5 Job Search Tips for Veterans

Information Via Vault.com

According to a May 2010 BLS report, there were 22 million veterans among the civilian population in 2009—and they're just as likely to be unemployed, despite the skills they developed over their years of service. In a lot of cases, the problem is that a career in the military doesn't necessarily prepare someone for the job search process in the civilian world. Here are five ways that veterans can get an edge and get hired:

Assess Your Strengths

Before you sit down to write a resume, the first thing you need is to understand how the talents, skills, and abilities from your military career relate to business and industry. And there will be plenty: military personnel develop traits beneficial to commercial enterprises because they are held to high standards of performance and operations.
Military personnel make excellent leaders, once given a specific task: they are decisive, resourceful, and tremendous team players; and they perform well under pressure.

Explain Yourself

Civilian employers are not always familiar with military lingo, which can give veterans a serious disadvantage in the job seeking process—especially if you have to get your resume past an automated screener that's only set up to catch common corporate jargon.
While typical jobs in the military and corporate worlds may have very different titles, many of the underlying skill-sets are similar. Bridging the divide between your experiences and those employers are looking for may well be as simple as taking the time to browse some job ads and absorb the kind of language you find there. The major challenge is in correlating different assignments to private sector roles, including financial planning and analysis, operations management, purchasing, human resource management, systems administration, and administrative support.
Additionally, those in the civilian world often have little idea of where in the hierarchy a military rank falls—everything below General or Admiral is pretty much a mystery! As such, you may find yourself being offered positions that carry significantly less responsibility than you're used to. You can counter that by including specific examples in your resume ("managed a workgroup of 25," or "controlled a $7 million budget"). Sometimes, however, you just have to take whatever is open; the good news there is that your skills and experience should help you to stand out, meaning promotions should follow.

Dealing with Image Problems

Let's face it: there are certain pre-existing notions about the military that will be difficult to counter. Like the interviewers who are convinced that transitioning candidates are good at following orders from above, but not much else. Or those who think vets are unlikely to care about profits because they're used to operating in an environment where costs don't matter.
Unfortunately, there's little you can do about those perceptions until you get to the interview stage: at that point you'll have the opportunity to talk about your ability to work on your own initiative or identify cost-savings.

The Education Question

How does a degree from the USAF Academy stack up against one from a typical four-year college? If you can't articulate an answer, the chances are the typical employer won't be able to either. Again, this is something that you may just have to bide our time on and work on explaining if and when you get an opportunity at the interview stage. Resume real estate is generally precious enough that you don't want to attempt a full account of your educational experience on there, but if you did something that is likely to have a bearing in you day to day job functionality, then by all means mention it.

Narrow the Odds

Most of the problems listed above come down to a single factor: a disconnect between the military and civilian worlds. However, there are some companies out there that are dedicated to hiring veterans and know exactly what value to place on someone's military service. Finding out what companies those are is a great place to start your post-military career search.
Firms like Microsoft, Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton and Wal-Mart are all examples of firms that are known for their military-friendly hiring practices. By doing your research before you apply, you can make informed decisions about company culture, typical salary ranges, and even find insider advice on what it takes to get hired there. The bottom line: you can significantly improve your chances of being hired by knowing the playing field.

Ohio University is a "Military Friendly School"

Ohio University has been recognized for its' support of veteran and military students. Way to go OU!

OHIO: Compass | OHIO awarded 'Military Friendly Schools' designation

Tips for Acing an Interview

Practice Good Nonverbal Communication: It’s about demonstrating confidence – standing straight, making eye contact and connection with a good, firm handshake. That first impression can be a great beginning – or quick ending – to your interview.


Dress for the Job or Company: Today’s casual dress codes do not give you permission to dress as “they” do when you interview. It is important to look professional and well-groomed.  Whether you wear a suit or something less formal depends on the company culture and the position you are seeking. If possible, call to find out about the company dress code before the interview.


Actively Listen: From the very beginning of the interview, your interviewer is giving you information, either directly or indirectly. If you are not hearing it, you are missing a major opportunity. Good communication skills include listening and letting the person know you heard what he/she said. Observe your interviewer, and match their style and pace.


Try Not To Talk Too Much: Telling the interviewer more than he/she needs to know could be a fatal mistake. When you have not prepared ahead of time, you may tend to ramble, sometimes talking yourself right out of the job. Prepare for the interview by reading through the job posting, matching your skills with the position’s requirements and relaying only that information.


Don’t Be Too Familiar: The interview is a professional meeting to talk business. This is not about making a new friend. Your level of familiarity should mimic the interviewer’s demeanor. It is important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the interview and to ask questions, but do not overstep your place as a candidate looking for a job.


Use Appropriate Language: It’s a given that you should use professional language during the interview. Be aware of any inappropriate slang words or references to age, race, religion, politics or sexual orientation — these topics could send you out the door very quickly.


Don’t Be Overly Confident: Attitude plays a key role in your interview success. There is a fine balance between confidence, professionalism, and modesty. Even if you’re putting on a performance to demonstrate your ability, overconfidence is as bad, if not worse, as being too reserved.


Answer the Questions According To Past Experiences: When an interviewer asks for an example of a time when you did something, he is seeking a sample of your past behavior. If you fail to relate a specific example, you not only don’t answer the question, but you also miss an opportunity to prove your ability and talk about your skills.


Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions: When asked if they have any questions, most candidates answer, “No.” Wrong answer. It is extremely important to ask questions to demonstrate an interest in what goes on in the company. Asking questions also gives you the opportunity to find out if this is the right place for you. The best questions come from listening to what is asked during the interview and asking for additional information.


