For those of you in the military planning to soon move on to a new career, beware of the fact you are going to have to begin "selling your talents" in ways never before imagined. I see it everyday, sitting here on my "perch" on the sidelines, observing time pass by locally and nation-wide (via the internet). In short, finding a job today is tough...real tough...in fact so tough it's going to make some people wonder why in the heck they left the relative security of the military in the first place...deployments and all.
Not only are you going to have to compete alongside your peers in the military who are also getting out, but there are thousands of others in civilian life, both older and younger than you are, also in the job hunt...and many may be more qualified than you. So, what to do?
Decide exactly what it is you want to do, and remember there are more important things than money when it comes to a job...especially liking what it is you're going to be doing...job satisfaction. Then, determine what unique talents you have, and put them down on paper in well chosen words. Forget all the military terminology...just say what you can do, and how can you do it better than others. Talk to those who have successfully navigated these waters before. Who, for example, might they know who could help you get the job you want. And, lastly, rather than continuing reading what I'm writing here, start searching the internet NOW for "how to get a job" and learn.
