Category: Checklists

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Military Spouse Employment Guide: Resources for Certifications and Training Programs

Step by Step Guide to Employment: Military Spouse Community – Resources for Certifications and Training Programs

As you start your job search, one part of the process you should consider is working on certifications or trainings that can help you on your career path. These can put you in a better position when applying for jobs, teach you skills to help with your career, and lead to you the perfect job. There are quite a few resources out there for military spouses looking for certifications and training programs.

Here are a few of them:

Onward to Opportunity

This program is operated by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. The program is for spouses of all active duty members, and eligible veterans. It includes training courses and certifications that will prepare you for fast-growing, industry-leading, and high-paying positions. 

When you finish the Onward to Opportunity program you will receive non-credit certificates from Syracuse University. You would also be able to work with an academic advisor, and learn job searching skills such as resume and cover letters and how to research a potential company. 

There are two different tracks within the Onward to Opportunity program:

  • Information Technology
    • CompTIA certifications
    • Oracle Database 11G and 12c
    • Information Technology Infrastructure Library
    • Cisco certifications 
  • Business Management
    • Six Sigma Green Belt
    • Human Resources certifications 
    • Project Management certification 

You would need to apply online to get started. 

Amazon Apprenticeship and Training Opportunities

This program is for veterans and military spouses. Amazon is dedicated to hiring military veterans and military spouses and this program is a part of that. Their program helps develop technical skills that lead to successful careers within the company and includes fields such as software development, support, data center operations, and military recruitment. 

The Amazon Technical Apprenticeship was added to create an avenue for veterans and military spouses seeking careers in Cloud Computing. This includes 10-20 weeks of paid full-time training, then 12 months of paid, on-the-job training and mentorship. You can find out more information here. 

Employment Readiness Program 

Your military installation should have job-searching resources within its Employment Readiness Program. Some of these include:

  • Career Counseling
  • Free Self-Paced MS Office Suite Computer Training
  • Job Bank and Employer Referrals
  • Resume Assistance
  • Employment Resource Library

Check out your local Employment Readiness Program for more information. 

Career Forward at Hiring Our Heroes

Hiring Our Heroes has a Career Forward Program. Within this program, you can help level up your career for free. You can gain skills through Google Career Certificates. You can get certificates in, Data Analysis, IT Support, Project Management, UX Design, Digital Marketing, and E-Commerce. 

Within the program, you can also connect with ready-to-hire employers, including interview prep and career workshops. You can apply on their website. 

We have a Recruiting & Staffing Profiles page at Career Recon that can also offer you some opportunities for training and overall help with your job search. Here are two of them:

Hiring Our Heroes

Beyond Career Forward, Hiring Our Heroes works to connect the military community with meaningful employment opportunities. They have different career events and hiring fairs as well as workshops and fellowship programs. 

Virginia Department of Veteran Services (VDVS)

VDVS is for military members getting ready for the transition from the military as well as for military spouses. They have a Virginia Military Spouses Liaison and several different transition programs. 

Finding programs that allow you to work for certifications and offer training to help you in your field are an important part of getting ready for the job search. Take advantage of what is available to you and use these resources to move ahead with your career path. 

 

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Military Spouse Employment Guide: Strategic Job Searching

Step by Step Guide to Employment: Military Spouse Community – Strategic Job Searching

As a military spouse, finding a job can be a bit more complicated. Because of the military lifestyle you are living, you might have issues with moving every few years, having a gap in your resume, or not knowing your new area enough to know what the opportunities are. The good news is that there are plenty of resources out there to help you find a job.

Job searching is all about knowing where to look for the jobs you want to apply for. There are military spouse and military related job boards, places to find remote work and freelance opportunities, and industry specific job boards.

You can also go with a staffing or recruiting agency as well as applying to a company directly. In today’s world, there are many options and different ways to search for and find the right job. 

Veteran and Military Spouse-Specific Job Boards

A job board is a website, or app, where an employer with job openings can be seen by those looking for a job. There will be multiple ways to search from keyword to location to industry. When you pull up a job listing you can see the job description, job responsibilities, and requirements, and sometimes salary. This should be enough information for you to decide if the job is a good fit or not.

The listing will also tell you how to apply for the job. Some will redirect you to the employer’s website, and others will tell you how to apply from the listing. You can also sign up for job alerts so you can be on top of what jobs might fit what you are looking for. To prepare to search a job board, make sure your resume is up to date, and know what keywords you will be using. 

