It has been called the Great Recession. When 9.4% of the population is unemployed, and another 20% is on some sort of public assistance, it’s no secret America is in an economic rut. Job seekers – highly educated and adroitly skilled, line up by the hundreds, pursuing meager vacancies. The scramble is on, gents. You’ve a new mission – and failure isn’t an option. As such, it would behoove veterans and those transitioning from active-duty, to utilize an old axiom regularly associated with the United States Marine Corps: Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.
Improvise
Think outside of the box in your job search!
A guerrilla job search uses everything in your arsenal to help you find a job, whether conventional, or unconventional. Take the Internet, for example. We’re an online culture. From Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Craigslist, and the plethora of other social networks staking their claim on the web, it’s essential to tap this vast resource. In terms of websites specifically dedicated towards career building, visit Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com, and Indeed.com. Literally thousands of job opportunities can be found on the aforementioned web pages. Make certain you check the dates of prospective job openings – unfortunately many are months/years old.
Along similar lines, Craigslist.com has a rather large employment section. With the ability to focus in on specific industries – and even snag a medical research gig, Craigslist offers a vast array of employment options. For those interested in the entertainment industry, EntertainmentJobs.com can provide veterans/active-duty members their big break. The United Talent Agency Job List is another means of landing a gig in the entertainment industry. Once a coveted insider-only source of Hollywood avocations, the UTA Job List is now readily available on the net. Cataloging full/part-time jobs, one can also land a sweet internship. Although the majority of these internships are un-paid, they occasionally lead to full-time employment. To learn more about the UTA Job List, check out: www.tempdiaries.com.
Adapt
The age-old practice of scouring your local newspaper’s “want ads” for employment has gone the way of the dinosaurs. Especially in times like these, one must take extraordinary efforts – guerrilla tactics, if you will, in finding gainful employment. Cold calling (typically a marketing process inherent to sales via the telephone) is one of those unconventional strategies. Scout successful companies. Learn what they’re all about – and remodel your resume accordingly. Simply call them up and introduce yourself. Request to speak to the Human Resource department. Invite a manager or HR rep out for coffee and interview them about their job, what is involved, industry trends, etc. Learn all you can about the industry. In addition, seek out local businesses involved in highly visible projects. Suggest an improvement or addition to said activity. In essence, create a job opening where there was none. Remember, research is vital when employing such tactics.
Overcome
Just because equally capable candidates are swamping the job market, doesn’t automatically mean you’re headed to the unemployment office. As a veteran/active-duty member, you’ve a unique set of skills. Assure prospective employers are made aware of said aptitudes. As cliché as it might sound – think outside the box.
Utilize MOS translators, contact the Veterans Administration, seek out veteran’s employment initiatives, reach out to friends and family, attend job fairs, and visit your local university’s employment center.
Let’s face it; you’ve confronted some mighty tough challenges in the military.
Accomplishing diverse missions – sometimes under the stress of hostile gunfire, enemy rockets, and unspeakable horrors. But guess what? You survived. Don’t let the dismal economy dictate your future – Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.
