Let’s begin with the more professional application - LinkedIn. Many of you may be familiar with this website, but are you taking advantage of all the tools it provides? One of the most important things to remember when using this site is to build a completed profile, which means you need to fill in ALL the information fields. Keep paragraphs brief while highlighting key accomplishments. Remember to try and limit any unnecessary military jargon. Many recruiters use LinkedIn to search for potential candidates, so make sure that you include current contact information to make it easy for them to get in touch with you. LinkedIn also provides various subscription plans that offer added features including the ability to send e-mails, see who’s viewed your profile, as well as other useful bonus capabilities for a modest price.

I strongly recommend joining reputable groups that are related to your field. Not only does this offer you the ability to network and connect with industry professionals, but many of them generate thoughtful discussions. LinkedIn also offers a feature that will generate groups you may like based on your activity. Many companies use this website to post jobs, so you can also use this to conduct job searches and apply for positions. Finally, get recommendations from peers, clients and superiors who can endorse your work. References are a great way to market yourself, so make sure you only connect with reputable professionals.

Facebook has gained a lot of negative attention in the media lately. To avoid harmful consequences, steer clear of posting inappropriate pictures and disparaging remarks. If you are a job seeker, it’s important for you to recognize there are many mistakes that can occur on this site which could prove to be quite costly. Many employers conduct social media searches on potential employees to “dig up dirt on you.” According to a study conducted by OPP, “65% of employers said they were likely to look at a potential employee’s online presence prior to interviewing them.” Don’t give them a reason to deny you an offer because of what could be considered questionable judgment on Facebook! First thing to nail down: know how to manage your account to set up privacy precautions. It’s important for you to control how you connect with people, as well as how you and your friends share information. A good rule of thumb to follow: if you wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing something with your family, don’t post it online where the world can see.

Twitter limits the number of characters you can “tweet,” but don’t let that scare you away from trying it out. It may not produce many leads for job seekers, but it doesn’t hurt to familiarize yourself with the overall gist of the website since many companies use this to promote their services.

With technology becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s global business practices, it’s imperative that you showcase that you are savvy with social media tools, regardless of your industry. Keep in mind that despite the wonderful opportunities these sites can create, they can also wreak havoc if not used properly. A little common sense and precautionary judgment goes a long way.

Rescue your résumé: 6 places to get help

by Adam Stone – Special to the Times

If anyone is a subject matter expert on your skills and experience, it’s you. So why is it so hard to write a résumé that conveys those abilities?

“While the military job seeker is an expert in many things, corporate America is not one of them,” said Jessica Richardson, a former Navy officer who now recruits vets for placement firm Bradley-Morris.

Fortunately, there are people who can help you make that translation.

• Civilian friends: The more civilian, the better. “Ask people who don’t have any military experience at all to look at it, and try to incorporate their feedback,” Richardson said.

• TAP staff: The Transition Assistance Program typically offers some résumé help, whether in the form of feedback or access to how-to resources.

• College career offices: Most schools have support materials available as well as counselors ready to help structure and review a résumé.

• Nonprofit help: Counselors at veteran service nonprofits like the Tip of the Arrow Foundation and Hire Heroes USA will work with you one-on-one to get your experience on paper.

• Recruiting firms: It’s in their interest to help you polish your résumé because a solid résumé will help them place a candidate. ”They know what the companies want to see and they can draw that out in your résumé,” Richardson said.

• Professional résumé writers: A pro will sift through your background for the most important experiences to highlight and package them compellingly. Prices range from a few hundred dollars to upward of $1,000.

Get what you pay for

Some résumé writers offer a free “résumé critique.” Anyone offering to critique a résumé for free is probably trying to sell you services, Richardson said. Some will make a blatant sales pitch, while others will offer only the most generic feedback in hopes of wooing your business: “Use more forceful verbs” and “Draw out more accomplishments.” Such free advice is usually worth what you pay for it.

The military difference

Keep in mind that résumé writers who don’t speak “military” may have trouble translating your career for the benefit of civilian hiring managers.

Army Master Sgt. Donnell Davis found that out the hard way when he separated in March 2010 at Fort Benning, Ga.

“I looked online and just happened to pick a résumé-writing company because they were close,” Davis said.

