. Perhaps too many: Military to Federal, Start a Business, etc. And, you have had excellent training and experience that are highly valued (and rare) in the civilian world.

[MORE: The Value of Your Military Experience.]

Many military in transition are not at all sure what career options are available or how to choose one. If this describes you, here are some simple tips to start figuring out your new direction.

The post Your Great New Career in 7 Steps appeared first on Job-Hunt.

These targets are your most important focus.

You need to build intel and define your battle order here.

But every job search also includes “targets of opportunity.” These are job ads you find online, contacts from recruiters or hiring managers you know, or leads you get from friends and other members of your network.

Applying to Opportunities

When you see a job ad, however you find it, here are the five basic steps to applying successfully

First, do your research!

See what you can find out about the organization and the job:

• Look at its website extensively, not just the job listings, and
• Do a search for recent articles or information about it.

This research should help you decide if you are interested in working there. Think carefully about the information you have gathered to see if the position and the organization meet your goals and values.

(For tips about online research, check out the articles in Job-Hunt’s Guide to Using Google for Your Job Search.)

Second, if you are interested, write a good cover letter.

(Note: if you aren’t interested enough to write a good cover letter, don’t bother applying.)

What is a “good” cover letter? It includes the following:

• Title of the position and the source of the ad.
• A brief recap of your background as it relates to the requirements. This is the most important part, and a simple chart is the easiest way to make clear your qualifications for the top 3-4 requirements stated.
• A reference to something you have learned about the organization that makes you a good match for its needs. This helps show you know what you want. It also says you understand something important about the business and can help the company succeed.
• Contact information

This letter should be one page at most. Avoid cliches. Proofread it, or have someone else do so carefully—errors here are a red flag that you are careless.

Why waste time and energy to research the organization and write a cover letter? In the Air Force we called it the “‘6Ps” – the value of proper preparation to one’s performance.

As a veteran, this cover letter gives you another chance to clearly define what you offer the employer in terms that show you understand the employer’s needs. And that includes the less obvious aspects of your military service – like accountability, respect for others, “take the hill” attitude, or other aspects you think apply based on your research.

This time and the attitude you portray will result in a higher probability of getting the interview. You will stand out from all those applicants who did not bother or who sent in a generic “I am very interested in your job and have all the skills you seek” type letter. Hiring managers and HR folk look at your cover letter and can see a potential valuable employee.

(For how to write great cover letters, read Grab Recruiter Attention with a Great Cover Letter.)

Third, apply using the right resume.

You may have only one resume, or you may have several. But when it comes time to respond to an ad, you want your resume to be tailored to the position. This is not as hard as it sounds:

Compare your resume versus the job specifications:

• Are you using their language (their job title, terms used for skills and experience, etc.)?
• Do you clearly demonstrate achievements in all the main requirements they state?
• Should you add or expand anything?

Don’t expect your cover letter to do all of this for you. Sure, the chart showing your background as it matches the requirements helps. But your resume needs to reinforce that.

Fourth, be easy to hire.

Now it is time to send this off. Make it easy on them and yourself.  Follow their directions:

• If they state you need to apply via their website, do so. This is especially common in government contractors.
• If they ask for a specific format, like MS Word, use it.

This demonstrates your attention to detail and your ability to follow directions.  Both usually highly valued characteristics of employees.

If you can apply by email, cut and paste all your text into the email and then also attach your resume. If your response is not directly on a website, remember to use the position title as the subject line in your email. Do not name your resume “resume.doc” – use your name or some variant of it as your resume’s title.

Fifth, respond quickly.

Recent research indicates that early applicants often get the job. So move out fast to take advantage of these targets of opportunity!

Bottom Line

Yes, there is a lot of competition for jobs out there, but you can stand out by following these steps.

About the author…

Patra Frame has extensive experience in human capital management and career issues in large and small corporations. She is an Air Force vet and charter member of The Women In Military Service for America Memorial.  Patra speaks and writes regularly on job search and career issues through her company Strategies for Human Resources (SHRInsight) and PatraFrame.com where she blogs advice for veterans and other job seekers. Watch Patra’s ClearedJobs.net job search tips videos on YouTube, and follow her on Twitter @2Patra.
More about this author…

The post Veterans’ Job Search: Leveraging “Targets of Opportunity” appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Yet many underestimate how much change they are facing.

