Transitioning from active duty to civilian life can be a challenge, but adding the burden of finding a job after coming home can make it even more daunting. Luckily, there’s a wealth of resources and support for service members who are looking for new job opportunities! Here are four tips for finding a job and turning your passion into a career:
1. Attend a Job Fair
Update your resume, wear nice, business casual clothes, and head over to a job fair to scope out potential jobs. By going to a job fair, you get a chance to meet with a lot of people in a short amount of time, and also see a variety of companies that are hiring. If you find a position that would be a good fit for you, reach back out to the employer and let them know how you met and that you’re interested in finding out more information about the position. Even if you don’t find the perfect position for you, job fairs provide a great networking opportunity that can potentially lead you to find someone who can help you land your dream job.
2. Update Your LinkedIn
Nowadays, LinkedIn is an incredible source to use to find new job opportunities as well as connect with people you know. Add in the skills that you learned while serving in the military, write about your prior job experiences, and include a summary about what you did and learned while serving and the kinds of positions you’re looking for now. Allow potential employers to see what you excel in and how it can be applied to the job you’re looking for! Then, start following company pages, interacting with their posts, and reaching out to set up an interview.
3. Schedule Informational Interviews
One of the best ways to learn more about a position is to set up an informational interview with someone who presently holds that position. You become the interviewer and have the chance to absorb as much as you can about the skills required for the position you’re looking for – including what the workload is like and any advice they might have for you to excel in that field. LinkedIn is an excellent way to connect with these people and allows you to do your research about the position, the company, and the person you’re interviewing before going in. Be prepared with a list of questions to ask so you don’t waste their time or your own. This is also an effective way of networking to get the job you want. Though their company may not be hiring, a company they know of that is similar to theirs could be. With a good informational interview and a recommendation, you just might land that job.
4. Do Your Research
Websites like Hirepurpose are wonderful for helping military members find the jobs that are right for them. With words of advice and helpful tips from veterans as well as a directory of job opportunities, it makes the task of finding a job much less intimidating. Knowing which companies are committed to hiring military members is just an added bonus! A little research can go a long way to help you feel confident and prepared before going to interviews and networking events.
These tips can help make that transition back into civilian life just a little bit easier. Remember, it’s all about taking small steps to comfortably make that transition. Having a support group or a network of fellow military members is an incredible help, too. They will be more than eager to help you on your job search and cheer you on as you succeed!
Posted on August 27 2015 in Blog