Good morning. I served in the Air Force for 20 years in the vehicle maintenance/management field. After I retired, I found a job on base as a transportation operations specialist, where I oversaw the performance of transportation contract operations that included dispatch, troop movements, tractor trailer freight operations and the operation of a shuttle bus service. In addition, I worked with the contracting office to compose work statements, performance plans and cost estimates. This position was for a term not to exceed 4 years, and I have now been unemployed for eight months. I have applied for transportation related jobs in my local area (Bristol, PA), but I have not had any interest from employers at all.
I am not entirely sure what I am doing wrong. I have been utilizing the "Indeed" job search site and I have also been checking individual company websites for openings. Does anyone have any advice on resume's or job searching that might help me find employment?
Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
Answers
Hi Donald,
It is not that you are doing anything "wrong," however, you may just need a little edge to make you stand out from the pack. Instead of the traditional cover letter, today I recommend a "qualification" letter. This is known as my secret weapon when it comes to getting the interview. If you are interested, send me a message and I can give you the outline of the letter. Simple to do, but it is tailored for each job you apply to.
Corrie Ann
Donald
Thank you for your service.
As Damin suggested, taylor your resume for the job that you want. Look at the job description for qualifications that they are looking for, and anything that really jumps out at you.
Reformat your resume. Take out the fluff and make every statement (if possible) a PAR statement (Problem- Action- Result). Show a potential employer that you can get results.
Good luck
Thanks for the response Damin. Key words are something that I definitely considered early on in my search for employment, but I may have lost sight of this important aspect. I will make this a critical point of attention as I move forward.
Thanks again for your advice.
Hi Donald,
You're not doing anything wrong. You may not be tailoring your resume specially for the job description. Those 'buzz' words that are in the job description should be in your resume also. Resumes are screened through computer systems so this is a big first step in making to the interview round. Hope this helps, Good Luck!
Damin
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