That nearby résumé writer knew the form of a résumé but not the details of a military career.

“I knew it wasn’t right,” Davis said. “It was only one page. It didn’t speak about who I was and what I had really done. It was really generic.”

He tried again, entrusting his résumé to MilitaryResumes.com, a service aimed specifically at translating experiences in uniform into a language the corporate world can understand.

“Comparing that résumé against the first résumé I had done, there were things they pointed out that even I hadn’t seen,” he said.

MilitaryResume.com charges $249 and up for its services, depending on the complexity of the job. Senior officers may pay over $600.

Davis’ new-and-improved résumé drew 17 queries and two interviews within two weeks of his posting it online. He now works as a quality control manager for IronBridge Construction.

“The best thing for me was being able to pass that on to all my battle buddies who were planning to retire or move on. I tell them all: Get the professionals to do it.”

Also, don’t miss this blog post on how job seekers get noticed by those military-friendly companies.

The announcement of this year’s Most Valuable Employer (MVE) for Military® award finalists will spur scores of savvy military experienced job seekers to apply to military-friendly companies, and rightfully so. However, military experience is not a guaranteed foot in the door. So if you are among this group, you may be wondering how to better your chances of landing a coveted MVE career. The following steps will lead you in the right direction:

Step 1. Get inside their heads.

What motivates MVE and other companies to consistently dip into the military talent pool? Why do military-experienced employees mesh well into these organizations? According to Eric Salzman, Executive Consultant at Bradley-Morris, Inc., the nation’s largest placement firm focused solely on military-experienced talent, “documented leadership experience” sparks a company’s initial interest in military-experienced candidates. “Military leaders have been pushed and tried earlier and harder than most of their civilian counterparts and they are not easily overwhelmed,” he said. When asked what keeps his clients coming back to Bradley-Morris, Inc. for their hiring needs, Salzman replied, “Because hiring military works… companies see a return on their investment.” Understanding what drives companies can go a long way in helping you to sell yourself.

Often, a company-specific answer can be uncovered through a little networking and research. Before applying, research the company of interest online. Pinpoint defining core values by analyzing the company’s history, reputation, products and services, and vision statement. Without asking for a job outright, connect to military-experienced employees through professional networking sites. Seek to understand what they bring to the table as individuals and as a group, gain insight into the company’s corporate culture and hiring needs, and discover your potential value-add.

Coming up empty-handed? Many military-to-civilian executives attribute their corporate success to leadership traits acquired unequivocally through military service, including excellent communication skills, a deeply rooted sense of ethics, the ability to calmly make sound decisions under pressure, defining a goal and motivating others to achieve it, organizational skills such as strategic planning and the effective use of limited resources, and adaptability. I think it’s safe to say most companies value these traits and most military leaders possess them.

Step 2. Target your sales pitch.

Through research and networking, let’s say you’ve uncovered a company’s penchant for loyal workers who work well as a part of a team, inspire healthy competition and goal attainment, and can maximize resources/manpower and minimize waste/downtime. Simply stating your ability to minimize waste, for instance, in your military resume or in an interview is not enough. You must prove it. Always backup something intrinsic, i.e. “cost-conscious”, with something extrinsic, i.e. “…saved $30k quarterly by developing and managing a first-of-its-kind parts reclamation program…” According to Salzman, “Companies want to see quantifiable data attached to experience such as number of people led, total value of a project or budget, and cost avoidance… that’s a big one.”

Step 3. Don’t make a you-know-what out of you and me.

Just because a company has a track record of hiring military experienced job seekers, don’t assume a military jargon-laden resume copied straight from your performance evaluations is going to do the trick. Salzman warns, “Your résumé should be easily understood by everyone from the HR specialist to the CEO.” As the former director of MilitaryResumes.com and a current recruiter at Bradley-Morris, Inc., I’ve seen hundreds, if not thousands, of military resumes. However, I have yet to master the meaning of every acronym or understand the purpose of every command, program, system, or specialty for every branch of service.

Briefly describe your command (mission, services, “customers”, etc.), the technical makeup and capability of military-specific systems/equipment (if applicable), and the scope of your duties to establish due context, no matter the target company. Focus not on your formal, DoD-approved job descriptions, but on the skills derived from each job with respect to the company and job opportunity at hand instead. Finally, add plenty of individual accomplishments to make you stand out as a top-notch performer worthy of corporate recruitment.

