Military Employment Guide: Interviewing and Follow Up
Step by Step Guide to Employment for Military: Interviewing & Follow Up
The interview process can be intimidating. You must put yourself out there and know you will be judged. The best thing to do is go in confidently, know what you can bring to the company, and let your skills help you get the job you want.
Before your interview, practice ahead of time and come prepared to the interview. You can do this by researching the company, being prepared to tailor your strengths and weaknesses as assets, highlighting your measurable skills, communicating that you want a job, and then following up after the interview.
Research the Company Before the Interview
You should know a bit about the company you are applying for:
- Visit their social media accounts. They can tell you a lot about the company and the company culture.
- Learn about their history and how they got started. Google is your friend.
- Learn about their size, locations, and the latest news about them.
- Check Indeed and Facebook for reviews and extra information.
- Ask those in your network what they know about the company.
- Do they have a military affiliation? What is it?
Tailor Your Strengths to the Job Position
You must prepare to share how your strengths and weaknesses fit the job well. Regarding your strengths, be confident and find ways to stand out from other applicants. Be honest and specific about what assets you can bring to the position based on your skills. Use civilian language when discussing skills you have learned in the military.
When it comes to your weaknesses, focus on your growth and how far you have come. Don’t mention anything that could be a deal-breaker for the company.
Highlight Your Measurables
Highlighting your measurables with actual numbers helps you stand out. It will show the company exactly what they can expect from you.
Some common examples would be:
- # of customers served
- # of people you have hired
- #of people you have managed
- Timeframe of accomplishments
- Awards you have won
- % by which you have improved
Send a Thank You Card and Follow-up
After your interview, you will want to follow up. The first thing to do is send a handwritten thank you note or an email to the person you interviewed with. Next, you will need to follow up with an email. In that letter, explain that you are following up on the job you interviewed for. Tell them again about your interest in the job and that you are looking forward to hearing about the next steps. Keep it short and to the point.
Interviewing is a process. Remember to keep up your job search, even while waiting to hear back. You should keep your search going until you have that job offer and are ready to accept it.
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