Here are a few job boards to start your search:

  1. Military Spouse Jobs gives military spouses exclusive access to their premier job board. They have a work-from-home section as well as four million jobs across the United States. 
  2. Hiring Our Heroes has a job board where you can search for full-time jobs, part-time jobs, contract jobs, internships, and temporary jobs. 
  3. Virtual Gal Friday has a job board for virtual assistant jobs.
  4. Flexjobs is where you can search for 100% verified remote and flexible jobs. 

Staffing and Recruiting Agencies 

Staffing and recruiting agencies can be great ways to job search. They are the middleman between you, who is looking for a job, and the employer with job openings. Working with an agency can give you the confidence, skills, and ability to find the perfect job. These agencies can also save you time, and help take away some of the stress of the process. Some agencies are focused on the military community and others are more general. 

Here are a few to check out to get you started:

Military Spouse Career Initiative (MSCI/CSI) is a staffing and consulting firm that focuses on federal, state, and local government jobs, private for-profit jobs, and non-profit jobs. They focus on helping military spouses and can help you pursue job opportunities that value your skills, knowledge, and abilities. 

Virtforce can help active duty military spouses find vetted virtual career paths. They offer resume training, a dynamic podcast, hours of free training, and an outstanding social media community. 

You can also visit our Recruiting & Staffing Profiles page for a big list of agencies you can use to help you in your job search. 

Go to the Company 

Another job search method is to apply to the company directly. This will first require you to make a list of the places you would be interested in. You can do so by searching job sites, looking for companies on LinkedIn, and talking to your network about companies in your industry and your area. 

Most companies will list either their current job openings or how to contact them to apply for the job. If you are unsure about a company you can also take a look around its website and social media accounts. That can give you a sense of what type of company they would be to work for.

Even though the job search can be daunting, if you are strategic about doing so, you should be able to find the right job. Use the resources available to you to help. 

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How to Find Courses to Improve Your Skills

Your Employment Questions Answered: How to Find Courses to Improve Your Skills

Sometimes the best way to learn something new is by seeking advice from those who have been there. Asking questions is how we learn about new resources or can give us perspectives that we might never have thought about before. When you ask a question, you can gain the knowledge you are looking for that will help you figure out what you need to know to move forward, whatever the subject might be.

No matter what type of job you are going into, you want to make sure you are prepared with the skills you need to get your job done. If you are looking for a job or getting ready to start, you will want to improve your skill set. However, you might not have the time or money to take a long class. Free courses or courses you can easily complete online are a great option. You can learn new skills, and do so quickly, and from the comfort of your own home.

Question: Where can I find a free course to help me improve my skills?

I am about to start a new job as a bookkeeper, and the job will be remote. That means I won’t have as much access to my boss as I would in a traditional office. I’m afraid I will need help with using QuickBooks Online. I decided that learning or taking a course on QuickBooks online would be the best thing to do. This will also help me be more prepared to do my job overall.

Are there any free or low-cost QuickBooks online courses out there? I have taken one about the Desktop version but I think they are a bit different. What about other courses that might be good for me to take for my job?

Answer:

QuickBooks Online

Working on your skills, and learning more about what you will need to know in your new job is a great idea. For QuickBooks Online specifically, if you have the advanced version of it, you should have access to a free training program. It is user-friendly and easy to get the hang of. It is also very different from the desktop version.

You can also visit this page and view the courses and training that Quickbook offers. You can attend courses that are taught by Advanced Certified Pro Advisors and earn credentials.

Other Resources

Military Community Resources Act Now Education Group 

This Facebook group provides guidance and the tools necessary to make your goals a reality. From business development, career planning, resume guidance, interview prep, and more. They help active duty service members, veterans, and military spouses.

Udemy

Udemy has courses on many different topics. As of 2022, that have 196,000 courses and 68,000 instructors teaching courses in over 75 languages. These courses are self-paced and allow you to learn on your own time. The DoD did have a partnership with Udemy but that ended in June of 2022. Hopefully, they will do so again in the future. Until then, wait to catch their sales. They do have them pretty often.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn also offers free online business training courses that cover a variety of topics. These classes are only for LinkedIn Premium members but veterans and military spouses can get a free year. Visit LinkedIn for more information.

