14 tips to land you that dream job - Military Careers, Second Careers - Army Times

14 tips to land you that dream job

When Sgt. Ken Corr left the Florida Army National Guard in 2005, exiting the military wasn't the only change he was looking to make. He wanted to embark on a new career path as well.

Having served on active duty as a combat medic in Baghdad for a year, starting in 2003, Corr knew health care was a field that might hold some promise for him. Before deploying, he had worked in a prison, and he knew he didn't want to return to a career in law enforcement.

To find his footing -- and ultimately put himself on a new, rewarding career path -- Corr used a variety of resources. Turning to his local Department of Veterans Affairs office, he went through its Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program to determine what new career course might suit him. Next, he went to the Internet to see what kind of jobs were available. And finally, he did a little unique networking to land his first post-military job: Acting on a tip from his wife, who works in human resources at Lee Memorial Health System in Cape Coral, Fla., he applied for and got a job in security with the health system. From there, he went on to become an emergency department technician.

Now he is a full-time student pursuing a two-year degree in nursing. Corr said his transition out of the Guard and into a new career has been fairly smooth. In fact, he estimates it took him only two or three months to land his job at Lee.

The steps he took to get him where he is today illustrate how others transitioning out of the military can make a promising entrance into the civilian work force.

Following are 14 essential tips from career experts that will put you on the fast track to success in your career:

1. Start two years early. Finding a job -- any job -- takes time. Finding a good job that is the right fit can take even longer.

Army Career and Alumni Program counselors recommend that you start preparing for that civilian job search up to two years before leaving the military. Sure, it may be too soon to start circling job ads in the newspaper, but it's never too early to begin doing research such as identifying and exploring your career options, putting together a resume and brushing up on interviewing skills.

2. Recognize that finding a job can be a full-time job. According to the career experts at VetJobs.com, a job board recognized as the leading recruitment Web site to reach the military market, you shouldn't underestimate the amount of time you'll have to spend on tasks such as researching new companies, sending out resumes, networking and making follow-up phone calls.

No one is saying you won't still need a "real" job that allows you to actually draw a paycheck, but, realistically, you need to devote some time each day to finding your dream job.

3. Use a variety of resources in your search. "The Internet is now the number one way to find a job," said Ted Daywalt, president of VetJobs.com. Corr used Web sites like Helmets to Hardhats (www.helmetstohardhats.com) to identify available jobs suitable for him based on his training and military experience. But while the Internet is an easy and reliable source in the hunt for a new job, Daywalt advises job seekers not to ignore the more traditional search tools.

"Don't quit networking," Daywalt said. "Don't quit looking in the newspapers. Don't stop going to job fairs, because you never know where you're going to find a job."

4. Get certified. This is advice regularly given to job seekers by John Harol, managing partner at Lighthouse Recruiting in Avon, Conn., and a former Massachusetts Air National Guard staff sergeant. If the civilian career field you plan to enter requires certifications, get what you can out of the way before you get out of uniform. Not only does it make sense from a time and cost perspective, but, Harol said, it also helps would-be employers recognize that your military experience really does closely parallel the field you are pursuing on the civilian side.

5. Don't go it alone. Why make the search any more difficult than it has to be? Whether you go with the VA -- as Corr did -- or one of the military's transition-assistance programs or even a professional recruiter, with so many resources out there to assist you in finding the perfect job, it would be foolish not to ask for a helping hand.

6. Never pay anyone to help you find a job. At VetJobs.com, the theory is: Professionals are paid by companies and clients -- not job-seekers -- to find qualified candidates. With all the free resources out there to assist you, you shouldn't have to spend a dime. According to Daywalt, there may be 1 percent to 2 percent of people who might have to pay for, say, help with their resumes, but 98 percent don't.

7. Don't limit yourself. When thinking of potential employers, expand your options, Daywalt said. Don't lock yourself into one sector of the career field. Interested in health care, for example? Don't only consider large hospitals. Also examine possibilities at places such as hospices; county, municipal or state clinics; the American Red Cross.

And don't just apply for your dream job. Keep an open mind about possibilities. Be realistic.

As the recruitment supervisor for Lee Memorial Health System, Lauren Huff said she sees a lot of recent college graduates, in particular, who make the mistake of thinking that having the education alone makes them shoo-ins for high-paying jobs in the field they desire.

"That works in many careers but not in all," Huff cautioned.

If you are seeking a job in a hard-to-fill area, such as nursing, your search likely will be fairly easy. However, Huff said, if your career field is one that is not difficult to fill, the hiring manager can be choosy, waiting for someone who has not only the education, but the experience as well. The lesson, she said: Be prepared to take what you might perceive as a "lesser" job and work your way up to that ideal position.

8. Don't assume your age is against you. This is particularly true for military retirees, said Daywalt. "A lot of people get out after 20 or more years and think, 'Oh, no one is going to want to hire me,'" he said. Such a mindset is a mistake in a world where competition for qualified workers -- including mature employees -- is intensifying in many fields, he said.

In a lot of organizations, Daywalt said, "They are more interested in your skill level than your age."

9. Make your resume understandable. Careful attention to the resume is important for any job seeker -- perhaps even more so for someone transitioning out of the military.

"When [resumes] are sent to me, they are still laden with military jargon," said Harol, who advises translating "anything you think might be confusing."

He suggests having someone not in the military read your final resume draft to see if you have kept in anything that may baffle a civilian.

The military has people and programs to help you translate your military job into civilian terms. One tool, the Verification of Military Experience and Training, or VMET (www.dmdc.osd.mil/vmet/owa/vmet_web_display.login), translates for authorized users their Military Occupation Specialty, rating or Air Force Specialty Code to civilian terms and provides job descriptions that are understandable to those on the outside.

If you are applying for different types of jobs, Huff said, consider writing different versions of your resume.

Never assume that civilian employers understand what you did in the military. It's a common misperception held by many civilians that everyone in the Air Force is a pilot, Harol said. "It's really good in an interview to explain your day-to-day duties," he said.

10. Rehearse your interview. Military people, in particular, seem to have trouble with this, Harol said. "They don't have to interview for their jobs in the military," he said. "It might be a skill they are lacking because they have never had to do it before."

Be aware of any new trends in the interview process, so you are not caught off guard when you are sitting across the desk from a would-be employer. In today's job market, for example, interviews have become more extensive -- at least with larger employers, Huff said. At Lee Memorial Health System, for example, they ask behavioral interview questions, she said, which might include queries such as, "Tell me about a situation in your last job where you had an irate customer."

"The reason we ask those behavioral questions is to get an understanding of what their past experience is and performance has been, because history is going to repeat itself," she said.

11. Research the company before you go in for an interview. Who wants to hire someone who doesn't have enough interest in a company to bother to even find out what it is all about?

At the very least, do a little digging to uncover its management philosophy. You'll save yourself -- and the potential employer -- valuable time if you discover that that philosophy just doesn't gel with where you think you want to be.

12. Play up the strengths of your military training and emphasize your mobility. "... I always sell the fact that most military members ... have been in environments that prove they hold up to stress well and can handle high-pressure situations," Harol said. Those attributes, along with teamwork, are shared by many military personnel by virtue of their training. Make sure the people interviewing you know that.

Also, the more flexible you are about geographic location, the easier it is for you to find the job of your dreams. Military people are used to moving around, so let potential employers know that you are willing to go wherever duty may call.

Further, Harol said, it doesn't hurt to use relocation to your advantage. When they are exiting the military, service members have one relocation left. Tell your prospective employer that. Knowing that the company won't have to pay out-of-pocket to move you can make you more appealing.

13. Beware of salary talk. Most career experts agree that discussions about salary have no place in the interview. And most good interviewers won't bring it up during your first meeting. You shouldn't either.

If you really must know what you might stand to make in a position, turn to the Internet. Many Web sites -- such as Salary.com -- detail salary ranges for a variety of positions in many different locations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' site, www.bls.gov/oes, also offers a list of salary ranges by occupational area.

When it is time for salary discussions, don't just focus on the money. According to the experts at VetJobs.com, lack of job satisfaction -- not money -- is the number one reason people switch jobs. Be sure you are going to be satisfied at your new job and can enjoy working with the people in the company.

14. Remember the basics. If you prepare yourself well and take all the right steps, there is no reason that your job search has to be a stressful one.

Remember the basics for the interview. Dress well, be on time, act confident but not cocky, maintain eye contact, do not chew gum, and turn off your cell phone.

Afterward, say "thank you," even if it's in an e-mail. Because he does his recruiting in the fast-paced health care field where jobs may be filled before a traditional note is received, Harol said e-mail is his recommended medium for saying thanks. He suggests sending a note the day after your interview, instead of that same day, so you don't appear desperate.

Advice that applies no matter how you decide to send it: Keep the note short and sweet, Harol said. And "ask questions you may still have so you keep the door open for more conversation."

Jessica Lawson can be reached at Jlawson@atpco.com.