I recently volunteered to review resumes at a job fair for those who are “50+”. The first thing that disturbed me were the plethora of tables devoted to pet sitting, senior caregiving, entry-level hotel positions, porta-potty companies, and the like. I was actually surprised that someone wasn’t taking applications for “Greeter at WalMart”.
Then came the long stream of people wanting input on their resumes. Person after person had been “IBM’d” ( https://www.vox.com/2018/4/20/17261798/ibm-layoffs-retirements-older-workers-age-discrimination-claims ) from various companies. I was absolutely flummoxed by the end of the day. Why is this happening?!
In the last year, I have been interviewed for positions in both human resources and recruiting. From C-Suite, to VP, to Director level roles. Here are some of the mind-numbing things I have been told, some “in confidence”:

• “The COO said he wants to go with someone more junior.” Me: “Um, we didn’t discuss salary, so how does he know that he won’t get senior expertise at a junior price point? The last time this happened to me, it really meant ‘younger’.” Recruiter: (Pause) “Yeah, I wouldn’t want to work for a company like that, either.” Read: You are right in your assumptions.
• After a tour of a company office, I commented about how I didn’t see anyone in my age demographic there. One of the Principals: “That’s because we only hire young people. We want fresh ideas. We are in our 40s, and we are the oldest persons here!”
• “We do not hire senior people because there is no career path. The highest level we hire is mid-level.” Me: “What if I don’t want a career path because I have succeeded in accomplishing more than I thought possible and now just want to invest my expertise in a start-up that can benefit from my seasoned experience?” Hiring Manager: “You have to be a cultural fit.” Read: in a company where 92% of the employees are under age 30, you are too old.
• “We don’t want to make our current workforce here uncomfortable because someone reminds them of their parents. You know, young people rebel against their authority figures. I don’t think older workers could establish a trust with our employees or a good rapport.” (I wish I were making this up. This came from an entry-level recruiter, on the job for less than 30 days.)
• “Your resume only goes back 15 years. What were you doing for all of those years after you left college?” (Ummm…and my CURRENT skills and expertise, which are a 100% match to your requirements, are of no interest to you?)
• “We find that senior candidates think they are worth more, demand more, and the truth of the matter is that our health insurance rates will go up because they are based on an average age.”
• “You need to start talking about the oldest position on your resume. Walk me through how many people you managed and why you were promoted each time. We need to be certain that you were worth those raises.” (“Progressive leadership experience.” Read: I had to start at the bottom and work my way up. You don’t deserve this job because you had a hockey stick career.)
• “Every new hire gets 10 days of leave. No exceptions. You are not entitled to more leave just because you have worked longer than the rest of us. You haven’t done it here.”
• “I skipped over an intern applicant who was older. I will go back and review, now that you made a point about ageism.”