As you can see there are quite a few options for learning more before you start a new job, or to prepare you for looking for one. You can also check out these articles from Career Recon to help you work and focus on your career path.

 

 

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Military Discounts for Those Who Work at Home

Work at Home Military Discounts You Don’t Want to Miss

Looking for a discount? These military discounts help you save on supplies when you work from home.

Working from home is becoming more and more normal. So many people are being able to stay remote, or are finding work-at-home jobs. The military community especially enjoys being able to work remotely because of how much more flexible the jobs can be. Here are some military discounts on products you would need if you are working from home.

Military Discounts on Computers

If you work from home, you know you will need to use a computer. If your company doesn’t give you one, here are some military discounts to take advantage of. Please visit MyMilitaryBenefits for more military discounts on computers and electronics.

Dell

At Dell, you can get 10% off of your purchases on many different types of computers. It is available for active duty, veterans, national guard, and reserves.

Microsoft

At Microsoft, you can find a 10% military discount on all eligible computers and accessories. This discount is for active duty, former, and retired military, and their families.

 

Save big today for free with discounts for military & veterans!

Sign Me Up!

 

Apple

Apple has a Veterans and Military Purchase Program with special pricing. This is available to military members and veterans. You can find discounts on most of their products from phones to computers to iPads.

Lenovo

At Lenovo, you can find PCs, tablets, phones, and more special discounts for active duty, reservists, veterans, and family members. They offer a 5% military discount.

Cell Phone Military Discounts

You will also need a working cell phone for working from home. Here are what the major carriers have to offer.  Please visit MyMilitaryBenefits for more military discounts on cell phones.

Samsung

Samsung has a Military Offers Program where you can save as much as 30% on products including phones.

AT&T

At AT&T, they have exclusive savings on Unlimited Wireless. You would pay $27/per month per line if you have four lines.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile gives active duty and veterans 50% off of their Magenta Unlimited Family Plan.

Verizon

Verizon offers discounts to members of the military and veterans. They offer account-level discounts for unlimited data plans. For example, with one phone line, you would receive a $10/month discount, with four phones, you would receive a $20/month discount.

U.S. Cellular

At U.S. Cellular, they offer a 15% military discount on their wireless plans for active duty, reservists, and veterans.

Business Clothes

While you won’t be going into the office when working from home, you could be going on camera for Zoom meetings. You will need to have some appropriate attire for these meetings. Here are some places to find military discounts on clothing.

Kohl’s

Kohl’s offers a 15% discount, in-store only, every Monday. The discount is for active duty, former military, veterans, and families.

L.L. Bean

At L.L. Bean you can find clothing for men, women, and children. They offer a 10% military discount to active duty, veterans, retired military, and reservists.

Buckle

At Buckle, a clothing store for men, women, and youth, you can find a 10% military discount for active duty, veterans, national guard, reserves, spouses, and dependents.

Old Navy

Old Navy also has a military discount for members of the military, veterans, and military families. Usually, that discount is 10%.

Desks and Furniture

If you are new to working from home, you will need a nice desk and chair to work from. Here are some places to find a discount on office furniture.

VersaDesk.com

At VersaDesk, you can find a standing desk, which seems to be pretty popular these days. They will give you a 20% military discount on their furniture with Veterans Advantage.

Bassett

Bassett is a furniture store and offers 30% off one item of furniture, and 10% off accessories to all members of the military community.

Scandinavian Designs 

At Scandinavian Designs, you can receive free local delivery, up to $99 on purchases of $1,000 or more. They offer this to active duty, reserves, veterans, and their immediate families.

AlphaMart’s

At AlphaMart’s you can find a variety of furniture. They offer a Heroes Discount of 12% for members of the military.

Office Depot

At Office Depot, in-store-only, you can find a 20% military discount for veterans, active duty military personnel, retirees, reservists, and their dependents.

 

>> Never miss deals, discounts or savings for military and veterans!  Sign up today to receive the MyMilitaryBenefits discount newsletter free in your inbox!

 

 

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In-Person Career Fairs for Military & Veterans [updated]

Military & Veteran Job Fairs Near You in Nov & Dec

Updated through December 2023.

In-person job fairs for military, veterans, and military spouses.  If you looking for virtual job fairs, please visit our virtual job fairs for military and veterans page.

