Tag: Military Employment Guide

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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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Military Spouse Employment Guide: Prepare Your Mind

Step-by-Step Guide to Employment: Military Spouse Community – Prepare Your Mind

When it is time to start the job search process, it’s important to be prepared. Not only in the specifics of what you will need to do but also in your mind. You will want to prepare yourself for a future career; figuring out what life in a chosen career would look like, especially during military life. You want to know what you should do to prepare, and what type of personality each career path might require. Preparing yourself before you start a job is a good way to start off on the right foot.

One of the best ways to do so is by listening to others who are working in the same type of job or listening to people who have been through the process. While you can talk to people in your own life, you can also find this information online with podcasts and videos. There is a lot of information out there about the job process, and easy to listen to on a daily basis. 

Podcasts to Assist Military Spouses

Drop and Give Me 20

Drop and Give Me 20 is a podcast for military entrepreneurs. They focus on the real stories and challenges that entrepreneurs experience. 

SO Unbecoming with Jamie Muskopf

SO Unbecoming with Jamie Muskopf shares conversations with military significant others who talk about how they are navigating the traditional workforce as well as actionable strategies. 

The Spouse Angle

The Spouse Angle is a podcast that breaks down the news for military spouses and their families. They host interviews with all types of military and military spouse-related people. 

The InDependent Spouse Podcast

The InDependent Spouse Podcast is a fun and informative podcast for all military spouses, partners, and other halves. 

Virtforce

Virtforce has a podcast for active duty military spouses with topics about work, finding work, and all things employment.  For more info on Virtforce, please visit their profile.

Smarter Career Moves Podcast

The Smarter Career Moves Podcast is to inspire and guide job seekers to help find a new job, write their resume, and other employment-related topics. 

Creative People Podcast

The Creative People podcast is a conversation with all different types of creatives. 

Being Boss

Being Boss focuses on different topics such as entrepreneur mindsets, work-life balance, and more. 

Ask Nurse Alice 

The Ask Nurse Alice podcast is by Nurse Alice Benjamin, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC, FNP-C. She gives no-nonsense advice about nursing, and interviews top health experts, celebrity guests, and frontline nurses. 

The 10 Minute Teacher Podcast

The 10 Minute Teacher Podcast is all about classrooms, apps, and teaching ideas with a full-time teacher, Vicki Davis. She interviews teachers and educators from around the world. 

Videos to Assist Military Spouses

You can visit our Exclusive Video Series on Career Recon. There are videos on military transition, interview and resume tips, career advice, and beyond. Other companies have also produced videos on these types of topics. 

Take notes when listening and watching, and reach out and ask questions if the podcast has a platform to do so. You will be able to learn a lot about what life will be like once you start your career, and how the process will go to get there from listening to other people. 

 

 

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Finding an Entry Level Remote Job

Your Employment Questions Answered: Finding an Entry Level Remote Job

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. 

Working from home can be a great way to have your own career as a military spouse. Moving every few years, being a solo parent for months at a time, and just needing the flexibility are all the positives that a remote job can bring. There are many different types of work-at-home jobs, from entry-level to executive. If you are just starting out, you may be looking for an entry-level remote job. That is what this question is about. 

Question: How to Find an Entry-Level Work-At-Home Job

I have been a military spouse for a few years now and have decided I want to find a work-at-home job. I don’t have that much experience and thinking an entry-level job would be best. A job I can learn from, and grow into as a career. I figure that this would be the best way to take a job with me from duty station to duty station during military life. 

Answer:

Working from home is a wonderful way to be able to bring a job from place to place when you move. And there are so many great options out there. If you are looking for an entry-level work-at-home job, here are some resources and ideas to help you. 

Job Ideas

  1. Customer Service Jobs

    Many companies such as Verizon or Amazon are hiring for at-home customer service jobs. They will train you and you might have a choice about hours and shifts. Some will require you to answer phones in a quiet environment but others might be chat or email-based.
  2. Administrative Assistant or Virtual Assistant Jobs

    You can work as an administrative assistant or virtual assistant in many different industries. You would help schedule meetings, answer emails, or anything else that the company needs help with. Many of these jobs are entry-level with training included.
  3. Freelancing

    Freelancing can also be a great way to work from home. You can use the skills you already know from writing to editing to social media. Companies can hire you on a project or part-time basis and you can work to build up your portfolio. While you won’t actually be employed by anyone, freelancing can give you the flexibility you are looking for. 

