The transition from a military to civilian career just got easier

HELPING VETERANS FIND THE RIGHT JOBS.

An estimated 250,000 U.S. military members enter civilian life each year. These brave men and women possess an array of leadership and business skills that make them a valuable asset to any civilian organization. Despite their potential to succeed in the civilian workforce, many struggle with making the transition.

Being a veteran myself, I know firsthand how difficult this transition can be. When it comes to finding a job, where do you even begin? How do you translate what you’ve done during your years of service into skills and experience that would resonate with civilian employers?

The good news is many employers recognize the value military veterans can bring to an organization and are eager to recruit them.

Knowing that employers are ready and willing to hire military veterans, the men and women transitioning from active duty need the right resources to help them match their skills with available opportunities.

Tech tools to find veteran-friendly jobs

One of the obstacles ex-military personnel face when job searching is understanding how to find civilian job equivalents to the roles they held in the military. That’s why CareerBuilder supports Google Cloud’s job search feature, which enables transitioning service members to find relevant civilian jobs available right now on CareerBuilder.com and our clients’ talent networks.

Using the Google Cloud Talent Solution feature, U.S. military service members can enter their military occupational specialty code (MOS, AFSC, NEC) on CareerBuilder and find relevant civilian jobs that require similar skills to those used in their military roles. (You can also include rank codes, for example, 11A for Infantry Officer or 11B for Infrantryman.)

Utilize online veteran communities

CareerBuilder and RallyPoint, one of the largest military-focused online networks in the world, formed a partnership designed to help veterans quickly connect with top employers who want to actively recruit them to work for their companies. CareerBuilder powers RallyPoint’s job board, connecting RallyPoint’s 1.5 million military members to their network of thousands of employers.

Transitioning service members often rely on sites such as Military Times for unbiased news and information affecting their military and civilian lives. Their career site hosts a wide range of jobs across industries from employers actively looking to hire veterans, and comprehensive tools for service members and veterans to use in their job search.

Top skills veterans should highlight on their resume

In addition to functional skills and accomplishments, veterans, especially those who feel underemployed or are in low-paying jobs, should highlight their soft skills when marketing themselves to employers. In particular, employers say they look for these skills that members of the armed forces typically bring to organizations after leaving active duty:

Ability to work as a team

Disciplined work approach

Respect and integrity

Perform under pressure

Leadership skills

Industries hiring veterans

Employers say veterans are being recruited across a wide variety of functions, including:

Customer service

Information technology

Production

Sales

Accounting/finance

Employers see the tremendous value in hiring transitioning military personnel and veterans – and these service men and women are just as eager to start their civilian careers. With the right resources and tools to help employers connect with veterans and veterans find the right jobs for their unique backgrounds, we’ll move closer toward the goal of having all veterans gainfully employed in meaningful post-military careers.

How to find a job when unemployment is high

HERE ARE 6 WAYS TO HELP COMBAT A COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET.

Just three months ago, candidates had their pick of who to work for, sometimes even “ghosting” after accepting a job offer. There were more open roles than candidates available for work, and the unemployment rate sat at record lows for months.

Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic turning our economy and social lives upside down, it can be tough to sort out what will help, what won’t and what you can actually control. It’s unsettling to see a 14.7% unemployment rate and hear about friends, family, and neighbors losing jobs.

But real-time data is showing positive signs, with week-over-week job losses starting to decrease and stabilize, and industries like construction, manufacturing, and retailare increasing job posts. There is still high demand for front-line response industries like transportation and warehousing – supporting huge retailers like CVS, Amazon and Home Depot – and non-critical care healthcare positions are also on the rise.

As you look for a job in this more competitive hiring landscape, here are a few tips to set yourself apart and find your next role, fast.

Upskill and highlight transferable skills

If your desired industry isn’t in high-demand, identify and leverageskills that can translate into a new profession. In some cases, economic downturns provide opportunity for continued education and development. Spend time taking online classes and trainings to upskill and strengthen your resume. 

Look for part-time and contract labor positions

While positions and long-term opportunities may be limited, look for work in high-demand industries inthat may be more short-term. This will allow you to add to or build on your skills while bringing home a paycheck.

Make sure your resume is competitive and up to date

Crafting a resume that best highlights skills and other achievements is important for any job seeker. Utilize tools like AI to build a personalized, job-specific resume. You’ll want to showcase your achievements in a concise, ATS-approved way.

Utilize a job board

When uploading and applying for positions on a job board, your resume can then be accessed by thousands of companies looking to source candidates and build their talent pipeline. This will also allow you to learn about roles that match your skill set and interests as they become available.

Clean up your social media

It’s important you don’t have anything that could turn off a hiring manager, like tasteless content or complaints about a former job or boss. In a CareerBuilder study, we found 70% of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates, and of those that do, 57% have found content that caused them not to hire candidates. If used wisely, social media can help you stand out and show skills or interests that don’t fit on a resume, especially when 43% of employers said candidates’ social media content influenced their decision to hire them. Make sure your online presence puts your best foot forward.

Nurture your network

Build and leverage your connections to make sure you are getting in front of the right people for roles that are open right now. Companies will often find new candidates through referrals, so job seekers should ask their networks in case anyone they know can introduce them to relevant hiring managers.