Dear Veterans:
First and foremost, thank you for your service to our country. One of the biggest advantages veterans have in a competitive job market is that your countrymen and women are sincerely grateful to you for your contribution to our national security.
As you begin to look for employment, take a deep breath and prepare yourself for the task ahead. You should set reasonable expectations. You don’t want to become discouraged if you don’t find a job immediately. It’s important to gather information about where job opportunities are and the businesses that are hiring. The 2023 List of Veteran-Friendly Employers with Jobs for Veterans and Military Spouses is a starting point.
There are so many ways people can help you if you don’t limit yourself to contacting people through social media. Online networking is a critical element of the job-search dynamic, but don’t underestimate the value of “live, ”face-to-face contact.
People can introduce you to other people, who will introduce you to other people. Someone may be an HR representative who can review your résumé and give you feedback. Someone else may know someone who has an open position.
The possibilities are endless, but it takes time, patience, and perseverance. It’s important to let people know that you need and want help. Remember that communication is an essential job-search skill. Like non-English-speaking civilians who are looking for employment, veterans have to translate their military skills, experience, and training in order to communicate to HR and hiring managers that they meet the job requirements.
The following links will help you “de-jargon” or reword military terms and better communicate what you can bring to the table and the value you can add to an organization.
- Translating Military Skills to Civilian Jobs: Tools and Tips
- From Military to Civilian: Resume Translation,
I leave you with this thought: You are already desirable candidates because of your training, your professional appearance, your respect for authority, and your cando/will-do attitude. Spend as much time daily looking for a job as you would if you were working, and you’ll likely find the job opportunity you’re looking for. After you find that job, rely on your military training and experience to achieve success.
Again, thank you for your service to our country, and good luck to you all.
Sincerest regards,
Beverly A. Williams, Author
Your GPS to Employment Success:
How to Find and Succeed in the Right Job
Your-GPS-Employment-Success
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