Resources

  1. Instant Teams is focused on remote work for the military community. After filling out your profile, you will have access to the remote queue, which is a Facebook group for those waiting to find a job. They also have courses to help you improve your skills.
  2. FlexJobs is a #1 job site to find vetted work from home and flexible jobs. Currently, they have 29,001 jobs listed from 5,523 companies. This can be a great place to go to search for what you could be looking for.
  3. Indeed is another great place to go to search for jobs. You can also upload your resume for free and employers can contact you. There are many different entry-level remote jobs listed on Indeed.
  4. Virtual HOH Military Spouse Professional Network Facebook Group is a great group run by Hiring Our Heroes. In it, you can search for and even ask about entry-level work-at-home jobs.
  5. Virtforce seeks to help the military spouses and veterans with career and personal development in virtual careers.

You should also check out our Recruiting & Staffing Profiles page for a list of companies that may help you out in your entry-level remote job search. You can also use our tool to find staffing and recruiting agencies that may be best aligned to assist you.

 

Find agencies recruiting military, veterans and spouses.

Get Started

 

 

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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 with confidence, know what you can bring to the company, and let your skills help you get the job that you want.

Before your interview, you need to make sure you have the right outfit and you practice ahead of time. But beyond that, you need to make sure you are coming to the interview truly prepared. You can do this by researching the company, being prepared to tailor your strengths and weaknesses as assets, highlighting your measurables, communicating that you want a job, and then after the interview following-up.

Research the Company

You should make sure you know a bit about the company you are applying for. You want to read more than just a blurb too. Luckily in today’s world, it is relatively easy to research a company. Here is how you can do so:

  • 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, their locations, and the latest news out there 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?

Tailoring Your Strengths and Weaknesses to the Job Position

You will need to prepare to share how your strengths and weaknesses are a good fit for the job position. When it comes to 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 you are talking about 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 will help 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

Communicate That You Want the Job

You will have to be vulnerable because you are putting yourself out there. Think about how you will answer the question, “Why do you want this job?” Explain what you know and what excites you about the company.

You can also share that this position is a perfect match for your career goals. While you don’t want to give the impression that this position will be a stepping stone, show them that you have really given through to it and how the job is the perfect next step.

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. You want to plan to do this a week after the expected date they told you they would contact you by. In that letter, explain that you are following up regarding the job that 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 on your job search, even while waiting to hear back. You should keep your search going until you have that job offer in hand and are ready to accept it.

 

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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: Applying For Jobs

Step-by-Step Guide to Employment for Military and Veterans: Applying For Jobs

Once you have found the right jobs to apply to, you need to actually do so. Before you start sending applications and resumes, you will need to make sure they are as ready as they can be. You will need to tailor your resume and your cover letter for each job and position.

Tailoring Your Resume

When it comes to tailoring your resume, you first need to think about how you will talk about your military experiences. You don’t want to speak in military terms but you want to make sure your time in the military is represented. You may need to rephrase some terms and make them more “civilian” in the resume.

Use a military translator like you can find at Military.com. This will allow you to translate those skills into what a civilian would be looking for in a job listing. You can also work with a recruiter or staffing agency that helps veterans work on their resumes and cover letters. You can find our Recruiting & Staffing Profiles page on Career Recon.  Many organizations that seek to place military and veterans will provide these services free to you.

You will need to customize each resume to each position. Using a general resume is probably not going to cut it. You want to show a future employer you are serious about the position and have the skills and experience for the job. Not every job you have had in the past, or every skill you have would be good for every resume.

How do you go about tailoring your resume to a job listing? Go over the job description, and customize your work history and skills around it. Let them see how perfect of a fit you would be for the job. Tailoring your resume shows the potential employer that you are paying attention and are serious about finding the job.

