Do You Have a Battle Plan for Transition?

[Jen Pilcher]

There is one guarantee about getting into the military, eventually you will have to get out.  Whether you are retiring, choosing to start a new career, or forced out due to sequestration, transition at some point is inevitable.

As you know, finding a job is a lot of hard work.  However, we can help relieve some of your stress.

Here are 5 steps to complete your battle plan for your transition.

BUILD YOUR PROFILE

• Resume Building with an Expert – Timeline: at least 6 months before transition. I firmly believe this is a time to bring in the “special ops team”… you need to seek professional resume services. Visit your local family support center on board your nearest installation for resume workshop classes and help from one of their employment readiness experts. Search for a company or organization that specializes in preparing resumes for the transitioning military and veteran population. Active duty members are required to attend TAP – Transition Assistance Program - and they will help you with resume preparation, however it is a general overview. Many military friendly organizations that help with resume prep are free; it’s a benefit included as being a member of their organization (MOAA). Always ask the organization if you will have to pay out of pocket. Whatever you decide, just make sure you have someone who can evaluate, proof read and edit. 

• Maximize LinkedIn® – Timeline: at least 6 months from transition. Your professional profile is now just as important, if not more important, than your resume. You must have a clear image – it does not need to be a professional head shot, but please no, sunglasses, hat, or shirt off and don’t stand 500 feet away – this is a professional site. Recruiters are now going directly to your LinkedIn profile as soon as they receive your name and/or resume. Make sure this is filled out completely before you submit your resume or give a contact your business card.  Start building your LinkedIn profile now, well in advance of transition. Active duty members and Veterans can also receive a free LinkedIn upgrade services for a year.  https://veterans.linkedin.com/

GET THE TOOLS

• Professional Business cards – Timeline: at least 3 months from transition. I’m sure you are saying, “what business card – I am not even employed yet?”  Well, this is the way the networking world works, so you need a business card with your contact information. Go on-line to a site that prints professional business cards. Vistaprint.com has many designs; you can even select a patriotic type card and have your name, contact phone number, your LinkedIn profile link and a personalized email address FirstName.LastName@gmail.com.  http://www.vistaprint.com

• Clothes Shopping –Timeline: 3-6 months out. As they say, you only get one first impression. It’s time to get rid of the suit that was created before 2012, trust me the gold buttons and wide lapels are a dead giveaway. You need to take the time to get fitted and invest in a new suit. Many of the men’s stores like Jos. A Bank offer military discounts and for women, you can find a great sale at Macy’s and other department stores to purchase a new suit. 

GET OUT THERE

• Hiring Fairs – Timeline: 3-6 months out. USAA and MilitaryOneClick® have teamed up with the US Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our Heroes Program® and they provide career fairs across the country.  Both USAA and MilitaryOneClick also serve on the Veteran and Military Spouse Employment Councils working with the best companies developing strategies to hire you!  Find and event near you and attend! http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/events/hiringfairs

Your battle plan for transition is now ready - create your resume, fill out your LinkedIn profile, purchase business cards, buy a new suit, search for hiring fairs near you, and get ready to find your new career. We hope to see you out there networking!

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MilitaryOneClick, founded and led by Jennifer Pilcher, connects directly with their community daily through militaryoneclick.com, social media, blogs, e-newsletter and boots on the ground events reaching over 1.6 million people a month. Their Career Command Center is an online job board for companies looking to hire members of the military community. Jennifer was awarded the SCORE DC Client of the Year 2013, a Count Me In and Capital One Pitch Contest winner for a 9 month Business Accelerator Program in 2013, and alumni of the TechStars Patriot Boot Camp program 2013.  MilitaryOneClick was accepted as the first woman owned small business to the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) through the Department of Defense in 2012 and selected as an Inc. Magazine Top Military Start Up 2011.

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