I’ve been using LinkedIn a lot more frequently lately. It’s a great place to connect with people, offer advice, and ask for assistance if you need it. If you are on LInkedIn, I recommend joining some of the many veterans groups on there, which offer a lot of great support and advice for finding a job. I was scanning through one of the veterans groups last week and I read a question from a veteran and was looking for a job, but hasn’t been able to find anything. Here is his question:

Why am I having such a hard time finding a job in San Diego? I have my degree lots of certifications to go along with my military experience. What am I doing wrong; any advice?

Here are a few general tips that I gave in response (this version is expanded over the response I gave in the thread).

Are you a qualified veteran? Use these tips to find a job.

You have to know where to look for work

The job market is tough right now, but not impossible. One of the most important things to know is that most jobs aren’t listed publicly. They are part of the “hidden job market” which means they simply aren’t advertised when they become open – they are typically filled internally, through referrals from current employees, or through headhunters. Why? Because most jobs posted publicly receive anywhere from 50-100 (or more) applications. Hiring managers use these three methods to screen potential employees. This saves employers time and money.

Networking is essential for finding a job in today’s economy

The best way to find a job in the current economy is through your professional network or through a recruiter. Start by contacting someone in your professional network and ask them to peer review your resume. This will give you a good idea of where your resume can be improved. They may also let you know about potential job openings at their employer if there are any. If most of your peers are still in the military then consider joining some professional organizations or clubs, doing volunteer work at your church or with a charity, or finding other ways you can expand your network and show other people your skills.

You may also benefit by reaching out to a staffing agency or head hunter. Some of the jobs they offer are only temporary positions, but they are still worth taking as it helps put money in your pocket and keeps your skills fresh. You may find that one of these positions lead to a full time job, or they may give you the opportunity to learn new skills or gain additional experience which will make you more likely to be hired into a full-time job.

Seek out positions where you can use your military skills

Your military experience is incredibly valuable, especially for government agencies and contractors who work with the government. Many people have the skills you have, but don’t speak the “same language” the military speaks. That was the selling point I used when I landed my first post-military job. It’s often easier to teach vets specific skills than it is to teach non-veterans how the military operates.

A security clearance can also be a very valuable tool in helping you get a job. There are even career sites which specialize in posting openings for people with a various levels of security clearances. If you have a security clearance, try to keep it active long enough to use it at your next job. You may also be able to reactivate an expired security clearance in less time than it takes for someone to get one from scratch – which is an expensive and time consuming process for employers. This gives you a leg up over someone who doesn’t have a security clearance.

Review your resume and LinkedIn profile

It is essential to take care when crafting your first post-military resume. Pay special attention to translating your military skills into civilian terms so that a layman can understand what you bring to the table. When writing a resume, it’s also essential to create a unique resume for each job application and include specific skills and keywords from the job description to ensure it is selected by the automatic filters many companies use to screen resumes.

Take some time to go through your LinkedIn profile and any other digital profiles or resumes you may find ways to improve your digital profiles to make them more attractive to employers. You may find some ways to improve them.

Look into government employment and programs

There are many government programs for veterans, including the new Veterans Job Corps, which will create public service jobs for veterans. Other veterans career programs include My Next Move for Veterans, the Veterans Job Bank, and the Veterans Gold Card. You may also consider a job with the civil service or a state agency, many of which give a veterans preference for veterans with certain classifications, such as those who served in a war zone or those with a disability rating.

Consider further education

If you still have education benefits available to you, then consider going back to school on a full or part time basis. The GI Bill can help you obtain a degree or other certification which can help you enhance your employability. If you are unemployed and meet the requirements, you may also be eligible for the VOW to Hire Heroes Act, which gives GI Bill benefits to unemployed vets.

I hope these tips help.

Do you have any additional tips?

Civilian clothing – it’s not exactly a pressing issue for service members. As a matter of fact, it’s rarely a point of contention at all while on active duty. But once an Airman, soldier, sailor, guardsman, or marine transitions to the private sector, the art of civilian dress can seem extremely difficult. Gleaning uniform regulations from fiery-eyed drill instructors, a new recruit becomes well versed in the military dress code rather quickly. There are rules and standards. When “Irish pennants” (a loose thread on a uniform), and other minor imperfections in one’s Battle Dress Uniform, elicit streams of profanity, people tend to listen/learn. With time, most service members become outstanding examples of uniform taxonomy. But what about civilian attire?

Military bearing + professional attire = winning combination!

First Impressions Are Everything

A sharp uniform, close shave, polished appearance, and attention to detail can mean success in the military. Similarly, it’s no different in the civilian world. Instead of BDUs, Dress Blues, and flight suits, we’re talking blazers, blouses, and wool suits.  When the time comes to move on or retire from military service, one should be prepared to enter the private sector. One of those provisions should include a plan regarding appropriate civilian attire. Specifically, a wardrobe geared towards a post-military career. As in the military, first impressions in the private sector can make or break you. Job interviews are prime examples of this.

The job of your dreams or the unemployment line can hinge on your appearance during an interview. It’s a sad but true fact – looks matter quite a bit. Depending on your field of work, a well-tailored suit is a staple for your interview. Something dark, well tailored, and manufactured from quality materials (wool or silk), is a general rule for men’s suits. Assure the aforementioned garb is appropriate for the occupation sought. Remember, simple is better.

In regards to the female persuasion – slacks, conservative skirt and blouse, are suggested. When combined with an oxford shirt and blazer, you’re guaranteed a professional appearance. Keep the high-heels and stilettos for a night out on the town, and stick to something mid-heel for interviews. Make certain to go light on the perfume and traditional with the cosmetics. Of course, these recommendations are generally geared towards executive/managerial positions. Again, adjust your attire to meet the job you seek.

