John Schoone ⋅ Norcross, GA MetLife ⋅ 33 years experience

Andrew, here are a few basic steps to consider:
1. Zero in on what you do/don’t want to do to streamline the job search, including companies you'd work for (large and small)
2. Marketing Plan – create a 1-page summary to share with people you meet describing your "top" skills and the names of companies you'd consider working for (use your resume to share with potential employers); that will help friends "connect" you to people in the industry
3. LinkedIn - complete your profile (incl. key words, recommendations, professional photo, etc.) and start connecting with people you know; shoot for > 250 connections to get "recognized" on web searches
4. Locate/Attend job networking meetings for support and resources. Examples are RUMC (www.RUMCjobnetworking.com), C3G ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/C3G) up here on the north side of town, ,and Atlanta Job Seekers (LinkedIn Group)
5. Use Excel (or similar) to keep track of jobs you apply to along with key details to have a record over time (because it’s easy to forget!)

Good luck; it's not "if" it's "when" you'll get a job!

Emanuel Carpenter ⋅ Alpharetta, GA SDR Master Class ⋅ 20 years experience

Hi Andrew:

First decide what you want to do. Then decide what type of company you want to work for. I live in Atlanta. There are great opportunities to work for large companies like Coca-Cola, Home Depot, and Delta Air Lines to name a few. There are also startups like Sales Loft, InsightPool, and Terminus that are hiring. Find more here: https://angel.co/jobs/signup?utm_source=home_gs

Starbucks is committed to hiring 10,000 military veterans by 2018. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/bDGZqpD

The VA is offering free training or veterans from all service eras. Visit this page: https://lnkd.in/b-5EmtK

Once you decide what you want to do, connect with professionals in that field on LinkedIn. You can do this individually or join groups they might be in. For example, I'm in sales and belong to a group called Sales Best Practices.

Once you decide what type of company you want to work for, start connecting with executives from those companies via LinkedIn. Don't be afraid to ask CEOs and other C-levels to connect.

Use your friends and family as your personal headhunters. Send them all your resume and let them know what type of job you're looking to get.

If starting a business interests you, visit the Small Business Administration. They have great programs for veterans. Also seek out SCORE, a group of retired professionals that offer free counseling to businesses.

Feel free to add me to your LinkedIn connections and browse my contacts. I have over 2600 connections. I'm at www.linkedin.com/in/ercarpenter/.

George Hernandez ⋅ La Porte, TX International Cooling Tower ⋅ 20 years experience

If you want to enter into industrial/commercial construction, learn a trade 3-5 year training program at no cost to you, have a long term career, with benefits, and retirement. You then take that trade with you anywhere in the country. You'll never be limited by an employer or geographical location again. You will be able to get your MBA and use it at very senior levels down the road in your career. Check it out www.helmetstohardhats.org
Questions ghernandez@helmetstohardhats.org

Cletus Hammer ⋅ Gainesville, GA Business Leader for the Shaklee Corporation ⋅ 37 years experience

Hi, Andrew,
First a word of thanks for all that you did during the six years you served in the U.S. Army. I appreciate your years of service.
I would be glad to share with you a career path that I have been on with my wife for over 30 years now. In this career path, you can use all the skills you have and also it will offer you opportunity to develop new skills.
If you have leadership skills, including those of teaching and coaching, then this career can be a life time blessing to you and your family, if you have one.
The compensation plan in this career is well worth taking the time to look at it.
If you wish to contact me, my email is: cmaham@charter.net
I live in Gainesville, GA
Cletus