Jim Rohrbach ⋅ Evanston, IL ⋅ 22 years experience

Hi Ricky! I've helped a few ACP veterans with their job search, first with their resume and then with their interviewing skills. Forward your resume to me and we can set up a time to chat by phone -- Jim "Da Coach" Rohrbach

Tim Feemster ⋅ Dallas, TX Foremost Quality Logistics ⋅ 40 years experience

If you are still in Killeen, let me know and I can give you a local contact that might be able to assist you with your local search. The base also does have a placement team in place. Contact me at tim@feemsters.com.

Henry ("Dr. Hank") Stevens ⋅ Fort Lauderdale, FL Human Resources Quality Assurance, LLC (Now Retired) ⋅ 50 years experience

All good answers. I have a slightly different take (as usual for me!) on the issue. First, thank you for sticking it out and your service to our country. I sincerely appreciate it! Second, I know that most employers and those seeking employment focus on EXPERIENCE and EDUCATION. As important as they may be, and looking back on my role of separating applicants into the consider and reject stream, it is TALENT that trumps both! I cannot educate you to sing if you do not have the cords. But, if you have the voice, I can get you the education and expose you to the experience.

So, Ricky just what are YOUR talents? Define them and let those attributes ring throughout your resume and in-person interviews.

If you need some help defining your talents, here is a free web site that will help you. If you need help interpreting same, feel free to contact me - off this channel if you like - and I will give you my two cents worth - also free. hlstevens42@gmail.com

http://www.humanmetrics.com/hr/jtypesresult.aspx

Dr. Hank

David Munn ⋅ New Middletown, OH Robert Morris University ⋅ 7 years experience

Sir,
To piggy back off James, I would look at what exactly you want to do or what you value. You have 20 years of operations experience in the military, but you also have much experience and advanced education in the training/education field. I was looking at your LinkedIn profile and came to the same conclusion. I think it is a challenge to have all that operations/supply experience, but not really knowing how it will look in the civilian world. I think that is the translation part James speaks about. Once you zero in on your target, then you will be able to brand and frame yourself accordingly. Your resume will be representative of that brand too. Not sure if you are still in Killeen, but I have some friends in higher education if that is your direction. I am afraid my knowledge of logistics is limited, so I can't be of much help. Good Luck, Dave

Deborah Carter ⋅ Owens Cross Roads, AL Raytheon ⋅ 28 years experience

Hi Ricky,

My boss told me once (as I was taking on an expanded assignment for which I had little experience) that he'd rather have someone with passion than experience. Now, that's easy for him to say because I already worked for him and easy for me to convey since I was employed. I think though that good hiring managers will look for enthusiastic applicants that have done their research on the role and company and want to provide value, not just complete tasking. I think they key is to convey your value proposition, which is the ability to dig in and learn, understand where there are gaps and fill them.

Good luck!
Deb

James OBrien ⋅ Williamsburg, VA B/E Aerospace ⋅ 20 years experience

Ricky,
First of all thanks for your service. As you say there probably isn't a perfect person but you can do a lot by matching your vast experience with the job description. The situations, training, adaptations, planning and leadership that you gained over 20 years is a tremendous asset. You need to make sure your resume is as well done as you can and relates the experience in military and non-military terms so that the reviewer will appreciate your background. Also the cover letter is a crucial selling point for yourself. Get into the specifics of how your experience translates and exceeds the requirements they describe.
Of course this isn't so easy and is not a template you can launch off. Focus on the company, industry and position requirements. Your background likely will be better than the supervisory, leadership, team work, performance and skills they are looking for. Its really a translation exercise to show your value.

Best Regards,

(James) Kevin O'Brien

Patrick E Alcorn ⋅ Arlington, TX Veterans Business Outreach Center ⋅ 20 years experience

Become the employer and create your own opportunity. Learn how to start your own business: https://sbavets.force.com/s/b2b-course-information

Marvin Feil ⋅ Newton, NJ Quest ⋅ 30 years experience

You were wise to recognize the value of James' advice. Some Interviewers are only able to look at credentials and years of experience. Others also look at what you bring to the company that HR never mentioned. Job search was the hardest job I ever had. I researched the company in the Library and tried ti figure out what I brought yo the table.
Never, Never, Never Quit.

Ricky Anderson ⋅ Killeen, TX U.S. Army, Sergeant First Class ⋅ 20 years served

Thanks to everyone that provide advice.

I think my frustration comes from the number of interviews I’ve had this year only to find out there was a second or third interview needed, that takes months at a time. The contact that perceived me as a good potential was part of an interviewing team with no hiring authority. The position was filled from within or I get stonewalled for not having some soft metric (security clearance, multiple years of experience in a certain area, or a certification). In networking, I only get a person’s perspective of what happened to them, (with a low probability of ever being duplicated), or ultimately happening for me.

I come from an era where you could go out to a factory and asked if they were hiring and if you felt you could do the work; you would show up the next day with your steel-toed-boots! (most times working weeks before you saw HR), lol. I’ve also been in positions where I knew my job description of three pages and I only did ten percent of the task. As a hiring manager, I knew after my first interaction with a potential employee if they would be a good fit for my business problem or if I was going to continue with the interview process for professional reasons. I am aware that times have changed.

So, presenting my VALUE is a new objective, I plan to use.

Thanks again all for your perceptions.

Ricky Anderson ⋅ Killeen, TX U.S. Army, Sergeant First Class ⋅ 20 years served

Hi James,
Translating my value?
A brilliant observation! Thanks.
I began this a week or so ago, placing my skills and abilities at the beginning of my resumes.
I guess my next step is to include it in my interviews.