I was recently alerted to the most comprehensive article on the pitfalls of social media sites (such as Twitter and Facebook) when it comes to a job search I have yet to read. The article, entitled “The 10 Worst Social Media Mistakes That Will Prevent You From Landing a Job,” is an in-depth look at common social media mistakes many military job seekers are making through the eyes of potential employers. It even comes complete with external links, resources, and examples. Here are some things you can expect to learn about:

• The dangers of sharing too much information.
• How to customize backgrounds and graphics to make you standout from the crowd.
• Why having too many friends isn’t necessarily a good thing.
• How to create separate social and business accounts and why you should do so.
• When and what to (or what not to) ”update”.
• Why spam, spelling mistakes, and other commonly overlooked issues could hold you back.

The following is an excerpt from the article:

While making one or more of the 10 worst social media mistakes can keep you from landing a job, there are also positive ways to socialize. Because many of us find jobs through friends, a simple “anyone hiring a blank?” update can actually be worth the five seconds it takes to post it. In addition, if there is a company you would really like to work for, be their friend on social media. Not only can you get hiring updates, but it also offers an insight to what excites them, what they are up to, and much more.

You can count on a compelling, professionally written military resume to spark employers’ interest in your value offered. But you can also count on their interest in your social media activities. So before you apply for that dream job, make social media work for and not against you.

KSA statements are commonly found in the 2nd portion of some federal job applications. While your federal military resume outlines your work experience and skills as they relate to the targeted position, KSAs provide narrative examples that demonstrate your performance. Think of KSAs as a pre-interview. KSAs are typically “rated or ranked” using a numerical scoring system. The highest scoring applicants’ federal resumes are forwarded to the hiring manager.

According to Newell and Rosenberg, the “rule of three” could also disappear. The following is an excerpt from the article on this rule:

“The reforms also will eliminate the “rule of three” procedure, in which agencies select hires from among the three top candidates for a position. Berry has said that rule is still in use only because hiring managers feel comfortable with it. A report by Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government on a hiring reform forum in Washington last October singled out the rule as an example of a regulation that was intended to prevent favoritism but has not been evaluated for effectiveness.”

This is also good news for military job seekers. To read the full article, click here.

MilitaryResumes.com has been assisting military job seekers with their federal military resumes and federal job search for years. For professional federal military resume writing services and to make the most of your federal job search, please visit www.MilitaryResumes.com.

• Atwater, California
• Dublin, California
• Herlong, California
• Victorville, California
• Tucson, Arizona

A 15-17% recruitment bonus will be paid to selectees who meet the recruitment bonus criteria. For more details on Federal Bureau of Prisons employment opportunities, keyword search www.usajobs.gov for the following announcement number: bop-n-0007-001.

For professional military resume and military-to-federal resume writing services, please contact the experts at Military Resumes.

www.MilitaryResumes.com

As of mid-March, only 921 vets have applied out of the 77,000 the Pentagon estimates are eligible, according to numbers provided to The Associated Press by the Physical Disability Board of Review…

Veterans’ advocates say more outreach is needed….

“Less than 1,000 have applied, to me they really need to do a better effort to get the word out,” said Mike Hayden, deputy director of government relations for the Military Officers’ Association of America. “The success rate tells me there was a definite problem and the Physical Disability Board of Review is out there to correct it.”

The article does a great job of shedding light on the military population’s general lack of awareness when it comes to benefits. But it fails to mention one important point. Aside from added income and health care for families, there are hiring benefits associated with a service-connected disability of 30% or more. The federal government extends special hiring privileges to disabled veterans. For more information on this topic, please read my previous post on veteran’s preference.

So be proactive in applying for benefits to boost not only your financial bottom-line, but your federal military resume and job search as well.

For professional military resume and federal resume writing services, as well as military-to-federal career search advice, please consult the professional military resume writing team at Military Resumes.

By its own admission, the federal hiring process can be tricky. The advertisement for this hiring event asks, “Have you explored opportunities to work for the Federal government, but were overwhelmed by the application process?” Fortunately, there is a team of experts that can help. For professional assistance all of your military resume and federal resume needs, contact Military Resumes.