My favorite? “Your homework assignment is to provide a detailed plan of what you will accomplish in the first 90 days to improve our recruitment process.” The last 4 times I did this, I was then told that the position had been downgraded. (Of COURSE it was! I just solved all of your immediate problems. For FREE!)
I would add more, but some of those details will “out” the companies I interviewed with, and this article is not to call them out, but to try to propose some solutions, as Carmen Hudson@PeopleShark requested via Twitter of Derek Zeller@derdiver, in response to his blogpost on diversity panels.
First of all, how does one erase internal biases? One person in her 30s saw me come through the door, and the glazed look said it all. She simply saw me as a heart attack waiting to happen, or someone on multiple medications. She quickly breezed through my resume points, eyes on the paper, having already written me off. When the question about compensation came up, I knew that this was going nowhere, so I started singing: “You know it’s all about ‘dat base, ‘bout dat base, no treble…” (Meghan Trainor). She looked up, startled, and then could not suppress a laugh! Got eye contact after that, chatted a bit more. (Of course it was at the time that song was actually “playing on the radio”!)
I spoke on a career panel at the Foreign Service Institute and shared with retiring State Department professionals that they need to have an updated wardrobe, hairstyle, and cannot have “bird watching” as a hobby on LinkedIn. A woman came up afterward and said that while I was talking, she went on her LI profile and removed “bird watching”. (Me: red-faced) 
Sourcers, recruiters, and hiring managers, oh my, what is up with this? So, we look a bit school-marmsy, some have AOL email, and some actually like bird watching. This does not make us irrelevant, stuck in “annual performance review” mode, or unable to adapt. Nor does it mean we will have to ask you how to use gifs in Slack. Remember Ronald Reagan? This is my all-time fav story about “old people”. He recounted a meeting where a young man challenged him:
 “‘You didn’t grow up in an age of instant electronics, of jet travel, of space travel, and journeys to the Moon. You didn’t have . . .’ and he went on with all the things—cybernetics and all the things that we didn’t have. When he finished, I said, ‘You’re absolutely right. Our generation, we didn’t have those things when we were your age. We invented them.’” 
I have been interviewed as the “Token Over 40 Person” for too many interviews. I am not the appointed spokesperson for the “Over 40” protected EEOC class of people, but I would like to say that many of us are simply not finished inventing things, creating things, disrupting things, and bettering things. So, here are some of my suggestions:
Suggestion #1:
Give us a chance. Don’t interview us so you can tick the box of, “interview diverse candidates”. I can count at least 4 times this has happened to me. In all four companies, I knew I was just a diverse interview requirement. The only grey hairs I found in their company pictures tended to be in men’s beards. Honestly, hiring anyone these days is a risk, so…
Suggestion #2:
Please stop promoting your company with pictures of young people and ask us to picture ourselves working there. You may have included males, females, and some race categories, but is there someone in a wheelchair? With a comfort animal? With a hijab? Is this because you don’t actually have anyone in your company who represents diversity of thought? 
Suggestion #3:
I once attended a conference where the recruiters for a large, federal contractor said that they are not permitted to submit any candidate to a hiring manager unless they have interviewed at least one female and one African-American. We should include “over 40” to this mix. And veterans. And disabled. And…you get the picture. 
Suggestion #4:
Please don’t make assumptions. We do not all think we are “entitled”, think we know better, (okay, sometimes we DO know better, but we will help you, and make you think that you thought up the idea,) nor are we all planning our retirement to the beaches in Florida for 5 years hence. Clutch did a survey that showed that 30% of unhappy millennials planned to quit their jobs within 6 months. When you get to be over 40 years of age, you tend to be less inclined to job hop. Also, just because we are senior does not mean that we are going to demand to be compensated according to the expertise and seasoned experience we bring to the table. Not to say that it is unfathomable to me that you wouldn’t put value on such expertise. It means we are used to being devalued for our contributions because some who are under 40 do not have a context for what, exactly, experience DOES add to the ROI, and we have adjusted our expectations accordingly. (Just don’t demean ANY person by lowballing them. #Respect #RecruitHuman)
Suggestion #5:
Factor in older workers when creating your “wrap rate”. Yes, you should give more leave to a person whose career started before you were born. Expecting new hires who are senior level in their expertise to go back to the same leave they were offered on their first job out of college is something I cannot wrap my brain around. (I mean, seriously, who comes up with this stuff?!) Factor in older ages when working the budget numbers for medical coverages. Do not make financial decisions that will preclude you from hiring someone over 40.
Suggestion #6:
Do not disqualify an older or more seasoned worker who must report up to a younger, less experienced manager because:
1) You assume they will not be subordinate and will continually challenge their bosses, or 2) You assume (or have been told) that the younger, less experienced manager will feel threatened by having this person report up to them. Assuming you are hiring people over the age of 18, we are all adults here! Expect people to act like adults. (Novel idea, I know.) 
These are just a few suggestions to get started.
Also, why are we having to erase all of our work history save the last 10 years on LinkedIn and on our resumes? You are already (illegally) asking us to enter in our years we attended/graduated from college before we can even apply for your job. We may have a gap from needing to stay home to raise children or care for an ailing spouse or parent. Does this really mean we are less qualified?
I have to ask myself why this article even needs to be written. I have seen things happening in this country that I never thought possible. My father retired when he was younger than I am now. Not only do I wish to never retire, I also want to continue to disrupt work as we know it, to help make it better and better for generations to come. I am not alone in this desire/quest. Thanks to Laszlo Bock for inspiring me and countless others! Because of your kind encouragements,

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“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.” –Langston Hughes

I had this quote up on my wall during high school. Here are other “dream” quotes:

• “A dream is a wish your heart makes.” (Disney’s Cinderella)
• “If you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true.” (Disney’s Cinderella)
• “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” (Walt Disney)
• “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” (Eleanor Roosevelt)
• (Put your own quote here.)

I know. If we are gonna dream, let’s dream big. But when it comes to job searching, I have heard too many people who have passed up good opportunities because it wasn’t their “dream job” or who are just waiting for their “dream job” to find them.

So here are a few ideas I have encountered for transitioning out of “Dream World” and into “Reality World” without killing the dream.

