resume – Angela Malagon

Writing an exceptional résumé can be challenging and does take effort to become comfortable with the process. Military spouses face additional hurdles when crafting a résumé due to constant relocations and potential lengthy gaps in employment. However, with a little creativity and exploration it is possible for military spouses to highlight their education, employment history, and life experience by creating a strong and competitive resume.

Choose the Correct Résumé Format for You

Different resume styles are targeted to different career paths. For instance, if you are in a creative field, your resume can also be creative. If you are going after a government job, a more structured, “no frills” approach is more appropriate.

There are several résumé styles to choose from, including the following templates: chronological, functional, combination, and targeted. It is important to choose the right résumé style that best reflects your skills. For example, if you have large employment gaps or numerous short-term positions, perhaps you should consider using a non-traditional “functional” résumé or a “combination” résumé. A functional résumé is geared toward those individuals who want to highlight their skills and abilities rather than focusing on the time frame of each job they’ve held.

A combination resume also highlights skills and is great to consider for recent graduates and those with gaps in employment. It provides both a list of skills, as well as a chronological list of relevant employment history. This kind of resume can be easily altered for different applications to include keywords and phrases.

Finally, start each descriptive line of your resume with “strong action verbs,” to help highlight your experience and provide a list of descriptive terms so your future employer can understand exactly what you did. Below is a line from a military spouse resume:

Example: Bookseller at Bookstore X
Line 1: Provided excellent customer service by understanding store policies and search techniques
Instead of:
Line 1: Helped customers find books by searching the system and knowing the store’s layout

Although these two descriptions say similar things, the top is more direct and uses stronger verbs. Make your goal three descriptive lines for each job listing. More than that can lead to a very long resume. Ideally, unless it is a DoD-based resume, your document should be no more than two pages. Focus on capturing the employer’s attention and highlighting the most important aspects of your education and work experience. It can be a daunting task to start a resume, but once you create a comprehensive version, customize copies for each employment opportunity and simply remove the least relevant information for each job you are applying for.

Example: if you are applying for a service industry position, include other former service industry jobs. If you are applying for a Project Coordinator position, leave off your service industry positions, keeping the experience relative to your targeted job.

Example: if you are applying for a government position, most likely they will require a certain format and even a certain font. Look over the application requirements and prepare your documents accordingly. Often on-base employment services can help advise with government geared resumes in particular.

Include a Captivating Cover Letter

A cover letter is a must in today’s job market. You can have a remarkable résumé but if it doesn’t accompany a high-quality cover letter, it will most likely end up in the “NO” pile. A cover letter gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself and to highlight your skills relevant to the position. If you do a good job of relaying this information, hiring managers will more than likely take the time to review your résumé, giving you the chance to stand out among the applicants. The following tips are helpful to remember when crafting your stand-out cover letter:

Keep your cover letter to one page.
Address the cover letter to the organization you are applying to and modify the letter to reflect the position you are applying for.
Nothing gets your resume in the “no” pile faster than a generalized cover letter.

Be approachable but professional (i.e. tell them why you are excited to work for their company. Do not write about this one time in high school…)

Include Volunteer Experience and Trainings

To be a military spouse you often have to sacrifice your career goals, networking opportunities, or advanced education to support your service member. It is easy to focus on your employment gaps or compare yourself to other applicants with different circumstances. However, you may have much more in your application arsenal than you realize.

Community service, continuing education classes online, and even membership to groups can be attractive items on a resume or cover letter. For example, are you a member of the spouse’s club? Do you volunteer at the base’s thrift store? Did you attend a networking seminar or take an online excel class? Focus on the relevant skills you obtained and use them on your résumé.

Communication skills, leadership roles, and supervision experience are all examples of ideal traits that can be useful to any job regardless of where you obtained them. If you don’t want to list every position, you can make a separate section for skills, as in the combination resume.

Send Your Résumé to Military Friendly Organizations and Businesses

With a quick Google search, or through perusing other articles on this site, it’s easy to find an extensive list of businesses that value the dexterity and expertise that a military spouse can bring to their company. MetLife, US Bank, Starbucks, and Goodwill Industries are among the numerous companies that have pledged to hire military spouses. It’s always a good idea to send your résumé to employers that value your skill sets and who are willing to aid with the hurdles military spouses are likely to face.

Are You Prior Service?

