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Keeping your resume current and interesting can seem arduous. However, doing so is mandatory. A current resume with recent accomplishments can set you apart from the pack. Here are a couple of ways to do it without making your life painful.

1. Keep a log of accomplishments. Any time you have an economic or educational accomplishment, write it down immediately. It doesn’t need to go on your resume right away. It just needs to go on paper (or electrons) before you forget it.

2. Make sure they’re noteworthy. Accomplishments must provide value to the corporation or entity for which you are working. If it doesn’t provide value, then it doesn’t belong on your resume.

3. Too many words, not enough numbers. A typical resume will have 2,000 or more words. If you saved fifteen million dollars, write “saved $15M”. It gives the reader less to process while still getting your point across. Plus, it’s easier to find the number amongst the words.

4. This is not a diary. At times, it may be a good idea to mention to someone what your weaknesses are. This is not one of those times. Your resume is a calling card that tells of your strengths. The weaknesses can be discussed in an interview… if they ask about them.

5. Timeliness (i.e. how often do I have to do this?) The truth is that most people don’t update their resumes until they are looking for a job. You can do that if you are actually keeping a list of accomplishments. If you are not keeping that list, then you need to pull out your resume frequently to ensure you don’t forget anything of value.

Taking these steps should help you shine in your job search and allow you to use your time wisely while marketing yourself.

Happy hunting,

Steve

I frequently get questions from vets regarding interviews. They differ from person to person, but the gist is typically “How can I do well in an interview”? There are a number of things you can do to prepare for and set yourself apart in an interview. Here are a few of the points I can provide from my experience dealing with several companies:

1. Be on time. There is nothing worse than someone wasting your time. It is better to be 20 minutes early than 20 seconds late. In that relatively small span of time, you can miss out on a fantastic opportunity.

2. Know who you are (on paper). Anything you present on a resume is fair game to be questioned. Be sure you can speak to every location, every job and every bullet point. If you say that you one day turned into Superman and managed to save the world, you better be able to explain what kind of cape you wore.

3. Be conversational. The interview process is not an interrogation for either party. Be sure to answer any of the questions that are asked of you as if you were speaking to a friend in a respectful manner. Most companies aren’t there to rake you across the proverbial coals. They just want to get to know who you are.

4. Ask questions… ask really good questions. The interview is a chance for you to get to know more about the company. No matter how much homework you’ve already completed on a company, you should have more questions about who they are, what type of culture they have and how their corporate vision includes someone in this current position. Your questions should show that you are interested in the company for more than just a paycheck.

5. Practice. Like most things in life, the more you practice them the more comfortable you become. Interviewing is no different. Sit down with a friend and let them be your “boss”. Have them ask you different questions. Learn from their feedback. You may also try videotaping your session so you can see how you look in your interview.

6. Thank them. Be sure to end each interview by thanking the hiring manager for their time. Also make sure that before you leave the room, you let them know that you are truly interested in the job… provided this is the truth.

Happy Hunting,

I've had several inquiries where veterans have been put up for positions against people with degrees from better universities or with more experience.  The gist of most of those questions has been "How do I compete"?

The answer is this: As my old boss used to say, companies don't always hire the person that is the most qualified.  They hire the person they like.  For example, I once had three veterans applying for the same job with a Fortune 500 company.  The first one had a degree from the Naval Academy.  The second had graduated from an Ivy League school.  The third was an enlisted guy who had received his degree from one of the more familiar "military friendly" institutions (meaning he'd gotten his degree through a distance learning program that was available near his base).  After a series of interviews with the veterans, guess which guy got the offer and the job?  It was the enlisted man.  The company later told me that they liked him because he was personable, smart, gave great answers and could relate to their people.  The fact that he wasn't an Academy or Ivy League graduate was the last thing they considered.

Moral of the story is do your best, be yourself and show them who you are when you're at the top of your game.

Happy hunting,

SA

I was speaking to a lady today about her interaction with a prospective employer.  She had been in conversation with him about a job when he began speaking to her about some personal issues.  It wasn't anything inappropriate.  He spoke about her kids and his kids and how crazy it was being a parent and seeing how much they have now changed.  The woman was mortified.  She couldn't believe he had brought this social interaction into the interview.  Even if he offered her a job, she was sure she would never work with him.