Professional Attire, Business Casual, and Campus Casual

The current culture of business today, allows for three main categories of attire. They include:

Professional Dress – as the name suggests, it consists of professional attire (i.e. suit, slacks, and tie). For women, business/pants suit is acceptable.

Business Casual – essentially a relaxed version of professional dress. Women should sport moderate length dresses or skirts, and men can go sans coat and tie.

Campus Casual – relatively new on the scene, campus casual is modern take on business attire. Although one won’t wear this often, it is in actuality, everyday apparel. Informal office gathering and networking events may call for this type of business wear. Lean towards the conservative side, such as dark jeans, polo shirt, clean sneakers.

Tips for Your Civilian Wardrobe

The most important thing to remembers is that you need to present a professional image. But that doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money on your wardrobe. Start by purchasing basic wardrobe items that work well with other items so you can mix and match. For men, that includes a dark suit, several plain colored shirts (white, off white, and blue are versatile), several ties, and a dark pair of high quality shoes. Women can start with similar items, and by mixing in a few skirts or pant suits.

Here are some wardrobe Do’s & Don’ts:

• Tailor your outfit.
• Invest in a quality wardrobe.
• A fresh haircut adds to a sharp look.
• Use a lint remover.
• Remove any political emblems from your attire.
• Learn what colors and clothing flatters your specific body-type.
• Cover visible tattoos and piercings.
• Polish your shoes.
• Keep a stain remover pen handy.
• The tip of your tie should fall atop your belt.
• Wear conservative jewelry.
• No overpowering cologne or perfume.
• Don’t combine horizontal lines with vertical lines.

And as always, make sure your clothing items are clean, wrinkle free, and serviceable. Once you nail down your wardrobe, you are ready for the interview!

The military equips its personnel to handle a variety of situations. It’s not uncommon to see a junior military member managing millions of dollars worth of equipment, or making life and death decisions. In many ways, military members handle decisions and responsibilities of a far greater magnitude than their peers in the corporate world. But how to do you get that across in a resume?

Translation is the Key

Times are tough. It’s no secret jobs are hard to come by, but as a service-member you posses a unique capacity that can set you apart. In order to highlight these wholly unique skill sets, you need to understand a few basic points. First and foremost, civilians rarely understand the scope that a military career field covers. It is your job to inform them. Secondly, you need to translate those military responsibilities into civilian friendly summaries. Limit your acronyms – employers rarely understand them.

Translating an infantryman’s skills:

It’s a late night on the dark streets of Sadr City, Iraq. Visibility is low due to heavy cloud cover. And for some odd reason, your GPS went black. But you manage to hit your final checkpoint utilizing a map and compass. Directing your section out the rear-hatch of an LAV – assuring a solid headcount, you stack against the pockmarked remnants of a cinderblock wall. Assuring the biometric iris scanner is good-to-go, you make liaison with air-support, lock/load a trusty M-16A4, and signal the flash-bang man to make ready. As a Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, you’re moments away from leading a dozen young men into hostile territory – an apartment complex abutting the Tigris River.

The US Military labels such individuals as “Infantrymen.” But the breadth in which they operate demonstrates skills way beyond a simple one-word expression. Therein lies the rub – how can a service-member equate their military service into civilian terms? Whether writing a military to civilian resume or introducing oneself in the professional realm, the ability to convert the vast array of skills gleaned from military service is essential.

Types of Resumes

The three general types of resumes include: Chronological, Functional, and Combination.

• As the word denotes, a Chronological resume focuses on listing work experience in reverse order (most recent job first). This is perfect for service-members who’ve consistently been employed – military or otherwise. It’s important to account for lapses in employment, as companies tend to look for consistency.
• Moving on, a Functional resume highlights an individual’s skill and experience first and foremost. So-called “Skills Translators,” are great tools to utilize when writing a Functional resume. Military.com has an excellent skills translator. Also, www.onetonline.org offers another excellent free MOS decoder. For example, rather then simply denoting yourself as an “Infantryman,” the skills translator suggests you “operated weapons and equipment in ground combat operations.”
• And finally, Combination resumes are just that – a combination of both Chronological and Functional. Numerous examples of the aforementioned resumes can be found online here: www.resume-resource.com.

When writing your resume, be sure to include all specialized training received while serving. This can include your MOS training, NCO or officer training, computer or technical skills, etc.

Attention to Detail – The Military Way

All the effort you’ve spent polishing your presentation, won’t matter much if you don’t keep in mind the basics. We’re talking proofreading. Nobody likes misspelled words. It conveys a sense of incompetence and a lack of attention to detail. Plus, in this day and age, there is no excuse for grammatical errors. Two words: Spell Check – it’s there for a reason. Use it.

And don’t forget your contact information. A proper resume includes: name; address; apartment number; city; state; zip code; phone number (including area code); and email address. A small note on emails – save the pimpdaddy99@yahoo.com for personal correspondence. If possible, use your first and last name. A good example is First.Last@gmail.com, or any other free e-mail provider like Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL, etc. Ultimately, professionalism is of utmost importance – your dream job could depend on it.

Putting it All Together – Further Resources

Transitioning to a new career can be a time-consuming task. It is a good idea to treat your job search as a full-time job, and dedicate as much time and resources to it as you can. Remember, you now hold the keys to your future in your hands.

For further reading on writing a resume, we recommend this excellent resume writing tutorial. The article is over 4,000 words and includes tips and examples for writing and improving your resume. You can see a great overview with this slideshow:

Combine these tips with your decoded military experience and your military bearing, and you should be in a good position to enter the civilian workforce.