| Did you know… Wendy S. Enelow, CCM, MRW, JCTC, CPRW Co-Author, “Expert Resumes for Military-to-Civilian Transitions” Bookstore – www.wendyenelow.com - The fastest growing industries in the US are technology/computers, health care, food services, and employment services (US Bureau of Labor Statistics). ACTION: Focus your job search in these industries if appropriate to your qualifications and career goals.
- The top job board for separating or retiring military personnel is VetJobs.com (only veteran-specific website in WEDDLE’s top 30 employment websites for 2007). ACTION: Be certain to use VetJobs to both post your resume, search for jobs, find resources, and much more.
- Job search is a process and not a quick-and-easy hit, so be prepared for the long haul (average 3-6 months to find a new professional position). ACTION: Create and work your own integrated job-search plan using networking, online resume and job postings, ad responses, recruiters, specialty job boards, and more.
- Keywords are critical in today’s electronic-based employment market where your resume must pass the resume-scanning process. ACTION: Define your transferable skills and qualifications that align with your current career objective, and then be certain to showcase those keywords in your resume, cover letter, and any other job-search documents.
- Know your greatest value to a prospective employer and clearly communicate it. Consider the fact that all maintenance engineers perform the same basic functions. What differentiates the best from all the rest is how well they do their job. ACTION: Highlight your unique value – career accomplishments, project highlights, and more – in your resume, and don’t focus on day-to-day responsibilities that are similar for each candidate.
- Consider self-employment or consulting, both of which are growing strong in today’s employment market. Owning your own business can be a great career track for military personnel with the “right” combination of professional, technical, and business development skills. ACTION: Read “The $100,000+ Entrepreneur” to see if self-employment is right for you, and know that no matter what your skill or craft, marketing and sales are essential in order to capture your customers.
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