Here are a few places to find examples of a military veteran’s resume:

Tailoring Your Cover Letter

Your cover letter is just as important as your resume. Again you will want to cross reference the job description. Check for any specific instructions in the cover letter. Remember, the cover letter is there to clarify your resume, not to be a copy of it. Be personable, using “Dear Hiring Manager” vs “Dear Sir or Madam.”

Don’t make the cover letter too long. Explain the benefits of hiring you and your passion for the potential job. Since you have served in the military, you will want your cover letter to also demonstrate how your time in the military prepared you for this job. You can also talk about why you are making the transition from the military to the civilian world.

Here are a few places to find examples of a military veteran’s cover letter:

You can read more about resumes and cover letters here:

Submit Your Resume and Cover Letter

Once your resume and cover letter are proofread and good to go, it will be time to start actually applying for jobs. Make sure to follow the instructions they have for their job application. Submit your resume and cover letter in the method they request.

If you are signing up for a recruiting or staffing company, follow their directions as well. Some want a resume upfront, and others you would submit on the actual job listing. Make sure you know how the company works so you won’t miss out on a good job opportunity.

Keep track of where you have applied for follow-up. You will want to wait a couple of weeks before you do so. This gives them time. You can do this in the form of an email to the hiring manager.

 

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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 Veteran Employment Guide: Finding Mentors

Step by Step Guide to Employment for General Military –  Finding Mentors

As you embark on your after military journey, finding a mentor to help you is a smart decision. A mentor can be there to help you get to where you want to go, be someone you can go to for advice, and help your job search go a lot more smoothly.

Mentoring will allow you to gain the knowledge you need from someone who has been through it. They can help you to learn new skills and help expand the ones you already know. You will receive guidance through a mentor as well as support.

Working with a mentor will give you confidence, help you grow your network, and offer you a sounding board for ideas as well as how to get through any challenges that come up during the process. Mentors can also give you constructive feedback.

When it comes to making the transition from the military to the civilian world, being able to have a good mentor, who has been thought transition themself, is going to be the biggest way to help yourself find the job that you want and get you on the right path.

How do you find a mentor? You may have someone you know already that would be willing to mentor you. That is always an option. However, not everyone knows the right person who can take them on as a mentor. Luckily, there are companies and organizations that can help you find one. Here are a few of them that work specifically with veterans and members of the military.

American Corporate Partners (ACP)

ACP is focused on helping returning veterans and active duty spouses find their next careers through one-on-one mentoring. They also offer networking and online career advice. They will assist veterans and spouses on their path toward fulfilling long-term careers.

VETS – Beyond the Uniform 

VETS – Behind the Uniform is a coaching, mentoring, and training program that was developed by military veterans. Their mission is to provide veterans with the additional skills that are needed to go from the military to the civilian workforce.

7 Eagle Group

7 Eagle Group works to serve military veterans and active duty service members. Through their programs, they offer career webinars, networking opportunities, mentors, and opportunities to mentor others.

Veterati 

Veterati offers free one-hour mentorship phone calls with successful professionals. You can choose your mentors and can even have more than one. Their mentors will offer personal advice, coaching, insider job search tips, and introductions.

Hiring Our Heroes

Hiring Our Heroes has a mentoring program that helps veterans who are struggling with translating their skills to a civilian role. Their mentors help veterans understand what direction they can go in after military life.

Commit Foundation

Commit Foundation works to build powerful tools, pipelines, and cultures that empower military members in their transition out of uniform. They offer one-on-one transition assistance.

Valor Bridge

Valor Bridge works to honor veterans through education, community, and mentorship. They have dedicated mentors to help veterans make the transition back into civilian life and the business community.

Military Talent Partners

Military Talent Partners empowers veterans and military spouses throughout their career journeys. They provide mentorship, coaching, and career discovery to help military talent realize their potential as well as their professional goals.

eMentor 

eMentor is an online mentoring program for military members, veterans, as well as military spouses. They connect people with mentors to help them move forward in their personal and professional lives. Mentors will provide insights into civilian careers and corporate hiring practices.

As you can see, there are many options for finding a good mentor who knows how to make the transition from the military to the civilian world. Finding a good mentor is an important part of the process and can help lead you in the right direction.

 

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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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