Strategy is essential to job-search success p1 - Military Transition - Military Times EDGE

Transitioning out of the military into the civilian world could very well be one of the greatest challenges you will face as a service member. The idea of leaving behind a familiar environment of discipline and order for one of uncertainty, where they play by a different set of rules, could make any military member cringe — but it doesn’t have to.

Retired Marine Corps Lt. Col. David Henderson's book “Job Search — Marketing Your Military Experience” (4th Ed.) is one of the strongest resources available to help service members make the transition into the civilian work force.

Equipped with the essential chapters on resume and interview preparation, in addition to various job search resources, Henderson’s book goes beyond the call of duty. Before pointing readers toward military career transition offices and employment agencies, Henderson suggests doing preliminary work to define their occupational interests, skills and lifestyles.

“Start this evaluation 12 to 18 months prior to separation or retirement with a written list of what is important to you,” in various areas, such as skills, abilities and special qualifications, Henderson recommends. “The information you record ... will serve as an excellent starting point for developing a meaningful job search campaign.”

Retired Army Col. Richard Crampton, director of the Military Officers Association of America’s Officer Placement Service, agrees with Henderson’s recommendation. A major concern for service members is what they are going to do once they separate from the military.

“The important thing is to evaluate who you are and what you want to do,” Crampton explains.

Henderson says many service members make the mistake of not researching their job prospects. Separating service members “may not make a good transition because they didn’t do their homework,” Henderson says. Cities with the best transition prospects include Washington, D.C., Norfolk, Va., and San Diego.

Henderson also recommends establishing short- and long-term goals when entering a new career. Short-term goals could include resettling the family into another geographic area or buying a new car. Long-term goals could be working toward a second retirement or developing a marketable second career expertise.

“Whether you seek employment in a corporation, as a franchisee, as an independent businessperson, or with the county, state, or federal government, you will need to set reasonable short- and long-term goals,” Henderson explains. “Properly defined, these goals will provide you and your family with a comfortable lifestyle and the means for attaining a decent retirement income.”

Where the jobs are

Henderson’s book stands out among military transition guides. For instance, the second chapter outlines civilian work force trends and shows projected employment growth in a variety of occupational groups, such as administration, sales and management. Looking forward in the 21st century, Henderson uses various resources, such the Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Quarterly, to examine future employment opportunities in sectors such as engineering, health care and banking.

Henderson explains that for service members who leave the military during the next five years, areas that appear to offer the most job opportunities include human resources, computer support services and education. This information can help military members identify career fields where they can transfer skills they learned in the military into the civilian world and also can accomplish both their short- and long-term goals.

Perhaps one of the most useful elements of the book is the appendix, which offers examples of how to compute salary requirements. Using step-by-step examples of both enlisted and officer base pay and other pay elements, Henderson shows readers how to compute the starting salary they will need to maintain their present standards of living. Crampton says he found this section of the book essential; readers can sit down and determine how much money they will really be taking home.

Henderson’s guide is a must-have for military members entering the civilian work force. With chapters covering traditional areas, such as how to dress for the interview and how to format a résumé, the book also offers advice on searching for jobs online through job-posting sites and computer networking.