Many military couples meet while serving together and one ends up getting out for a variety of reasons. If you are a spouse with prior service, there are a few things to keep in mind that will help you in preparing your resume. You may already have a government resume- if you are applying for a civilian government job, there could be very little you need to change. However, let’s say you were an MP and now you want to be an assistant event planner- you will need to rework your resume to target this new field and the next chapter of your life. Remember that your service, awards, and experience are important. Feature your awards or commendations on your resume. If you have certifications relevant to the position, list those in the education section. Even if it has been awhile since you put on that uniform, don’t sell yourself short.

Utilize the Career Office/Spouse Services

Although each installation varies, military bases offer many services to spouses including career exploration, available job listings and résumé help. Often underutilized, their supportive and free services are sure to benefit military spouses who seek their assistance. Not only can they help you create an outstanding résumé, but they also have a vast amount of experience working with the many résumé writing obstacles that military spouses face.

Yes, finding a job while being a military spouse can be daunting. However, with preparation, assistance, and endurance, you are sure to find the perfect job for you.

Originally posted by MilitaryBenefits

Military, resume, Veterans

How to Write a Civilian Resume

November 18, 2021November 18, 2021 Angela Malagon

Original Posting by Military Onesource

Your civilian resume is a summary of your background and experience, and it’s likely to be the first information about you that an employer will see. With your background of military service, you already have impressive skills and knowledge. These tips will help you make a resume that will stand out. Also, see below for links to resume building tools.

With a background of military service, you already have impressive skills and knowledge. These tips will show you how to write a resume that will stand out.

Collect your assets.

Get a copy of your Verification of Military Experience and Training through the Department of Defense.

Your VMET will give an overview of the skills you’ve gained in the military.

Make a list of your technical skills.

Computer technicians, mechanics and engineers have skills that can be easily converted to civilian jobs.
Convert your military job training into civilian terms. For example, “budgeting” is a critical skill in civilian companies.

Make a list of your intangible skills.

Include leadership, discipline and a strong work ethic.

Select your resume style.

There are different ways to organize your resume. Pick a style that highlights your strengths. Your resume should highlight your unique qualifications.

Chronological resume

Your employment history is highlighted, starting with the most recent position, and then going back in time.
Include your responsibilities and accomplishments under each separate job.

Functional resume

Your skills are highlighted. Your work history and gaps are de-emphasized.
Skills and accomplishments should be divided into specific areas of expertise.

Combination resume

Your skills earned in a variety of jobs are highlighted, but using a job history format.
Your specific skills will form the main body of the resume, followed by a concise employment history.

Include these essential components:

Contact information: In the heading, include your name, address, phone number and email address.
Objective or job target: In one or two lines, say what kind of job you’re looking or applying for, and what makes you uniquely qualified.
Summary of qualifications: This is a bulleted section just below the objective in the visual center of the resume.
- Include five or six lines highlighting the skills that qualify you for the job.
- This will include your experience, certifications and related training.
- Title this section “Highlights of Qualifications,” “Summary of Skills” or “Summary of Experience.”
Employment history: Will vary depending on the type of resume.
Education and training: List colleges, schools or military training schools you attended. You can list the name of the school and the location, but not necessarily the dates.
Special skills: Include foreign languages, computer skills or any other relevant skills that will set you apart.

Make your resume unique to you.

You’ve got the basics down. Now use your resume to showcase your unique abilities and accomplishments.

Target your resume. Change and tailor your resume for the job you’re targeting. Learn what this employer looks for and highlight those qualities.
Translate everything into civilian terms.
- For example, replace “officer in charge” with “managed.”
- Take out the acronyms and use terms civilians understand. For example, replace “SNOIC for 2d MarDiv G-3, planning and executing all logistics for operations conducted in our AOR.” with “Supervised staff of 15 people. Planned and coordinated operations conducted by various subordinate units within our division.”
Include your accomplishments. Use numbers to highlight, if possible. For example, “Managed budget of $100K” or “Reduced training time from 26 weeks to 24 weeks.”
Be concise. Limit your resume to one or two pages.
Include volunteer experience if it’s relevant to the job. Volunteer experience can add to credibility and character.
Leave off unnecessary details. Don’t include marital status, height and weight or religious affiliation. Leave off salary information unless it was specifically requested.
Check spelling and accuracy. Proofread your resume, ask someone else to proofread it, and read your resume backwards to catch typos.

Write a cover letter.

Always send a cover letter with your resume. Your cover letter will explain why you’re interested in the position and how your skills make you the best choice for the job.