1. Research companies that have your “dream job”. Make a list of them. See who you are connected to in those companies. Invite them out to coffee (yes, you are to pay for their coffee!) Ask them how they got their job there, what they like most about working there, what challenges they have, and what are the growth opportunities. Note: Do NOT ask them for a job or to refer you for a job! This is simply informational so you can add this pertinent info to your list. Follow up with more coffee, but don’t be a pest!
2. Don’t know anyone who works in those companies? Find out who in your network is connected to someone who does. Take that person out to coffee (yes, you are to pay for their coffee!) and tell them that you would like to learn more about that company. Ask if they would feel comfortable connecting you to their connection. (If they pause for a nanosecond, take that as a “no”, graciously give them an “out” and do not take this personally.)
3. Need to polish or perfect skills needed to work in one of your target companies? Take a job elsewhere, where you can work on these. Your next job may not be your dream job, but it can assist in making you better qualified for that dream job. You may also find that you end up being poised to become upwardly mobile in this company, and find that your dream changes.

There is a lot that can be learned about the dream job you want (and the companies that have those positions) by networking with people who do what you want to do, and work where you want to work.

So, do we stop dreaming? No. But do we start making plans to transform that dream job into a real job? Yes. Dream jobs can be taken out of “dream world” by taking the necessary steps to make those dreams realities, by cultivating relationships in our networks, honing necessary skills, and acquiring expertise.

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Here are some tried and true tips for attending job fairs, but first, the burning questions you might be asking yourself:

• Why go?
• Will I find my dream job?
• Will I get an interview?
• Where do the 110 copies of my resume go?
• How do I follow up?
• Should I take my own business cards?
• What should I wear?
• How many emails constitute “stalking”?
• What time should I go?
• How many tchotchkes can I take?

Inquiring minds want to know. So, I will share what I have learned from both recruiters and job seekers alike.

One purpose for many companies to participate in job fairs is name recognition/branding. Job fairs assist with being able to connect brand and culture with interested candidates. It isn’t often that a candidate walks in and is a perfect fit for an open position. So, why do recruiters go? It is a wonderful opportunity to meet great folks who may not fit a particular position at this point in time, but who is worth keeping in touch with and fostering a relationship. For me, it is about making friends. I work in a small-knit community.

Some suggestions:

• Do your homework before you go. Find out which companies will be attending. Look at their career pages. Are there positions that rock your socks? Custom edit a resume tailored to those positions and write a cover letter that states the job title(s)/number(s). Put them in your folder in alphabetical order by company so you can quickly retrieve them when you get to a table.
• Dress for an interview. Know your industry, and dress accordingly!
• Practice your elevator pitch. “I am Jack, and I love web development. So much so that I create video games outside of my work hours. I am looking to help grow a company that aims to provide innovative solutions in record time. Here is my resume with cover letter that articulates the ways my skills are a great match for three positions you have advertised on your website.”
• Smile! Await a response from the recruiter. Here is a key: if you are given a business card, it is your golden ticket to follow up. That recruiter WANTS to be in touch with you, because something about you or your resume or your answers to questions has made an impression. Didn’t get a business card? Your cue to move on to the next table, and do not look back. It is okay. It isn’t personal! This is not the time to be discouraged. It will affect your mojo at the next table, and you want to make your best impression on each company.
• Were you asked to send a soft copy of your resume? Do not send it with 2 pages of self-promotion in your email! Simply thank the recruiter for inviting you to send it over, for their time to review it, and ask for the next steps. Short. Simple. Effective. Gently follow up twice.
• Why take business cards? I work in the tech industry. It is more efficient for me to run those cards through my ScanSnap and have the info more readily accessible than having to manually enter info from dozens of resumes.
• Do not load up your pockets with the very neat logo embossed goodies. This is not the time to find stocking stuffers for the kids in your life. If ONE thing on the table speaks to you, feel free to take that one thing, unless the recruiter encourages you to take more! Seriously. We do notice!
• Please talk with your bestie before coming, and rehearse one more time why your boss was a jerk for letting you go. And leave that story in those well-trusted hands. Do not bring those tales of woe inside the venue. You do not want to repel others with your complaining or to project unprofessionalism. One job seeker I know has something negative to say every time he opens his mouth. I can assure you that even if he doesn’t say those things on interviews, that negativity oozes from his very pores. Yes. It is noticeable. Practice speaking about what you are grateful for, out loud, every day. Smile when you say them. Bring in that uplifting persona, no matter how hard the career transition has been.
• Go early. Very early. By the time the last half hour of the job fair rolls around, recruiters may have had hundreds of meet-n-greets, in-depth convos, and we are tired, very tired! We are doing our best to stay engaged, but not all of us have caffeine drips concealed in our jackets. Will there be long lines? Yes. But do not be discouraged. Hit your top 3-5 tables first, then meander through the others.