Don’t Appear Desperate: When you interview with the “please, please hire me” approach, you appear desperate and less confident. Maintain the three C’s during the interview: cool, calm, and confident. You know you can do the job and make sure the interviewer believes you can, too.


Preparing for the Job Interview: Practice answering the Top 10 Interview Questions before you attend any job interview. The secret to leaving a positive, confident impression with an employer is simply being prepared. Get organized, do your research and practice, practice, practice!


via: http://www.hireheroesusa.org/ace-interview-guidelines-making-great-impression/

AMVETS Career Center/AmeriCorps members participate in a 9/11 service project

AMVETS Career Center AmeriCorps volunteers began their year of service by remembering those who lost their lives 11 years ago on 9/11. 13 volunteers gathered at the AMVETS building, located at 1395 E Dublin Granville Rd, to decorate the property with American flags.

The group of volunteers represented many different age groups, and consisted of both veterans and nonveterans.  

4 things vets can do to overcome employer misconceptions

 

via Google image search

Last week we covered some of the most common misconceptions employers have about military veterans. This week, our focus will be on things vets can do to overcome these mistaken beliefs. The following is part 1 of  2-part post on overcoming employer misconceptions. Here we go!

1.) Communicate military service clearly on resume -- This is the most important thing a vet can do to increase his or her chances of landing a job. Translate military service into civilian terms. There are many resources out there (such as AMVETS Career Center employment coaches) that can help with this. Employers barely spend 30 seconds glancing at an individual resume that comes across their desk. Make those crucial seconds count!


2.) Address fears of service-connected disorders -- If you have a service-connected disorder, be honest about it. Emphasize what you're doing to overcome and/or manage it and be sure to stress that your condition does not hinder your work capabilities. Be confident and positive when communicating this; it will instill confidence in the employer about his/her decision to hire you.


3.) Relieve fears of deployment -- The average person spends 4.4 years at one job (Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2010) and the average reservist gets deployed once every five years. Servicemen and women are no more likely to get shipped out than civilians are to find a new job. Cite statistics such as these during interviews. Employers will get the message.


4.) Communicate the experience of military service -- Put yourself in the employer's shoes. If you were hiring someone for a certain position, what types of things would you want to hear? What kinds of skills and experiences would you expect a potential candidate to possess for that position? Now think about your military service. How have your experiences in the military provided you the job skills needed for the particular position? This is very important. You need to convince the employer why you're the best fit for the job. Think about what service-related questions you might be asked during an interview ahead of time and prepare your responses accordingly.


What else have you found to be helpful in overcoming employer misconceptions? Check back next week for part 2 of this post: 4 things employers can do to overcome their misconceptions of vets.

4 employer misconceptions of military veterans

 

 via Google image search

As the nation continues its military withdrawal from Iraq, increasing numbers of servicemen and women return to the civilian workforce. The transition is, unfortunately, a difficult one – recent data that shows approximately 20% of young Gulf War II era veterans are jobless. 

Why do so many vets struggle to find employment? The following list details the most common barriers to veterans’ employment that we’ve experienced in our work with employers:

1.)    Difficulty translating military service on a resume – Many employers that we’ve worked with cite this as the biggest problem they see with veterans’ resumes. Employers don't have a working knowledge of military terminology, thus rendering them unable to comprehend resumes with such jargon.

2.)    Employer fears of service-related disorders – Employers also fear that potential veteran hires come back from the military with PTSD, traumatic brain injury or other service-connected disabilities that may hinder work productivity. 

3.)    Employer fears of deployment – Deployment can hinder productivity. Employers are afraid that veteran hires may be deployed at any moment’s notice, leaving them (employers) with an empty position to fill. 

4.)    Lack of understanding of military service – Only 1% of today’s population has served in the military. As a result, many employers don’t understand what work-related skills military service actually provides

A number of actions can be taken to overcome these barriers by both veterans and employers alike. Check back next week for the first leg of a two-part post on the solution!

Interviewing tips

(via Google image search)

Interviewing for a job can be stressful and overwhelming. You want to make a good impression, but you may not know what things to say or do to accomplish that. What should you know about the company? What things should you be prepared to talk about? Kim, a seasoned recruiter for General Electric, has the following advice on what to do and not do in an interview:

• Know your stuff - Anticipate the questions you may be asked. Look up common interview questions and be able to answer them. Think about your work-related experiences; your successes, strengths, shortcomings, etc. Keep in mind how your  contributions have helped former employers.
• Arrive early - Plan for traffic delays, GPS failings, etc. just in case. While waiting for the interviewer, remain calm, collected and professional. Anyone who sees you at the office will be able to comment on your demeanor. Plan to arrive ~10 minutes early.
• Be honest - It may seem OK to tell a small lie or two to make yourself look better, but employers will verify the information you tell them. Be honest and open about your experiences, successes and weaknesses. Find a way to communicate your weaknesses as strengths.
• Keep it brief - Don't ramble on and on when asked a question. Answer as concisely and directly as possible. If the interviewer wants you to elaborate further, s/he will ask. But don't go into your life story if you're being asked about a specific instance in time, for example.
• Ask questions - Have a few questions ready to ask the interviewer before-hand or think of a few during the interview. It shows interest in the position.
• Follow up and reflect - Send the interviewer a thank-you email no later than 2 days after the interview, thanking them for their time and re-affirming your interest in and qualifications for the position. Think about what worked and didn't work in the interview - what can you do to improve your technique for next time?

What has your interviewing experience been like? What advice do you have for job seekers?

(Adapted from http://careers.geblogs.com/recruiter-advice-impress-me-at-the-interview/)