Get the name of the person in charge of hiring. Send your email or cover letter to him or her. Usually you can just call the company and ask for their name.
Mention the job that you’re applying for in the first paragraph. Focus on describing how your skills and abilities can help the company.
Keep it to one page. Use a business-letter format.
Always follow up. Mention that you will call to follow up and don’t forget to do it.

Tap into resume-building tools.

These websites have tools to help you build your resume and translate your military credentials and experience into civilian skills. They reference veterans, but they’re also for active duty.

Veterans.gov from the U.S. Department of Labor has an online job exchange with access to employers, skills translator, resume builder, interest profiler and more.
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers an interest profiler, educational and career counseling and links to other job resources, such as support for veteran-owned small businesses.
Resumeengine.org through Hiring Our Heroes provides an easy-to-use resume application to service members that will translate military records into a strong resume that civilian employers can easily understand.

Prepare for your job search early.

The earlier you can start your preparation for civilian employment, the better. The Transition Assistance Program office on your installation can help you get started. Military OneSource also offers the Transitioning Veterans specialty consultation to further assist you in transitioning from the military to civilian life.

If you’re pursuing federal employment, upload your resume to the federal resume-building websites. Visit the federal government’s USAJOBS site or your installation Transition Assistance Program for more information.

resume, Veterans

Resume Writing Tips for Veterans

November 16, 2021November 18, 2021 Angela Malagon

Original Posting by Monster: Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

You’ve gained a wealth of experience and skills in the military. Now you need to prove that on your resume.

You’re leaving the service and are faced with the daunting task of developing your resume. Your military career is filled with accomplishments, but even the most decorated veteran needs to figure out how to effectively communicate those successes in civilian terms. Monster’s resume-writing tips for veterans will show you how to draft a high-impact resume that describes how your military experience is transferable to a civilian job.

As with all other resumes, you need to kick things off with a professional summary—about three or four sentences—that quickly lets the reader know what you’ve accomplished and the value you’d bring to an organization. From there, follow Monster’s basic resume format to cleanly and clearly demonstrate your skills and experience. Make no mistake: Although companies are eager to hire veterans, that doesn’t mean you can skip the fundamental elements of a strong resume.

Simple Resume-Writing Tips for Veterans

Define your civilian job objective.
Create a resume that speaks to employers’ needs.
Assume readers have no knowledge of the military.
Showcase your accomplishments.
Flaunt your military background.
If you were in active combat, leave out the details.

1. Define Your Civilian Job Objective

You can’t effectively market yourself for a civilian job if you don’t have a clearly defined goal. Because so many service people have diverse backgrounds, they often make the mistake of creating resumes that are too general to be effective.

Before writing your resume, do some soul searching, research occupations, and pinpoint a specific career path. If you’re having trouble with this step, tap into your local transition office or solicit the help of a career coach. If you’re torn between two or more potential goals, set up different resumes.

2. Create a Resume That Speaks to Employers’ Needs

Now that your objective is defined, you’re ready to create a winning resume. Consider a resume’s purpose: To answer the employer’s question, “What can this person do for me?”

A great way to start thinking about employers’ needs is to research your target job. Look at jobs on Monster, scour company websites, and read as many job postings as possible. What types of skills and experiences are employers seeking? What aspects of your background are most relevant?

Any information that does not relate to your goal should be eliminated or de-emphasized, and this includes any unrelated military awards, training, and distinctions. For example, your marksmanship badge, while impressive, may not have any bearing if you’re applying to an office position. This is often the hardest step for former military personnel, which is why it’s so common to see their resumes span five pages or more.

As you decide which information to include, ask yourself, “Will a potential employer care about this experience?” Consider this the top among resume-writing tips for veterans: Include only the information that will help you land an interview.

3. Assume Readers Have No Knowledge of the Military

Demilitarize your job titles, duties, accomplishments, training, and awards to appeal to civilian hiring managers. Employers with no exposure to the military don’t understand the terminology and acronyms, so translate these into civilianese.

Show your resume to several nonmilitary friends and ask them to point out terms they don’t understand. For additional resume-writing tips for veterans, refer to job postings and Military.com’s skills translator for help substituting civilian keywords for military terms.

4. Showcase Your Accomplishments

Your military career has offered you excellent opportunities for training, practical experience, and advancement. Tout these accomplishments on your resume so the average civilian understands the importance of your achievements and the measurable outcomes.

