Being an autodidact, I am wired to do all the research and reading to find the answers to any questions or curiosities I may have. This is true for my search in finding my next career outside the military. This quirk in my personality also has an unintended consequence of not developing deep domain knowledge in one particular area. I have moved around from different careers (in the military) and different fields of study both personal and in academia. I am currently a Career Counselor (can anyone say irony?)and Recruiter in the Marines but my time is coming to an end quickly. Where the problem becomes evident is when I being to write a resume for my job search. I can alter and tailor my resume to several different industries and career paths, but I fear that my past experience and education are nowhere near enough to find a job that will allow me to continue to adequately support my family.
I currently have 7 different resumes that cover the gamut from Human Resources and Recruiting to Web Application Development and Database Development/Programming. Sadly all the pundits online writing blogs about the best way to get hired or write a resume cannot seem to agree on one single issue.
Since time is not on my side with finding a job, I am finally admitting to myself that I need help in developing a high quality resume that will stand out to a recruiter or hiring manager. Is there anybody out there (insert Pink Floyd pun) that can help me get my ducks in a row and identify where my best course of action would be in pursuing a job/career in the civilian sector?
Answers
Hi Frank, lots of great advice. I will sum mine up by saying that the broad based (shot-gun approach) does not work. First decide on the businesses and industries which interest you, narrow your search to those companies that may have needs that match your skills---then conduct informational interviews and use your network (LinkedIn, VA) to seek out contacts who can help you navigate the company search process. Resume and cover letter are important, face-to-face personal contact is the most important. Good luck.
Frank,
With your military background, you may want to consider federal employment.
1. You receive a preference during the hiring process (for most applications);
2. You can buy back your time towards retirement.
My company provides free resume critiques to all military service members. You can submit your resume to us via email or by using our secure online submission form:
Email: Info@ExpertResumeSolutions.com
Form: http://expertresumesolutions.com/freeresumereview/
Please allow 3-5 business days for completion. We use two different formats for corporate and federal applications. I can send you examples of each to get you started.
Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kellywilliamsmaresca
Thank you for your service.
Warmest Regards,
Kelly Williams
Career Strategist & President
Security Cleared Careers
Expert Resume Solutions
Business: (732) 686-6455
Email: info@expertresumesolutions.com
www.ExpertResumeSolutions.com
Frank,
I would add - instead of multiple resumes, you may want to try personalized cover letters. Also add impacts that you created with your experience. Even if the exact experience is not relevant, the impact could be interesting to the reviewer.
Subrata
First, don't "follow your passion." Check out:
Good stuff here.
Second, it's great that you're an autodidact because this will serve you well now and throughout your career. It's up to you to find out where the need is and how to provide value, and you have the Net to provide you with information to do this. Just keep at it.
But, the more pressing matter is what to do in the short-term, which includes the next year or two. If I were you, lead with the technical chops and continue with that, because there's still more of a demand in this area. You might have to take an entry-level job for a year or so, but the main thing is to choose a field where you can sustain momentum and not have any gaps in employment, or be unemployed for very long. This is the kiss of death and you want to avoid this.
While working that entry-level job, then you can beef up your skills and maybe, on the side, use your career counselor and recruiting experience to be a technical recruiter once you have more industry experience. I would NOT recommend going the HR route or the recruiter route right out of the gate.
Lastly, another things to remember is that there's a difference between what you WANT to do and what the MARKET PAYS. if the two are one and the same, good for you. If not, then you have to work with what pays in the short term to set yourself up for the long term.
Hi Nicholas-
I am retired after a 40 year career in industry where I hired over 100 people. Now I am helping veterans like yourself by helping with their resumes. If you would e-mail me your resume in Word to (drjamesfwatson@gmail.com) I would be happy to comment on it.
Jim Watson
Hi Frank!
Classic question: If you knew you couldn't fail, what would you be doing?
Jim "Da Coach"
Great analogy, Drew. I could have not put it any better.
Frank... It isn't a resume issue at this point; not until you narrow your focus a bit. The shotgun approach works in the USMC (I had four different 'packages' submitted when I was selected for Warrant Officer); however, the civilian sector wants to see more buy-in. What I don't want you to end up with is settling for something that you did not intend on...and staying because you need to support your family.
Check out '48 Days to the Work You Love" by Dan Miller. If you follow the day-by-day steps there, you'll certainly be able to narrow the field down a bit. Try this exercise and share what comes to mind: You wake up tomorrow and money is not an issue for you; your family is well cared for. What are you doing with your time?
P.S. As a former I-I Staff Member, I know all the USMCR folks you counsel have varied civilian occupations. Ask some of them to share what they do for a living.
Frank: lots of better help out there on writing your résumé(s), but I believe that the goal is the fundamental thing to identify first. When writing an order you start with mission and commander's intent, not with scheme of maneuver. So I recommend narrowing down your field of interest first, if you have not, and I believe that this will help you to target your résumé a little more effectively. Check out Dorie Clark's book "Reinventing You" for some good tips and practical steps: http://dorieclark.com/reinventingyou/
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