In-Person Job Fairs in November 2023

November 30, 2023

Fort Knox Career Exploration & Hiring Fair by Hiring Our Heroes

    • Time: 9:00 am- 2:00 pm ET
    • Location: Palma Hall 9261 Wilson Rd, Fort Knox, Kentucky, 40121, USA
    • Pre-register here

Job Fair at Fort Liberty

    • Time: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm ET
    • Location: Iron Mike Conference & Catering Center, Fort Liberty, NC 28310
    • Pre-register here

Houston Veterans Job Fair

    • Time: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm CT
    • Location: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX 77002
    • Pre-register here

In-Person Job Fairs in December 2024

December 1, 2023

2023 Public Safety Diversity Career Fair – National Labor Exchange

    • Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm CST
    • Location: Holiday Inn Austin Midtown, 6000 Middle Fiskville Road
      Austin, Texas
    • Pre-register here

 

December 4, 2023

In-Person Hiring Event – Toccoa, Georgia– National Labor Exchange

    • Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm ET
    • Location:  633 Falls Road, Toccoa, GA
    • Pre-register here

 

December 6, 2023

USCG Base Alameda Career Exploration & Hiring Fair – Hiring Our Heroes

    • Time: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm PT
    • Location: USCG Base Alameda, California, USA
    • Pre-register here

North Seattle Manufacturing and Quality Career Event – Boeing

    • Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm PT
    • Location: WorkSource North Seattle 9600 College Way N, Seattle, WA 98103
    • Pre-register here

San Diego Veterans Job Fair – DAV & Recruit Military

    • Time: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm PT
    • Location: Liberty Station Conference Center, San Diego, CA 92106
    • Pre-register here

 

December 8, 2023

Atlanta Veterans Job Fair – DAV & Recruit Military

    • Time: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm ET
    • Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA 30313
    • Pre-register here

Oklahoma City Career Event – Boeing

    • Time: 12:00 am – 4:00 pm CT
    • Location: 6001 South Air Depot Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73135
    • Pre-register here

 

December 13, 2023

Fort Gregg-Adams, VA Job Fair – The Lee Club

    • Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm ET
    • Location: Building 9009, Battle Drive Fort Gregg-Adams, VA 23801
    • Pre-register here

 

December 14, 2023

Orlando Veterans Job Fair – DAV & Recruit Military

    • Time: 11:00 am- 3:00 pm ET
    • Location: Avanti Palms Resort and Conference Center, Orlando, FL 32819
    • Pre-register here

 

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Should I Take This Promotion If I Will Be Stationed Overseas?

Your Employment Questions Answered: I’m Being Promoted. Should I Take This Promotion If I Will Be Stationed Overseas?

Sometimes the best way to learn something new is by seeking advice from those who have been there. Asking questions is how we learn about new resources or can give us perspectives that we might never have thought about before. When you ask a question, you can gain the knowledge you are looking for that will help you figure out what you need to know to move forward, whatever the subject might be. 

As a military spouse, you will need to move around the country or the world to stay with your service member. This can create tension when it comes to your own career. You might have to give up opportunities, or jobs that would be a good fit and good for your career journey. But sometimes, you don’t have to say no to something just because of possible PCS orders. 

Question:

I am a military spouse and we will be PCSing to an overseas location in about nine months. I just got offered a promotion in my field. The promotion will give me a substantial raise and open a lot of doors for my career. Should I still take this job? I am worried that my move might mean it wouldn’t be a good idea to do so?

Answer:

Getting orders overseas is such an amazing opportunity for a military family! You will be able to experience so many amazing and new things. As far as the job goes, you should probably take this opportunity. The promotion sounds like an amazing one that would be good for your career. Looking back you might regret not taking the promotion.

On a practical level, until the orders are official, there is no guarantee you will actually be PCSing overseas in nine months. Many military families think they might go to one place, and end up in another. You want to keep this in mind as you are planning your move that dates and locations are always changing and you never really know until you get those orders in hand. And sometimes, even those orders change. 

Nine months is also enough time to work your job to make saying yes worth it. You can always delay your part of the move a few months when the time comes, or the military could delay the move for you. 

As you get closer to the date, you can talk to your employer about if you could start doing your job remotely, assuming you aren’t already in a remote position. The pandemic has made it much more likely that your employer might consider remote work. The time difference is also a consideration, but that will depend on the type of job you have. 

