Employers Are Looking for You: Post-Military Careers and Job Opportunities
Most businesses are interested in two things when it comes to hiring: quality and retention. They want to find qualified and reliable candidates who will be productive and stay with their company over the long term. The costs associated with high turnover are a significant drain on profitability. Productivity suffers when knowledgeable and experienced workers leave the company.
It may surprise you to know that recruiters have a difficult time finding suitable applicants even when unemployment is high. This is one reason many companies are turning away from spending huge sums of money for newspaper ads that pull in random people off the street. Instead, they are focusing on targeted advertising and recruiting efforts that allow them to access a pool of more qualified candidates. Former military personnel are among this select group.
Here are a number of things recruiters know about you before they even meet you:
- You have taken and passed skills tests before.
- You know how to make a long-term commitment.
- Your background check will probably come back clean.
- You know how to work with other people.
- You don't have a problem with authority.
- You have quantifiable skills and a solid work history.
- Law Enforcement
- Other Federal, State, and Local Government Jobs
- Security
- Transportation/Logistics
- Research & Development
- Financial Services
- Administrative Support
- Manufacturing/Construction
- Maintenance/Repair
- Defense Contracting
- Healthcare
- Information Technology
- Retail
- AT&T
- Aflac
- Boeing
- CIGNA
- FedEx
- Ferrellgas
- Haliburton
- J.B. Hunt Transport
- Johnson Controls
- Lockheed Martin
- Pepsi
- Raytheon
- Sears
- T-Mobile
- U.S. Border Patrol
- Yellow Transportation
- Keep it short – recruiters view hundreds of resumes and they only scan the highlights.
- List practical skills and recent accomplishments – concrete examples are good.
- Point out anything that sets you apart from other candidates (in a positive way!).
- Never use a military term when you can use an equivalent civilian term instead.
- Leave out anything that is non-essential – your complete job history can go on the application form.
- Be honest but don't downplay your good qualities.
- Dress neatly and professionally
- Show up on time
- Be prepared with facts and figures about your educational/work/military history
- Know your strengths and weaknesses
- Ask lots of questions. You are interviewing the company while they are interviewing you
- Try to relax – this is not the only chance you will ever have to land a job!
There are a number of industries that have a good track record for hiring people who have served in the armed forces. Your ability to get a particular job will depend on what specific training and technical certifications you received in the service. Here are some popular career choices:
There are literally thousands of employers looking for former military personnel to hire. Here are some well-known names:
Be sure to make good use of the career transition services provided by the military during out-processing. This includes access to job databases and help formulating your resume.
There are a number of placement firms that specialize in matching ex-military candidates with companies. Some charge a fee for helping you "perfect" your resume. Others conduct "How to Find a Job" workshops. A few simply give you a list of jobs you could have found for yourself on CareerBuilder or Monster.
It makes sense to use free resources and try to find a job on your own before you pay for these services. A number of websites are available that focus on providing services to veterans. These are good places to look for job openings in your area. If you do decide to partner with a placement firm, seek out one with an excellent reputation.
Tips for Your Resume
There isn't really a big secret or magic formula for writing a good resume. Most of it is just about common sense: