Job Search Help for Women Military Veterans

Job Search tips specifically for women military veterans by Patricia Frame. Patricia is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. She now works with other vets to help them transition into the civilian workforce. Thank you for this video, Patricia!

Military Transition: What Civilian Work Interests You?

U.S. Air Force Veteran and Human Resources Expert, Patra Frame, explains how a new military vet can figure out what type of job he or she is qualified for in the civilian workforce.

Top 10 IT Certifications for Security Cleared IT Professionals

As an Information Technology professional exiting the military, you might want to consider applying for an IT job with the U.S. Government, especially if you have Security Clearance.

This video by ClearanceJobs.com discusses the top 10 IT certifications that could give you an advantage over your IT competition.

Help for U.S. Military Veterans With PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is of great concern to our military vets, their families, and their potential employers. If you or someone you know has PTSD, watch this video to see what help is available.

What Resume Format Should I Use For My Military-to-Civilian Transition?

Entering the civilian workforce after two or more years of service in the military is a daunting transition. In addition to adjusting to your "new" civilian culture, you'll need to learn how to market yourself in a very tough job market. Continue reading...

How to Build a Civilian Network When You Only Know Military People

When exiting the military, you'll need to build a network of contacts in the civilian world if you want to succeed in your military-to-civilian career change. Why? Because most available jobs are found in the "hidden job market" (i.e., job openings that employers don't make public).

The key to the hidden job market is in your network. You need a network of people in the civilian workforce -- people who:

• Have their fingers on the pulse of the industry in which you want to work.
• Know about job openings that haven't been posted for public access.
• Will recommend you for those job openings and help get you in the door for a job interview.

So how do you build a network in the civilian world when most of the people you currently know are inside the military? That's what this video by Patra Frame is about. Check it out:

Military Personnel, Veterans, Counselors -- Please Take This Survey!

If you are currently in the U.S. Military or you have exited the military in the last five years, please take this:

Military-to-Civilian Career Transition Survey

The results of this survey will be presented at the Career Management Alliance Conference on April 7, 2011. At the conference Susan Joyce, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and owner of Job-Hunt.org, and I will be co-presenting:

New Rules, New Tools for a Successful Military-to-Civilian Career Transition

We need your input prior to the presentation. Your survey responses will influence our conversation and help improve the job search support provided to you and soon-to-be-discharged personnel.

We also invite any career development professionals who work with exiting military folks to participate in the survey, as your perspective is extremely valuable. And we'd love to see you at the April event. Did I mention it's in Las Vegas!!!

How to Translate Your Military Experience for a Civilian Job Search

Transitioning from the military to the civilian world is a little like moving to a new country where a different language is spoken. Most civilian employers don't understand military terminology. That means you have to do some translating if you're making a military-to-civilian career change.

How to Translate Military Terminology to Civilian Speak

On your resume and in job interviews, it's your job to convey the value you offer a civilian employer -- and you need to do that in civilian-speak, not military lingo.



In this video, Patra Frame suggests four ways to learn job-related civilian terminology. Notice these activities are also excellent ways to find a civilian job!

1. Search for common civilian terminology. Read through 10-20 job posts in your line of work to see what terms are commonly used.
2. Read industry-specific articles, both in print and online, to get up to date on what's happening and how to articulate it.
3. Attend professional events such as job fairs and civilian classes in your line of work. Listen to how others are describing their civilian work functions. Join in the conversation using those terms.
4. Participate in social networking sites such as LinkedIn where you can discuss work-related topics with civilian professionals.

This job search homework will help you learn your civilian terms and give you practice talking and writing about your professional achievements. And it just might help you land a job!

1-Year Plan for Successful Military-to-Civilian Transition

If you're one year from being discharged or retiring from the U.S. Military, you need to start planning your transition back to civilian employment now, according to human resources professional and military veteran, Patra Frame.

Patra says that in today's job market, it typically takes three months to get a job that pays $30,000 a year, and an additional two months for every $10,000 more per year. So the sooner you start preparing for your job search, the better.

1-Year Military-to-Civilian Transition Plan

In a nutshell, here's what should be in your plan (more details in the video below):

1. Figure out your career choices. What do you love to do that would translate into a job?
2. Know the requirements for that kind of work. Get qualified if you're not already, and start looking for job openings.
3. Use civilian lingo. Translate military language into terms that are understood in your new occupation, and even within the company where you want to work.
4. Build your network. Join online social media sites and attend in-person professional association meetings and job fairs where you can network.
   

Is a 1-Year Plan Realistic for Those in Combat?

My question to Patra:
There are thousands of U.S. Military men and women in combat. How realistic is it for them to implement a one-year transition plan? How would they do that with all their current responsibilities and geographic constraints?

Patra's answer:
Thanks for asking about the timeline, Susan. I know full well that many military folks will not have the time over the last year of their service to focus a lot of effort on their job search. Some who are stationed overseas also will not have the opportunity to check out local chapters of professional groups which might assist in their transition because there are no such options.

But too many people who could create a plan and dedicate 30-60 minutes each week for 6-12 months don't. They expect to be able to do the whole job search in their last few months or weeks of active duty.

And these folks usually have difficulty when they leave the service - they do not know their options, they don't understand the civilian terminology, they don't know how to most effectively find a place to succeed. Many are not financially or emotionally prepared to go without work for months. Some take jobs that are a poor matches and bounce around a lot in the first few years -- which then creates other problems. And this is not rank-dependent. I have talked with retiring colonels who are as confused and frustrated as any one-term E-4!

But as a vet who made her own share of mistakes in transition, I made this video hoping our current military folks might get some ideas that would be helpful in making a successful transition.



To those who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Military:
On behalf of Patra and Susan Ireland's Job Lounge, thank you for your service. We wish you a speedy and successful transition into civilian employment.

Iraq War Veterans Seek Jobs

Job Search Hard for Returning Iraq War Veterans
Abridged: Time.com

WASHINGTON, DC -- Strained by extended tours in Iraq, growing numbers of military reservists say the government is providing little help to soldiers who are denied their old jobs when they return home, Defense Department data shows.

The Pentagon survey of reservists in 2005-2006, details increasing discontent among returning troops in protecting their rights after taking leave from work to serve their country. 44 percent said they were dissatisfied with how the Labor Department handled their employment discrimination complaints based on their military status. 29 percent, said they had difficulty getting the information from government agencies charged with protecting their rights. 77 percent reported they didn't even bother trying to get assistance in part because they didn't think it would make a difference.

"This is shameful because Iraqi bullets and bombs don't discriminate. Yet reservists face job discrimination here in America after serving in war," said Paul Sullivan, executive director of Veterans for Common Sense. Legal experts say we're likely to see more complaints once the Iraq war winds down and more people come home after an extended period in which employers were forced to restructure or hire new workers.

This article is from the November 12, 2007 issue of The Career News, an e-newsletter. It is posted here in full with permission from The Career News.

I recently received the following via email from Landmark Destiny Group. I have no personal experience with this website but offer it as a possible source of help to our returning military personnel.

Landmark Destiny Group
Where Employers Seek Those Who Served

Dear Job Seeker:
We understand you have a military background and are looking for a new career. We would love to help!

Landmark Destiny Group is an online job board and a resume database that specializes in helping transitioning, former military, and their spouses find civilian employment.

Landmark Destiny Group currently has:
Over 140,000 job postings that are refreshed daily
Over 7,000 Employers registered with our site

Register, post a resume, and search jobs for FREE!

Employment Gap on Returning Vet’s Resume

Question
I have a veteran employment question for you. How would a veteran, who either had an illness or disability, regain employment after a gap in employment? Continue reading...

Four Months to Retirement!

Question
I am retiring from the military and would like to know what the best approach is to stating my available start date on my applications/resumes. I won't be able to start working for about 4 months. – Dan

Answer
The best place to say this is in your cover letter. Following are some ideas Continue reading...