You should also check with the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) with the country you are going to. There might be regulations that would change if you could even work your job at that location. Each country has its own rules and regulations and service members and their families need to abide by them.

In the end, your worst-case scenario is that you can only work in this position for nine months, however, the job will be a good addition to your resume. The job will also be able to set the bar for salary and positions next time you are looking for a job. The best case is you take on this new job, be able to bring the job with you overseas, and improve your career over the next few years.

Here are a few resources to help with your upcoming PCS:

 

 

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Military Employment Guide: Strategic Job Searching

Step-by-Step Guide to Employment for Military:  Strategic Job Searching

After you end your years in the military, and it is time to work on finding an after military job, there are many steps you have to go through to find the right fit. From working on your resume to getting ready to go on an interview. The biggest part of this process is finding the right jobs to apply for.

You will want to find the right jobs that match your desires, your skills, and your abilities. To do this, you have to know how to find jobs to apply for. There are a few different ways that you can do so and you want to be strategic about the process.

You can go with a recruiting or staffing agency, you can search a veterans job board, or you can apply to a company directly. There are pros and cons to all of these options.

Recruiting or Staffing Agencies

Going with a recruiting or staffing agency is a popular choice when it comes to searching for a job. These companies will be the middleman for you in your job search. They can match you with job listings that are your best fit and are what you are looking for. They offer mentorship and other benefits to job seekers. They go beyond just sending you job alerts.

Recruiters research companies and allow you to learn about them so you know if they will be a good fit. You can gain feedback from them, from how you are prepared for your interviews to how your resume looks. They can also help you translate your military skills into civilian ones.

Here on Career Recon, you can find our Recruiting & Staffing Profiles section. Here you can find out more information about the different companies that can help you on your journey. We have a wealth of information from numerous companies all over the United States. Visit the Recruiting & Staffing Profiles page to see what we have to offer.

Veteran Job Boards

A veteran job board is another option for finding jobs. The listings you find are from employers especially looking for veterans in a variety of jobs and positions. A good job board can be worth your time. A bad one can be a waste.

Recruit Military, Hire Veterans, and Hire Heroes USA are all examples of good veteran job boards. They offer a variety of positions from healthcare to construction to defense. You can look for both full-time and part-time positions. Make sure that any job board you are looking at has updated listings and an easy way to apply.

You can also look at our Recruiting & Staffing Profiles page to find other companies that could have veteran job boards.

Directly With Company

Beyond using a recruiting or staffing company or viewing veteran job boards, you can apply to a company directly. This may be because you know the company is hiring for a certain position, you went to their website to view their openings, or a friend or family member told you that they were hiring.

You would then go through the steps to apply to the company. Doing this can be a good way to find a job but there can be some cons versus if you work with a recruiter. You might not get any real feedback if you don’t get the job. You also won’t have the benefit of knowledge or insider tips when it comes to this position.

On the other hand, you might feel more in control if you apply directly. You can move forward with any job you see fit, and not have to wait on a recruiter to help you with things. You can apply for any role, even if they were not on your radar to begin with.

When it comes to job searching, you will need to be strategic. Going with a recruiter or staffing agency can give you a leg up in the process, gives you the tools you need to find the right job, and makes the process a bit easier. While you can find a job in other ways, including job boards and applying directly, going with a company can be what you need to do to find the right fit. They have so many resources to help you along the way. And many of the companies listed on Career Recon work specifically with veterans.

 

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Military Employment Guide: Interview Preparation

Step-by-Step Employment Guide for Military:  Preparing for Interviews

Job hunting will include going on job interviews. This is a part of the process and one you need to be prepared for. The interview is where your potential employer will first meet you, and get to know what you could possibly bring to the table. The interview is where you have to make a good first impression and you will be judged on how you present yourself.

This part of the job search process can be quite intimidating. A lot of people feel quite nervous about going into an interview. You can do things to prepare that can help you feel more confident walking into the interview. Practicing for your upcoming interview is a must.

Why should you practice your interview?

Since interviews can be intimidating, and you will probably be a bit nervous, practicing the interview can help calm you. Doing so will help you figure out what you need to be prepared to say, and help you feel more confident when the time comes.

Practicing can also reduce your stress level and anxiety over the interview. The better prepared you are, the easier the interview will go. And those that are interviewing can tell if you are not prepared. You don’t want to show up to just wing the interview.

What should you think about when it comes to practicing for the interview?

  • Figure out what trips you up the most. What are you most nervous about? What have you struggled with when it comes to job interviews in the past? Make a list of what you need to work on and practice. This will help you get focused on the interview and practice the parts that you need to work on to be fully prepared.
  • Make a list of the most common interview questions. Then you will need to make sure you have answers for them. These could be:
    • Tell me about yourself.
    • How did you hear about the position?
    • Why do you want this job?
    • What can you bring to the company?
    • What are your greatest strengths?
    • What are you looking for in a new position?
    • What are you passionate about?
    • Tell me about a time you had to solve a difficult problem.
  • Go over the questions and answer them out loud. Know the answers enough so when asked the questions you are fully prepared with a good answer.
  • Analyze the job and the position. Know exactly what job you are going for. You don’t want to appear like you are uninterested or not prepared for the job. You want to be able to talk about the job with confidence and explain exactly why you want this position.
  • Review the job duties, and compare them to your job history. This will help you see how and why you are qualified for this position. Having that confidence will help you in the interview.
  • Think about the questions you will ask at the interview. Go over these and how you will phrase them. This will make you appear confident and that you are interested in the company as well as the job.

What is the best way to practice for an interview?

  • Give yourself plenty of time to practice. Don’t start the day before. You will want to go over the interview many times.
  • Record yourself practicing the interview. That way you can play it back and go over what you did right and what you might need to work on.
  • Ask a friend or family member to help. They can play the part of the interviewer and offer their perspective.
  • Practice the interview in front of a mirror. This will also give you a good perspective on your interview skills.

While you might not be able to know exactly how an interview is going to go, you can get prepared. Use these tips to get ready for the interview and plan to walk into it with confidence and the ability to make a good first impression.

 

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Military Employment Guide: LinkedIn

Step-by-Step Guide to Employment for the General Military –  LinkedIn

An important part of your journey to finding an after military job would be to set up a LinkedIn account if you haven’t already. LinkedIn was created in 2003 and is a social media networking and job searching site. Since 2016, it has been a subsidiary of Microsoft. There are over 700 million registered members and is one of the best places to network online.

LinkedIn Goals

The first step is creating an account, and figuring out your goals for LinkedIn. If you are wanting to use the site to find a job or other opportunity it is best to have a goal of making 200+ connections. You also want to join 20+ veteran or interest groups, and follow 20+ companies.

Profile Photo

As you are setting up your account, you will want to start with a good profile photo. Make sure the photo looks professional, but also looks like you. You also want to be dressed in business attire, and only you in the photo. Don’t use a photo of you in uniform. The photo should be 400×400.

Background Photo

Don’t leave your background photo blank. You will want to show who you are through the photo, who your target market is, or highlight your achievements. The photo should be 1584×396.

LinkedIn Profile Headline

Your profile headline is the line that is under your name. This is what people see in the search results. You will want to customize what it says vs just putting a title. Look at this as an elevator pitch in 120 characters. Tell people what you do.

LinkedIn Summary

Your LinkedIn Summary is your about section. You have a limit of 2,000 words, and the first three lines are visible before visitors will need to click on “see more.”

In the summary, you want to speak about your skills, experiences, and professional interests.

Your Experience

In your experience section, you will want to highlight your job experience, your responsibilities, and your accomplishments. Typically you will want to add the last 10-15 years of your work history.

This is the section where you will add your military experience. Make sure you put when you entered service and your military branch. This will identify you as a veteran. When adding skills for time in the military, make sure they fit with the job you are currently wanting to find.

When filling out your experience and even your summary and headline, remember to speak civilian. You are looking for a civilian job and you want civilians to be able to understand your experience and your skills.

Your Education

When it comes to your education section, you may start with high school or college. Whatever schools you list, connections from those places will be able to find you. Make sure to also add vocational schools, certificates, and any other education you have had.

Looking to further your education?  Use CollegeRecon to find military friendly schools.

LinkedIn Endorsements

Endorsements are unique to LinkedIn and allow your connections to endorse you for your skills. This can help boost your credibility which helps you in your job search. You can choose to accept them or not and you can choose which ones to list on your profile. Don’t get too hung up on them but they can be an added benefit to your profile.

