John (Casey) Roach ⋅ Greenwich, CT Merrill Lynch ⋅ 45 years experience

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send me your resume and I will review it plus send it to selective high end executive recruiters

john.h.roach@ml.com
203-861-5934

David Bisignani ⋅ Youngstown, OH SummaCare ⋅ 15 years experience

Hi Sargent Raymond,

First, congratulations on completing 24 years of service in the Army and your "retirement".

As Mr. Hassett stated, your first goal is to determine what you want to do. I suggest the book What Color is My Parachute. It will help you identify the skills you have and which you enjoy using. Once you understand what you like to do, then you can identify occupations where these skills are needed. Then you will be in a position to find companies who need these people and skills. But you must do the ground work first. This is essential as you could end up in a position not well suited to you and you will find yourself unhappy. That unhappiness will show at work and at home. It might even become a more serious problem. I once accepted an offer from a company because I needed work and I ended up quitting.

Once you have the ground work done, then you are in a position to write a resume. There is no harm in having different versions of resumes customized for the company and position you have in mind.

When you have identified the skills you enjoy using and the kind of work environment in which you will perform best, you can then begin to research companies. This is where networking comes in - making contact with people who have worked or are working at your target companies. Getting information about the company from the inside is the best information. By making contacts with people in different companies, you will be able to eliminate companies you are uncomfortable with and pursue those you are. I have to admit, in my job searches, I was terrible at networking because I am more introverted than extroverted, so I dislike meeting people and the small talk it takes to build a relationship. But if you find a good contact who gives you good information, be sure to send a thank you note along and be sure to use the person's name in the test once or twice - it personalizes the note and will make the receiver feel your genuine gratitude.

Also, be aware that if you put your resume in the job search web sites database or on Linked In, you will be approached by many recruiters. I have actually found a couple good jobs through recruiters but the important thing to remember about recruiters is that they are in the business of making money and they make money when you get hired. I have had recruiters try to talk me into taking jobs I determined were not right for me. So, just stay alert when working with a recruiter - you take charge and make the decisions that are right for you and don't let them talk you into something that's not right for you.

Interviews are another topic and you will need to prepare for them carefully. You will need to know your resume so that you can answer questions about the experience you show on it. There are also web site that have typical interview questions for the industry you are targeting. Practice your interviewing skills, too. Check our your state's unemployment office as they sometimes have people to help with this. They also might have other resources, too. After the interview, pay attention to your "sixth sense." No matter how good the job is, it something is bothering you, it is probably not the right place for you. Also, ask questions!! Frame those questions before you go to the interview. These questions should be based on factors that you identify as important to you back in step 1. Don;t be afraid to ask questions - I was once told that the interviewers were impressed with the questions I asked them. One caution: don't ask about pay or benefits during the interview...that comes after they have made an offer to you. You will probably be asked about your salary expectation, too - especially by recruiters. If you are forced to answer the question, make it as flexible as you can. I usually answer by giving a fairly wide range and adding that other benefits are part of the pay as well, such a paid time off, health care share costs, and even the demands of the job.

Finally, remember that you will be in civilian life. In the Army, you were a leader and you were given a significant amount of authority, judging by your rank. But the civilian world is completely different. Be sure you know what authority you have and be careful about what you say. The little dirty jokes and one liners from Army life are not always appropriate. Cursing is rarely acceptable although it is common in the armed forces. Giving orders in civilian life can be offensive to some people. In an interview, you want to speak confidently without leaving the impression that you know everything.

It took me awhile to adjust to civilian life...I kept wanting to salute everyone leaving the building as I was going in!! I had a hard time just running around with a head cover!!

I wish you the best! I hope some of what I said helps you find your way to a great job and a good life. You can do this!

David

James Hassett ⋅ Jefferson, PA Pennsylvania Department of Corrections(retired 2001). Currently Licensed PA Educator ⋅ 27 years experience

Ray what career or job do you want to pursue? Once you determine that then you can Taylor your resume to that position. Start with a personal statement, then list your skills and accomplishments. Try to frame your skills to the position you want. You should research the company so you have a general idea what they do. If you are just sending out resumes to any and all positions Microsoft Word has templates for three of the most common types of resumes so you can tweet you resumes as the other gentleman suggests. Also be aware of your local job market. As you are aware health care and service industries are the growth industries. If you want me to look at your resume send to jfhjth@gmail.com
Regards,
Jim

Eli Lessing ⋅ Hamilton, OH General Electric ⋅ 30 years experience

Ray; I be glad to review your resume. First thing is to build a basic resume that captures the foundation. This should include personnel information, education, work experience, special certifications, or skills. As you apply for different position you will need to tweak the resume to match the job description. I can give you a better assessment once I've had a chance to review your resume.

Regards

Eli

Michael Torpy ⋅ Fairfax, VA ICF Internatiional ⋅ 42 years experience

I'm also happy to review your resume and provide some tips and pointers.

Charles Bonilla ⋅ Chicago, IL PeopleScout, A TrueBlue Company ⋅ 3 years experience

I'm happy to help. Please send me your resume and links to up to three jobs you're considering pursuing.