And the longer your service, the more difficulties you are likely to face with these changes.

You have been in an environment that places a high value on preparation. Training is extensive and frequent. Plans are made for a wide range of options. You can add a lot more to this list.

So why do so many military members expect a quick, easy transition to the civilian work world?

And when that does not happen, why do so many become quite negative and even vent publicly about the faults of civilian employers who “owe” them a good job.

5 Steps to Job Search Success

Start with a plan. Long before you get out, start thinking about what you need to do, when and how you will achieve what you need, and what all your options are. Build a financial cushion to cover job search time.

1. Think Self-Analysis.

What do you want to do next? Are you more interested in a job, a career, more education, or building your own company? What skills do you want to use? What values and environment are important to you? Where do you want to live? Look around Job-Hunt for lots of help in this process.

[Related: Do the Hard Work to Get the Right Work and Analyze What Makes You Unique.]

2. Do Research.

Discover which jobs match your needs and skills. Find the keywords for your field and specific jobs and companies. Figure out if you need more education or certifications. Learn how to research companies and people.

Start looking at the organizations which hire for the jobs which interest you, and learn which ones have values you seek. Explore the hiring process and job opportunities or obstacles. Check out pay and benefits for the specific jobs you seek.

Use the services which support veterans in job search for more help. Far too many people skip most of this stage and just react to job postings. That is the way to fail.

[Related: 20-Minute Guide to Company Research and Target and Plan for Career Change.]

3. Create Your Marketing Plan.

Write out all your achievements in detail and add all your job history to create a master resume. Then:

• Create your basic resume.
• Develop your “mini-bio” — the 2-3 sentences you will say to describe yourself to potential contacts, employers, and at events.
• Get business cards if you are looking for a professional position – and put your desired career and a few relevant achievements on them.
• Build your presence on social media so recruiters find you.
• Make a master list of organizations you have researched and want to target.
• Create a plan and then follow through.

Translate it all into civilian terms, unless you are only interested in DOD/contractor jobs doing the same work you did in the military.

[Related: How to Create a Personal Marketing Plan and Job Search as Personal Sales.]

4. Enhance Your Network.

Connect or reconnect with people you already know. Broaden your connections through personal referrals, professional groups, on LinkedIn, at community events, and so on. Build closer connections before you try to use them for job search. Learn how to do all this effectively. and do it well.

[Related: Social Media Success Strategies for Military Transition.]

5. Take Action!

Once you understand your needs and goals and have built a target list of employers, act. Work your network for contacts and information and ideas about your targets. Make connections into each target. Keep up the search for job postings and have search agents on job boards. But put most of your effort into personal connections and employee referrals into your target companies.

Bottom Line

Leverage the excellent skills you have for planning and analysis, for teamwork, and for flexibility in the face of changing conditions.

About the author…

Patra Frame has extensive experience in human capital management and career issues in large and small corporations. She is an Air Force vet and charter member of The Women In Military Service for America Memorial.  Patra speaks and writes regularly on job search and career issues through her company Strategies for Human Resources (SHRInsight) and PatraFrame.com where she blogs advice for veterans and other job seekers. Watch Patra’s ClearedJobs.net job search tips videos on YouTube, and follow her on Twitter @2Patra.
More about this author…

The post The Realities of Military to Civilian Transition appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Vets do so at much higher rates than civilians.

And veterans start businesses that become successful at a very high rate, too.

Do you know vets are twice as likely to be successful entrepreneurs as civilians?

Whether your interest is in being a successful solopreneur or building any size company, your military background with its focus on achieving goals, disciplined actions, and persistence is a terrific basis for a successful business career.

You do not need a college education or a big bank account to start your own business, but you do need a basic business plan that turns your idea into reality. Many of the resources discussed here will help you with the process of taking your ideas and creating a business from them.

