Keep the Resume Simple and to the Point

The transition seminar I attended was not very helpful because the people presenting were not transitioning and didn't have their heart in it. I had a good job lined up that disappeared three months before I became a civilian.

I was under employed as a college adjunct and substitute school teacher for about a year during my job search. With a master's degree and the Marine Corps behind me I held high hopes for re-employment but quickly learned that most civilian employers did not care about what you did in the military and often tried to hire you for less than market rate.

I learned a great deal about resumes and interviews. I wanted to work in local governments and learned that once you are in the system it is easier to move up.

My advice: Keep the resume simple and to the point. Do not try to impress with military service, stress what you can offer the employer and do your homework about the employer. Ask questions at the interview, be politely aggressive, discover the employer's challenges and show how you can contribute.

Be proud of your military service but don't live in the past.

Best of luck!

(Submitted by Rober Halfhill)

'Looking Back, Everything I Did Was Wrong'

Most people that you have to pay to write resumes and help with a job search either don't know what they are doing or have something in mind for you that fits their priorities.

I retired from the Navy in 1991. I was [ready for] the civilian world. But first, we would take a nice vacation and then go back home and start looking. Now, looking back, I think that everything I did was wrong. I paid a "professional" to write my resume. I did my own job search through professional websites. I only applied to jobs available in my home town or nearby. After about 6 weeks, I was so down on myself that I didn't really want to get out of bed.

Now, I am a Human Resourse Specialist with the State of Kansas. I make a great salary, but best of all, I'm retiring for the second time in June of this year with a full retirement at age 59. The things I would suggest, by order of priority.

1. Deal with the Veterans Specialist at your local Workforce Center! I wish I had all of the money back that I spent on professional help during my job search. All of these things are free at Workforce Centers. My representative helped me with everything I needed from resumes to advice on how to dress.

2. Find the job that you want and go to where it is! You can be selective, but be realistic.

3. Learn about Job Search Stress! The Workforce people were also helpful in this.

4. Most people that you have to pay to write resumes and help with a job search either don't know what they are doing or have something in mind for you that fits their priorities, not YOURS! Looking back at my "Professional" resume now, scares me. IT WAS HORRIBLE!

5. As someone said earlier, plan ahead and pay attention at TAP classes. This is all excellant information.

6. Contact a Workforce Center before you get out and start your work search early. Terminal leave is a great option, look for work while you are still getting paid.

7. Don't be afraid to draw Unemployment Insurance. Its not charity, it helps you have some income and allows you to be a bit more selective about the job you take.

8. Investigate your State Civil Service. These jobs usually pay well, have good benefits and usually have a system to allow you to count your military time as time for retirement (thas's why Im retiring at 59).

And good luck!

(Submitted by NCC Elwyn Briggs)