In reality, she's impractical.  It's perfectly natural for people to discuss simple aspects of their personal life with you as a new employee.  While your qualifications will draw their attention, employers still need to know who you are as a person.  They need to see if you will fit on the team.  If you are not able to fit in, that' where we have a problem and people start leaving job interviews empty handed.

 Happy hunting,

Steve

Many vets approach the job search as a project they can accomplish within the last week or so of their time in the service.  In reality, your job search is your new top priority.  The military will take great care of you, while you are in the service.  Afterwards, your new career is your responsibility. It needs to be treated as such.  Essentially, it means that like any project you work on in the service, you need to have a plan of attack, objectives you plan to achieve, people you need to see to help get you there, etc.  The more well planned you are the better. 

For more insight on this topic, check out the book "The Little Green Guide for Veterans", currently available on Amazon.com

Happy hunting,

SA

I rarely recommend working for free, but there is at least one occasion where I think it could be a really good thing - an internship.  Here's an excerpt of a conversation I had with a friend who is looking for a job:

Hi A,

I took another look at your resume.  The thing that some prospective employers might find challenging is that you've had a variety of different jobs in your history.  You were a program manager in your last job, sales in the previous position and administration before that.  Sometimes they'll view that as indecisiveness.

I have an idea.  Remember how we discussed voluntarism last week?  Have you ever considered an internship?  Depending on what you want to do, you might be able to volunteer and work with a company.  I know you don't want to work for free, but you may be able to use the time to work yourself into a job.  Typically that would entail 2-3 months of working on your part.  What do you get out of it?  Some great training and potentially, a job!

Food for thought...
SA

Quick piece of advice... I was talking with someone today about networking.  The young lady wondered what she could do to get out there and meet some hiring authorities.  I told her that many of the set up networking events actually make networking challenging.  It's like going to a club to find a date... everyone is on high alert.  That makes meeting someone as themselves is nearly impossible.

Instead, I told her to consider volunteering for an event.  Many very wealthy people are looking for ways to make the world better.  You'll often find them helping out at various charities, if not running it.

So step out there, volunteer.  You might be amazed at how good it feels!

Happy hunting,

Steve

I had someone ask me once "How many interviews do I need to go on before I'll find a job"?  I laughed and said "As many as it takes"!  While the economy is showing signs of improvement, it can still be challenging finding the right job.  My take is this: if you find an opportunity to interview, take it.  If you don't know what you want to do but get a decent job offer, take it.  As long as you give an honest effort to an employer, they will respect and appreciate the work you do... even if you end up leaving the company.  If you are 3 months away from needing a job, now is a great time to start planning and even looking.  Get planning, get looking and don't give up!

Happy hunting,

Steve

Why do companies hire veterans? This question is more important than asking how do I get hired. I’ve spent the last few years asking companies why they hire vets. The answers given are usually not rocket science… they’re practical, common sense and centered on personal needs as well as those of the company.

Here are a few reasons companies have told me they hire military candidates.

1. I like them.

2. I perceive a value in their maturity.

3. I can consider a job done without micro managing

4. I can depend on them.

5. I believe in their integrity.

6. They don’t play reindeer games.

7. I feel they are a good fit for our organization.

8. I perceive that they will increase our productivity

9. I perceive they will increase our profit.

10. I can see a difference between them and the average person.

If you noticed, what’s not on the list is that you have the best looking resume or the most experience. Both of these things are important. Obviously, you’re not going to hire a guy with no technical experience to work on a nuclear reactor. But for a lot of positions, your “soft skills” are in high demand. For EVERY job, you must be able to connect with the company so they know you are the right person for the company. As my boss used to say, companies typically don’t hire the guys that are the most qualified, they hire the guys they like.

TAP 2.0 is proud to announce the publishing on the new book "The Little Green Guide for Veterans".  The book is written to help vets find the job you want when you leave the service.  It's available on Amazon.com.  Here's the link:  http://www.amazon.com/Little-Green-Guide-Veterans-Principles/dp/1453731172/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1290069484&sr=8-1