Syracuse University programs

I am just back from V-WISE – a terrific program from the Syracuse University Whitman School of Management’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families. V-WISE (Veterans as Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship) is for women vets who are interested in creating or growing a business of their own. Being around so many other entrepreneurial vets was very energizing and inspiring!

VWISE joins a number of other programs for all vets, disabled vets, care-givers, and spouses run by the Whitman School at Syracuse University.

Based on my extensive experience working with successful entrepreneurs, this was a top-quality program that offered critical tools and knowledge. Their Entrepreneurs Boot-camp for Veterans with Disabilities has been highly successful for several years and is now being offered at seven major universities across the US.

Like VWISE, EBV has both online coursework and an intense classroom program. They also run a program for National Guard and Reservists to help maintain and protect their businesses while they are deployed. Check the full range of programs out at vets.syr.edu.

But that is just one small part of a wide range of great services designed to help you create and grow a business.

More resources

The SBA –

Start with the Small Business Administration – SBA.gov. There you will find a wide range of programs, online training, and financing options.

• Check out your state’s small business agency, often found under Business Licensing or Commerce. Many of these also offer great training and resources. Veterans Business Outreach Centers – SBA.gov.
• And in your city or county, you will find wonderful support at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) from the SBA. SBDC’s offer counseling, training programs, business plan development support, and business research services.
• See the SBA’s “Starting & Managing a Business” articles for very helpful advice on topicsthat range from thinking about what kind of business to start to structuring the business, hiring and managing employees, plus (of course) filing and paying taxes.

The VA –

The VA Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization offers business advice and support to vets as well. Their program at VetBiz also will assist you if you wish to provide services or products to the VA or other government programs with veterans set-asides.

More helpful resources –

• The Library of Congress Business Reference Services section provides extensive business research services.
• The Kauffman Foundation provides research-based information and support for entrepreneurs.
• The Wall Street Journal has a good guide for small businesses which covers many areas from selecting a bank to factoring to franchise options.
• Do you have a product in mind? If you do not have manufacturing experience, as many of us do not, you might check out some basics on how products get manufactured in MadeHow.

Bottom Line

If you have an idea for a business, don’t just assume you cannot do it. Learn about your options and what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Then you will be ready to discuss your business idea with family and friends and get the support you need to succeed.

About the author…

Patra Frame has extensive experience in human capital management and career issues in large and small corporations. She is an Air Force vet and charter member of The Women In Military Service for America Memorial.  Patra speaks and writes regularly on job search and career issues through her company Strategies for Human Resources (SHRInsight) and PatraFrame.com where she blogs advice for veterans and other job seekers. Watch Patra’s ClearedJobs.net job search tips videos on YouTube, and follow her on Twitter @2Patra.
More about this author…

The post Start Your Own Business appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Transitioning military have several special issues.

Timing Your Social Media Launch

Whether you are creating your first LinkedIn profile or already have one, it is vital to  your job search.

Start at least one year before the date you expect to leave active duty. 

Other social media can also be used, but LinkedIn is designed specifically for business so learn to use it well.

Starting early gives you time to:

• Learn how to use social media effectively for job search,
• Research career fields and target companies
• Reconnect with people you know
• Build your professional network
• Develop relationships with people who might help you

None of this is set in concrete, so you can change and should change your social media profiles as your goals become more clear, but waiting to start until after you have left active duty will handicap your job search.

[Related: Military Career Exit Strategy and Online Reputation Management.]

Start with LinkedIn

Whether you are creating your first LinkedIn profile or already have one, an effective LinkedIn Profile is vital to your job search.

Other social media can also be used, but LinkedIn is designed specifically for business so learn to use it well.

[Related: Guide to Using LinkedIn for Job Search.]

Your Photo in Social Media

Once you are thinking transition, change your profile photograph to one in civilian clothes. This shows you are making the mental transition back to the civilian world. It entices hiring managers, recruiters, and potential contacts to look at your profile.

Choose a picture that is head and shoulders view, in standard business attire, where you are smiling. Senior level? Have a professional headshot? They are nice, but a great personal photo or selfie can work.

