I have been out of the Army for just over a year now, and other than some temporary work with the Census Bureau, I have not been able to find any legitimate paid employment until now. That is over a year of active job hunting with a big fat goose egg as a result. I do not claim to be an expert. I am better positioned for a job search than many veterans out there, and I acknowledge that not everything I have to say is applicable. But nor was I an Engineer, or Mechanic, or Signals Analyst, or really anything that would provide for an almost immediate transfer of skills and experiences. In the Infantry, leading soldiers is what we do – but that doesn't always mean personnel management outside of uniform.
True, I have a Bachelor of Science (courtesy of the US Army) in International Relations, but that means exactly jack in the civilian world. Moreover, I have been a soldier since I was 17, and have worn a uniform ever since - leaving no time for even the most menial civilian work experience. On top of that, being an Infantryman doesn't easily translate to the suit and tie world. (It translates for us, of course... but it is the interviewer that we have to impress) In short, I am 27 years old, feeling like a kid straight out of high school looking for any work to pay the bills.
The biggest issue is actually getting to the interview. I sometimes think that I aim too high in some of the positions that I apply for, but if there is another way to aim, I never learned it. When every job out there is looking for someone with experience in that particular position, then there are no jobs available to get the necessary experience. Sometimes it works that way, and yeah, it sucks. It's not hard to parlay military experience into civilian terms when you are face to face with an interviewer. You have the opportunity to explain yourself a bit more, and really show your future boss that you can handle the situation. This becomes far more difficult on paper though, as with the bulleted comments on a resume, it is hard to compare civilian and military work experience without a blatant lie.
The best tip that I ever received on tweaking a military resume is to discuss tangible accomplishments in terms of general success and measurement. If you were a team leader, don't just put “team leader, US Army” mention that you were the first line supervisor of 4-5 personnel, directly responsible for their training and performance in high pressure situations. If you were the company armorer, a civilian employer may have no idea what that means. Instead, say that you were personally responsible for millions of dollars (depending on what kind of company you were with) worth of sensitive and restricted equipment. Give the employer values – something tangible and visual for your past experience, and all of a sudden, that guy who was a frat boy chugging beers while you were in the suck isn't going to look quite as appealing for the open position.
Once you get the interview, the battle is halfway over – but by no means is it won. You definitely have to bring your A game to sit down with your would be boss. Dress according to the job, and then take it one note higher. If everyone in the office you want to work in wears jeans and t-shirts, wear slacks and a tie. If they are in Khakis and a button down, you should be in a suit. If the office attire is suit and tie, then you'd better know how to wear one the right way. You never get another chance to make a good first impression.
Know what you are going to say before you get there for the interview. Bring a copy of your resume (at least one) and know how to explain each of your bullet points. This is a guide to your work history, and you aught to know it. The interviewer will expect you to be able to make them believe you are the best person for the job, and if you don't, it will show. Be confident, but don't be cocky. Be professional, but humble. Don't tell war stories. You may think that it helps your case, but you also might be making the interviewer feel inferior or inadequate. Keep everything professional, but be funny as well. This makes you memorable, and when they remember your name, you are more likely to get a call back.
Be prepared for questions like: what is your greatest regret, can you work well under pressure (try not to laugh at this one) where do you see yourself in 5 years, and things like this. Have an answer for them, and give them some thought before hand. You don't want to hesitate at game time.
Overall, yes, the economy sucks, and as a veteran you'll get a lot of handshakes and a “thank you for your service, but you're not what we're looking for” but there is nothing to do for this but drive on and keep trying. Our resume may not stack up to others who chose an easier path these last few years, but the biggest advantage that we have is our resilience. You take whatever crap life throws at you in stride, and keep moving, because that is the only way through. Right after I got out a friend of mine told me to be careful – that I was coming from a society where me, and those around me, would rather die than fail, and entering one where many people would rather fail than be inconvenienced. Ain't it the truth. As a veteran, there is no job out there that is above you if you apply yourself. You just have to make sure that everyone else knows it too.
