Finding a new job can be a challenge for anyone. For veterans in the process of transitioning back into civilian life, finding a use for their military skills can prove especially daunting. The thought of trying to communicate to a civilian employer the extent of their training and its application to their company's mission is enough to fill any job candidate with concern. Recent data from The Wall Street Journal found that job prospects for veterans between 18 and 24 years old are some of the harshest in the country – and that makes nailing a job interview all the more essential.
Tony Palm, a recruiter for both federal agencies and private corporations, told U.S. News & World Report that "The vast majority – read nearly all – veterans and transitioning warfighters have never interviewed for a job. So while figuring out the other components of a job search, the whole idea of sitting for an interview can make the most battle-hardened warrior tremble." But the interview process doesn't have to be a hard one. Veterans know that one of the most crucial aspects of victory is thorough preparation. When it comes to job interviews, the approach is no different.
To help veterans succeed in landing a new job, here are some essential tips:
Gather intelligence. That's the advice Steve Gera, a former Marine Corps officer interviewed by U.S. News, has for candidates. Or in other words, do your research. Spend all the time you can leading up to the interview researching the company's culture (its mission statement, its values and guiding principles), its organizational structure, its history and its most recent earnings report. Consolidate the information in a way you can easily understand and then memorize it. You would never go into a fight blind. Nor should you go into an interview uninformed.
Be able to describe your skills in everyday language. As many veterans know, civilians without time in the armed forces can have a hard time understanding the acronym-filled jargon that is so ingrained into members of the military. The language disconnect can be so great that Roy Gibson, a retired Senior Master Sgt. in the U.S. Air Force, told Business News Daily that more than 70 percent of hiring managers struggle to grasp veterans' skills based solely on their resumes. So when it comes writing your resume and sitting down for an interview, translate military speak in a way that a civilian could easily understand. For example, instead of just saying that you were an NCO, explain that you were a sergeant with responsibilities equivalent to that of a manager.
Contact a veteran who has already transitioned. While you were on duty it was your fellow serviceman or woman who you relied on most. Now, in your life after service, you should turn to them once again for backup. Contacting a fellow veteran who has successfully transitioned into the civilian work force means they can not only help you to understand the job search process, but can even hold practice interviews for you based on their own experiences. If you can come to think of it as training meant to hone your abilities, you're on the right track.
As veterans advance through the process, it's important they keep in mind that perfecting their job interview performance requires trial and error. They likely aren't going to excel the very first time around, so keeping a positive mindset and refusing to quit are the keys to success. With an informed strategy, the right language skills and a support network of other veterans, civilian employment is within reach.