Many military have a difficult time using a civilian photo. This is a regular discussion point online and in transition programs. Far too many think that their “fruit salad” or rank will impress civilians. But, mostly it sends the message “I am not ready, I don’t want to change.” 

[Related: “Social Proof” Requires a Consistent Identity.]

What Information to Publish in Social Media

A LinkedIn profile offers you the opportunity to put your qualifications and achievements where over 90% of recruiters look for candidates. Impress potential hiring managers and others who may be looking at it before meeting or helping you. So read all about ways to use your profile effectively here and on LinkedIn’s help site.

The biggest mistakes most military make are:

• Lack of focus
• Use of military lingo and acronyms
• Limited or irrelevant achievements

Focus is critical!

For a useful profile, you must decide what you want to do next.  Express that in your headline.

Demonstrate, using your past relevant achievements, how you can do what you want to do. Nothing else is as important as demonstrating your value for the employers you are targeting and the job you are interested in. 

Most of us have enough variety in our military careers that we hate to leave anything out – we think we can do anything. But employers seek specific backgrounds, experiences, training, and achievements.

[Related: Veterans Focus for Success and 3 Key Elemsnts Required for a Successful Job Search.]

Replace military language.

Translating your military lingo back into civilian terms can be a challenge.  Start with any of the military translators but do not think they will solve all your issues. Look at the profiles of other vets for ideas. Choose realistic, simple titles.

[More: Translating Military Experience.]

Achievements are essential.

Look at your work but investigate additional duties and side jobs for relevant achievements too:

• Think of past successes.
• Create great stories from those successes.

Then, pare those successes down to bullet points for your resume and profile.  Be sure they are important to your target audience.

I recently reviewed a profile for an NCO  who wanted to transition into human resources work. He had good skills and achievements.

However, he buried them under bullets about weight control programs, drug testing, OJT administration, and other things that civilian HR doesn’t do. So no-one saw his value.

[Related: Avoid Self-Sabotage: 8 Common Job Search Errors.]

Asking for Help

LinkedIn has a lot of great groups for veterans. Some are branch or career specific. Others are mentors, coaches, or educational, corporate, professional and advocacy organizations.

Learn to ask for specific help.

Example: ask people in your desired work field to review your profile and make suggestions.

Look at the profiles of people in the jobs you want for ideas and tips. Ask your connections for info.

Caution!

Be very careful where and how you vent online. These are public spaces, easily searched by potential employers. People who whine, play victim, or are very negative are not people employers want to hire.

I have heard that complaining constantly is now encouraged in the military, but it is not in the civilian world, and can hinder your success in job search!

Got LinkedIn up and working well? Then, look into Twitter, Facebook (carefully!), Tumblr, and all the others to see which might be best for you.

More Information About Social Media

• Guide to Using LinkedIn for Job Search
• Guide to Facebook for Job Search
• Guide to Twitter for Job Search
• Guide to Social Media and Job Search

More Information About Transition Job Search

• Military Career Exit Strategy
• Military Networking Letter
• Military vs. Civilian Cultures
• Military Women: Finding Job Search Success
• Avoid Self-Sabotage

About the author…

Patra Frame has extensive experience in human capital management and career issues in large and small corporations. She is an Air Force vet and charter member of The Women In Military Service for America Memorial.  Patra speaks and writes regularly on job search and career issues through her company Strategies for Human Resources (SHRInsight) and PatraFrame.com where she blogs advice for veterans and other job seekers. Watch Patra’s ClearedJobs.net job search tips videos on YouTube, and follow her on Twitter @2Patra.
More about this author…

The post Social Media Success Strategies for Military Transition appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Too often I talk with those who wait until the last minute or those who have had significant trouble in transitioning.

As with any major “battle,” doing your research and developing an action plan, preferably well in advance, can ensure a smarter and more successful transition.

5 Steps to Successful Military-to-Civilian Career Transition

This outline, below, can be supplemented by a wide variety of detailed information on each step both within this Veterans Job Search Guide and across the entire Job-Hunt website.