Here’s an example of a demilitarized accomplishment statement:

Increased employee retention rate by 16 percent by focusing on training, team building, and recognition programs. Earned reputation as one of the most progressive and innovative IT organizations in the Army’s communications and IT community.

Here’s an example of incorporating a military award so employers understand its value:

Received Army Achievement Medal for completing 400+ medical evaluations and developing patient database using MS Access. Database improved reporting functions and tracked patient demographics, records, medication, appointments, and status.

5. Flaunt Your Military Background

You might have heard you need to develop a functional resume to mask or downplay your military experience, but the opposite is true. Your military experience is an asset and should be marketed as such. Many employers realize the value of bringing veterans on board.

Attributes honed in the military include

dedication
leadership
teamwork
positive work ethic
cross-functional skills

If you fear a potential employer won’t realize the significance of your military experience, make sure your resume clearly communicates the value you bring to the table.

6. If You Were in Active Combat, Leave Out the Details

Defending your country and its interests is among the most admirable pursuits, but the sad truth is actual references to the horrors of combat leave many employers squeamish. While you might have worked in a short-range air defense engagement zone, this experience might not relate to your future goal. Instead of including details of your actual combat experience on the battlefield, focus instead on any awards and the team-building experience that you developed in combat and how those can apply in the civilian world.

Before You Deploy Your Resume, Get It Inspected for Free

After reviewing these resume-writing tips for veterans, it’s time to write your own and get it out there in the world. But before you do that, it’s smart to double-check that everything is in order. Need some help with that? Get a free resume review from Monster. We can show you how to strengthen your resume so that all your skills and experience get the recognition they deserve.

Career Tips, interview, networking, resume, Skills

How To Get Your Dream Job

November 16, 2021November 16, 2021 Angela Malagon

BY ALISON DOYLE | Updated on November 08, 2021

Are you looking for a new job, or starting to think about job hunting? Sometimes a job search can feel overwhelming, especially if you need a job right away. It often feels like there is too much to do in a very limited time.

One way to manage this stress and enhance your job search is to break the process down into small, manageable steps. Doing so can help you feel like you have accomplished a little piece of your search every day and you’ll make slow and steady progress towards your goal of finding work you want to do, instead of work you have to do.

How To Use This Series

The series offers simple, practical steps for job seekers to follow in order to prepare themselves for the job market and land a job. If you read and apply one tip per day, you can accelerate your job search and find a job quickly.

The tips are organized in such a way as to move you from the very first stages of the job search (writing a resume, reaching out to contacts in your industry) to the final stages (preparing for an interview, sending a thank you note, accepting or rejecting a job).

Each tip suggests one thing you can do per day to help your job search. Doing something every day to find work helps keep you from becoming frustrated and focuses your job hunt on work you are qualified for.

Here’s how the series is organized and how to use it to find your dream job.

How the Tips Are Organized

The “Dream Job” series contains steps to help you find the job you want the most. The tips are organized in a specific order, beginning with advice on how to start a job search, and ending with tips on how to decide whether to accept or reject a job offer.

There are a number of stages to any job search journey. The tips in this series are organized into six sections to cover six unique stages in the job search process.

Get Started

This is an important stage in which you prepare yourself—and your resume—for the job search ahead. The tips offer advice for getting your job search started, including refreshing your resume and developing necessary skills.

Prepare to Network

Networking is a critical part of the job search—by reaching out to contacts, you can get advice on your search, and even hear about job openings that might be a good fit for you. These tips offer a variety of strategies for good networking, including using LinkedIn, creating business cards, and getting active on Twitter.

Start Your Job Hunt

This is where your job search begins in earnest. After consulting with a career counselor or exploring options on your own, you narrow your job search by creating an employer target list and finding contacts at those companies.

Use Your Network

Get advice on how to use your network, from contacting friends and family to set up informational interviews.

Find Job Listings

Gain advice on how to find jobs, both online and through other means (such as job fairs). It also provides advice on how to keep your job search organized.

When feeling the stress of needing work, it is easy to begin applying for everything you see. Try to be patient and work to control the anxiety that comes with needing a job, so that you can focus on adjusting your profiles and resume for the specific jobs you are applying for.

Interview and Follow up

Learn all you need to know about preparing for the interview and following up afterward.

Skip Steps if They Don’t Apply

The tips are organized to be most helpful when followed in order. But you can skip ahead if certain tips do not apply to you, or jump ahead to the specific tip that you would like help with. There is no wrong way to use this information.