Your Accomplishments

Add your accomplishments to your profiles. There are any publications you are in, courses you have taken, projects you have been involved in, honors, awards, and even the different languages that you speak.

Your Interests

The interest section on LinkedIn is where you can connect with people on a more personal basis. You can add your hobbies and your interests and show that you are interested in more than just work. This makes you appear as a more well-rounded person.

Building LinkedIn Connections

One of the biggest benefits of LinkedIn is the connections you can make. You can easily see what your connections are saying and liking and they can see what you are in return. This allows you to easily find others in your niche or industry.

Find people you have met in person at conferences and networking events and connect with them. You don’t have to find all of your first 200 connections in one day, but make it a priority to be adding to your network on a daily basis. Connect with those you served with, those in your industry, and even those you went to school with if it makes sense to do so. You want to build up your network.

Join groups that have to do with your industry or your interests. Post often to create engagement. Be an active part of the community.

Building Relationships

You want to build relationships with people on LinkedIn beyond just being connected. You can do this by engaging and commenting on your connections’ posts, being helpful, and sharing your own experiences.

Your Location

When it comes to what you should put for your location, you should put where you are wanting to look for work. If you plan to move somewhere new, you would want to put that as search relies heavily on location. This will also tell recruiters that you are looking for work in their area.

 

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Military Employment Guide: Purchasing Business Attire

Step by Step Guide to Employment: General Military Community – Purchase Business Attire

When it comes to finding a job after the military, the interview will be a big step to getting hired. You might need to go for more than one, depending on the company. And whether the interview is in person or virtual, you want to be dressed correctly for it.

What you wear to the interview matters. For most interviewers, you want to dress in appropriate business attire.

What is business attire?

Business attire is clothing that is appropriate for the workplace. This may differ slightly depending on the type of job or environment. You should research and be aware of what type of clothing is acceptable with this particular employer, and lean on the side of formal.

What does business attire look like?

  • Business Traditional is more formal. For men, this could include a formal suit or tie, an upscale sports jacket, and dress pants. For women, this could be a skirt suit, pantsuit, and formal blouse and stockings.
  • Smart Casual is a step down from business traditional. For men, this could include a sports jacket with a tie, dress pants, and a button-down shirt. For women, this could be a dressy sweater, dress pants or a skirt, a blouse, and a top.
  • Business Casual is even more casual than the other two. For men, this could include khakis, or dress pants, shirts with collars, and sweaters. For women, this could include nice pants, skirts, a blouse, or a top.

What you should think about when it comes to your interview outfit?

In addition to sticking with business attire, you also need to think about the comfort and fit of your outfit. The clothing might pass all the business attire tests but if you don’t feel comfortable with what you are wearing, that isn’t going to set you up for success. You don’t want to get distracted by your clothing when you should be focused on presenting yourself to a potential employer.

You want your clothing to fit well, and not be too baggy or too tight. You want to be able to walk around comfortably. Practice wearing your clothes and moving around in them before the actual interview.

You want your clothing choices to also make you feel confident. If your clothing makes you feel that way, you will be able to more easily show confidence at the interview.

What shouldn’t you wear to an interview?

There are certain items you shouldn’t wear to a job interview. You don’t want to wear anything too revealing, remember you aren’t dressing for a night out with friends. Think about the colors you are choosing, and try not to go with too bright of colors or extreme patterns. If in doubt, keep the clothing more conservative.

Stay away from words on your shirts. While the wording might not be inappropriate to you, you never know what might be for the company. This isn’t professional and could lead to not being taken as such or offending someone by the words, whatever they might be.

You should stay away from flip flops, sandals, ripped jeans, tank tops, halter tops, yoga pants, athletic gear, or athletic shoes. Also, watch for heavy cologne, and too much makeup. Remember, less is probably best.

What if you have a video interview?

If you have a video interview, treating it like an in-person interview is the best way to go. You want to make sure you get ready just like you would if you were going somewhere for the interview. You should be aware of clothing that looks good on camera and stick to more neutral colors.

First impressions go a long way when it comes to a job interview. Potential employers will be judging you from the minute you walk through that door. Your outfit and how you present yourself matters. You want your outfit to show you are confident and want the job. That you are taking this seriously and you are professional. Your outfit can make or break an interview.

 

 

 

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