  Step 1: Recognize the Big Step Is Mental  

Military service surrounds one from the beginning. You learn a new language as well as skills. You spend much, if not most, of your time with other service members. You live, travel, eat, and work in military environments.

These become like air — we only recognize the air we breathe when something about it changes significantly. You act and think and expect things in certain ways that you no longer notice.

For many military people, the biggest step is not only to realize the huge changes they are facing but also to give up their current identity.

Your rank is visible to all. Other military know where you have served and something about your work at first glance. You have invested in your beliefs about military service. You are part of a tribe. Some military members have developed an entitlement mentality as well.

Now, you are going to move into a larger society that does not generally understand your experiences. Some civilians may carry expectations about it themselves. Even veterans from different services or eras will carry different expectations than you do.

The language of work, the way careers are built, the way our daily lives move are all different in the military.

The elements of every day, from medical care to child care to driver’s licenses, change as you transition to the civilian world. None of these differences are better or worse necessarily, but they do require adjustment.

Consider Are you really prepared for these changes? Have you been assessing their impact on you?

  Step 2. Think About Your Future Life and Career Before Starting Your Job Search  

Start your transition, assessing where you want to go with your life, in the short-term (the next 18-24 months) and at least five years after your transition. Read Choosing Your Civilian Career and Military Transition Action Plan for a process that works to help you identify your best direction.

Defining your goals and your most important values will help you assess your options.

If you have a family, what impact will that have on your planning?

Thinking in detail about your needs and options early in the process is vital to success.

Too many military start their job search with a “I can do anything” or “I can do 4-6 different things” and wonder why employers ignore them.

Employers expect you to know what you want to do and to demonstrate how your past supports that.

Make your career choice:

• Stay in the same arena as your military experience.
• Ready for a new field.

Either way, as you focus on possible careers, you need to do some research. The Federal government offers a wide range of career exploration resources at CareerOneStop. Many other resources also exist.

Among your considerations should be:

• What are the skill and knowledge requirements for the career?
• What skills, interests, knowledge do you already have for that career?
• What is the future of the career?
• What education or training do you need for it?
• Where are the best opportunities in it located geographically?

“Should I get a degree” or an advanced degree is a common question in transition. If you do not have a bachelor’s degree, you need to assess whether you need additional college education, a technical or trade school, an apprenticeship, or what.

Learn if a degree is needed for supervisory positions even if it is not for entry level ones. Depending on your goals, it may be wisest to make an effort to finish any needed degree as fast as possible – starting now!

If you have a BS/BA, often it is wiser to get a job first. Then, pay attention to which, if any, advanced degrees and schools are really valued in your career field.

If you know your desired field demands a specific advanced degree for entry or you are changing career focus, look at degrees and schools very carefully. You want a school with a good reputation in the field, where you can do research or get internships and find alumni to help you move into jobs you want.

As you narrow your interests to one-two potential career fields, talk to people in those areas to learn more about the field.

  Step 3. Create a Master Resume  

A master resume defines every job you have ever had, what it was, what organization it was in, and what you actually did. Recording supervisors’ names and contact info helps, too, for your records and job search necessities like references and recommendations.

• Start with any work you did in high school or college and keep going until your entire work life is included.
• For military experience, use old reviews and any other records you have.
• Add in those “additional duties” and other work you did outside your basic assignments.
• List all of your training.
• Include your (unclassified) accomplishments – teams you led, groups you managed, requirements you met or exceeded, budgets and/or complex assets you successfully managed, and so on.

As you learn more about the work you want and its requirements, expand the achievements you have in your military career into bullet points that are relevant, and use the terms (“keywords“) expected by employers.

Maintaining a master resume over your career makes every job search easier. It also may help you demonstrate why you are promotable within your future employers.

Use this resume as the foundation document for the resumes you submit for specific opportunities. BUT, be sure to customize each resume to each opportunity, highlighting your relevant skills, experience, and accomplishments. Don’t submit your master resume for a job opportunity.

  Step 4. Develop Your Marketing Materials  

Today, every job search needs a good resume and social media profile(s), especially LinkedIn.

These materials serve to demonstrate that you have the skills and abilities to add value to an employer, to meet employers’ needs.

They are all forms of personal advertising which you need to do since you are selling yourself as a product.

Resumes are not biographies. They are personal marketing documents. Each should focus on showing how your past specifically supports your future (the job you are applying for).

If something is not relevant, omit it!

• Don’t bother with long lists of generic skills or job descriptions.
• Translate military job titles into civilian equivalents.
• Omit awards and decorations and most training.

Those can all go on your LinkedIn or other social media profiles.

Make your resume enticing and easy to read. If you have less than 10 years of experience, a one-page version is smart.

If you have 10 years or more, go for two pages so that you can show a record of relevant achievements, growth in responsibilities, and the value you can add.

Do a basic online search using two or more search engines to see what already is out there about you. Check to see if others with the same name may be problematic as well. This is called “defensive Googling” and make it a monthly habit.

Then, be sure you create a record that employers see which makes them interested in you when they Google you (because they will Google you).

LinkedIn is usually the most effective weapon in your online personal reputation/marketing arsenal.

Create a good profile on a professional site like LinkedIn. Use a headshot that looks right for the work you want. Expand what is on your resume. Keep job titles and dates in sync with your resume.

If your field expects it, add a portfolio of your work to your LinkedIn profile or your own website or blog. Read Job-Hunt’s free LinkedIn Job Search Guide for strategies and details. Be wary of what you publish in Facebook.

Buy business cards for networking and job search activities. Use the back to highlight a few important aspects of your experience.

  Step 5. Make a Job Search Plan  

Put all the research into action:

• Target 15-20 employers which interest you, and learn all you can about them. (Remember, a successful mission requires a defined target.)
• Connect with people in your field at each employer using LinkedIn or a search engine, and ask a question or two telling each of your interest in the field and the employer.
• If you still are interested, also connect with the company on LinkedIn, Facebook, and their website. Do the same with their veteran recruiters.
• Make yourself known before you send in any resumes or job applications.

Network as much as possible:

• Use your existing connections to make new ones.
• Connect to people you see actively in your field.
• Learn how to ask good questions and what you can offer in return.
• Build your knowledge of the best companies, hiring managers, and of your career field.
• Make following up a daily habit!

Read Fast Track to a New Job: An Employee Referral for details on how employee referral programs work and vary from employer to employer.

The Bottom Line

During this whole process, let yourself dream first. Then, back those dreams with an accurate self-assessment and facts about your desired career field and employers. Working your plan is the road to a successful transition! Be well prepared before you leap into the civilian job market.

More About Military to Civilian Transition

• Choosing Your Civilian Career
• Job Search Battle Plan
• Military Transition Action Plan – Long-Term Service to Civilian
• Translating Military Experience
• Exit Strategy for Career Military
• Combat Arms to Civilian
• Guide to Defensive Googling
• LinkedIn Job Search Guide
• Fast Track to a New Job: An Employee Referral

About the author…

Patra Frame has extensive experience in human capital management and career issues in large and small corporations. She is an Air Force vet and charter member of The Women In Military Service for America Memorial.  Patra speaks and writes regularly on job search and career issues through her company Strategies for Human Resources (SHRInsight) and PatraFrame.com where she blogs advice for veterans and other job seekers. Watch Patra’s ClearedJobs.net job search tips videos on YouTube, and follow her on Twitter @2Patra.
More about this author…

The post Smart Military Transition Strategies appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Thus it is important that you learn what to expect in your chosen field.

Many transitioning military assume civilian pay is always higher, but that day is long gone.

What do you want?

Your chosen field plays a big role in your pay. Those fields where there is high demand but limited supply generally pay well. The reverse is also true, which is why so many retail workers and security guards hold multiple jobs to support themselves.

Your personal interests and lifestyle play a role. One person might be very interested in earning big money, while another does not want the long hours or extensive travel that often accompany such jobs.

Benefits, such as health care insurance, may be very important to you, or you may have it covered through a spouse and be less concerned.

Where you work and live also plays a role.

Salaries Vary Widely

There are a very wide range of salaries for almost any job. Typically, the same job can pay very differently depending on:

• Type of organization, such as: major corporation or small local firm, government contractor, retail, non-profit, government agency, etc.
• Size of organization: generally small organizations pay less, large ones pay average rates.
• Function within the organization: how important is the job to the organizations’ core business?
• Location: Pay rates differ significantly across the USA and many jobs have noticeable pay differences depending on whether they are in a city proper, in inner or outer suburbs, rural areas, etc.
• The state of the market: how many qualified people are there to fill jobs?

Which means you need to do your homework.

• How realistic are your expectations?
• What do your target type of organizations pay for this work?
• What options are most available to meet your desires?

Bottom line: you need to decide what total compensation you are seeking and how you will consider breaking that up among base salary, bonus, commission, overtime pay, benefits, and/or services.

Information Sources

And that all means you need to learn how to find pay and benefit information.

What are current salaries for the jobs which interest you? Remember, compare those for the same jobs at the specific type of organization which interests you and in your geographic area.

1. Reach out and ask people you know well who are in the field for pay ranges, incentives, and other pay data that they might know.
2. Research the salary information and pay ranges posted on jobs which interest you on job boards.
3. Many professional organizations do salary surveys for their members. Check yours out. Or, if you are not a member, ask people in your field if they have access. Often these surveys also have some information on common benefits, so check for this too.
4. When you are networking, ask these questions:
   “What is the typical current pay range for X position?” and “What do you currently see happening to pay rates for Z?”
5. Some larger employment agencies and job boards provide basic salary surveys for their core markets. For example, Dice.com does surveys on IT positions and posts them via their website. While these are quite general, if you are working with someone in such a firm, they can tell you the local details.

Check out “Negotiating the Best Starting Salary for Your New Job” on WorkCoachCafe.com.

Salary Data on the Web

There is plenty of pay data available on the web. Most of it is fairly general and often rather old. A lot of places use the same source, but brand it for their own use. Useful sources include:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics – great information by job on current wages by specific geographic areas. Benefits information studies are also available here.
• JobStar’s links to salary surveys.
• Commercial sites include Salary.com, SalaryExpert.com, and many others.
  Be aware that these are rolling, large-scale averages of averages. When you put in a specific location, you get national average data multiplied by a standard factor for your location relative to the U.S. average.

Benefits Matter

Benefits are also quite variable. Few companies now offer pension plans although larger organizations usually offer some form of retirement savings plan and may match a portion of your contributions. Health care insurance is available in about half of all companies.

What you will get and what you pay for it ranges very widely. Most mid-size and larger organizations offer paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays. Some do tuition reimbursement and provide free parking or supplement the costs of public transportation. It depends on the location and the competition for good employees.

Many organizations showcase their benefits on their websites. You should look at these for all the organizations which interest you — and compare them with others in that market to develop a sense of what is common and what is not.

[Related: Winning Negotiation Strategies for Your New Job.]

Bottom Line

Learning about civilian pay takes some work but it will be well worth your time so that you can negotiate a fair deal when you find the right job. And so that you do not have unrealistic expectations when you are seeking work.

For More Information:

Read Job-Hunt’s Working with Recruiters Expert Jeff Lipschultz’s article, The Starting Salary Question. Also see Job-Hunt’s free eBook, Winning Negotiation Strategies for Your New Job by Barbara Safani. And, check out this post from our sister site, FlexJobs, about ways to make money from home.

About the author…

Patra Frame has extensive experience in human capital management and career issues in large and small corporations. She is an Air Force vet and charter member of The Women In Military Service for America Memorial.  Patra speaks and writes regularly on job search and career issues through her company Strategies for Human Resources (SHRInsight) and PatraFrame.com where she blogs advice for veterans and other job seekers. Watch Patra’s ClearedJobs.net job search tips videos on YouTube, and follow her on Twitter @2Patra.
More about this author…

The post Show Me the Money: Salaries appeared first on Job-Hunt.