Here is the twist. I am a firm believer of the pay-it-forward, kharma, give of yourself way of living. Strike up conversations with other job seekers while you are waiting. It can start out as a simple, “Hey, have you used Wordle or Word It Out? I have found that it helps me to know which synonyms to use on my resume so it makes it past the Applicant Tracking System.” Share a tip! Ask the other person what industry they are in and what sort of position they are seeking. Ask for their target companies. Know anyone you can refer them to? Maybe you know recruiting companies that are sourcing for someone like them. Offer to get them connected. What if you go through the whole fair and have only been giving out great info and no one has offered anything to you? It is still okay! You may have inspired others to do the same at the next job fair, and you could then be the recipient of new tips and connections!

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In federal contracting, there is a term called “Req Recruiting.” A recruiter receives a requisition to place a potential person in a position in a particular program. Said recruiter, if indeed a sourcing sorcerer, employs many magical methods to find and vet the perfect person to present to the program manager. “How can I be sure, in a world that’s constantly changing…where I stand with you?” Great lyrics by The Young Rascals, and a question that job seekers everywhere are asking.

How are you going to make sure that you are going to be found by beautiful, Boolean search strings? How can you keep a recruiter’s attention for more than 4 nano-seconds once your resume surfaces? Inquiring minds want to know, and, since this is not the stuff of “secret sauce,” the simple solutions follow.

First of all, the most important information recruiters need should be in the “top third to half” of page one of your resume. There is advice currently circulating that you should just have a one-page resume. Please make it at least two, but no more than three — two is ideal.

Remember, the resume is just the ticket to try to get the interview, not to get the job. Also, some university career centers — check how old the school is, and some of the advice may date back that far — who tell you to put your Education last, on the very last page. Please do not put your education at the end of your resume. You paid a lot for that degree. It needs to go on Page One!

This is the format that can best showcase info that is needed by the recruiter, and in that precious real estate of the top half of your resume. I will add comments after each section.

NAME, IN BOLD
314-555-1212 | [email protected] | LinkedIn address

This is your header. Do not put “home” or “cell” or “phone #.” Just put the actual digits, like 202-555-1212. Note: I highly recommend that you get a Google number. This way, you can screen your calls, and your personal number does not go into cyberspace.

Next, your email address. Please get a gmail address. Please do not say you are a highly skilled software engineer, who uses Splunk, but you have a Hotmail email address. Or AOL. Or worse, Juno or Erols. And please make sure it is not [email protected]. Your email address should have as much of your real name as is possible. Recruiters do joke about this. You do not want to be the brunt of these jokes!

Why the LinkedIn address? Because over 90% of all recruiters industry-wide say that they use it at some point in the process. If your name is John Smith, you want to make sure it is the real you, and not some fake profile that was created to make it seem like it is you. #FakeProfilesAreReal.

Did you notice that I didn’t put city/state? If you are in Baltimore and are willing to commute anywhere in the DMV, it isn’t necessary. If you want to work in Austin, because you are moving there of your own accord, there is no reason to put your actual geographic location. It is then helpful to put the city/state in which you wish to work into that second line of your header. Also, please do not put your home address. No one needs to mail anything to you in this decade.

TITLE OF POSITION, LIKE PROGRAM MANAGER

I get this question all the time when I am doing resume reviews at career transition groups: “What if I want to apply for both a Logistics and an Administrative position?” If you put both, a recruiter or hiring manager will not know what you want to be when you grow up. If you put NO TITLE, then we have to try to figure this out by hunting through your resume, and we do not have time to do this. Have an industry-specific resume for each industry, and only document the skills/transferable skills commensurate with the position to which you are applying.

That said, please use wordle.net or worditout.com or tagcrowd.com. Copy/paste the entire position description along with the required skills into one of those sites. The most important words will be revealed. If you have a synonym on your resume, change it to that exact word. If it is really important, make sure you use it at least 3-4 times in your resume. Why? So your resume will make it through the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and turn up in Boolean searches.

Rabbit hole comment here: Please do not use colors or fancy fonts or unusual symbols or creative formatting. ATSs do not like that, not one little bit. Arial is another safe font to use. Do not get me started on Comic Sans. And please, no smaller than size 11!

(NO HEADING HERE, JUST YOUR SUMMARY OF GREATNESS)

So, right after the title of the position for which you are applying, you may write 3-5 attributes that scream, “I am THE ONE!” Do not use the first person I, me or my, nor the third person “Mr. Emerson excels in….” or “He has achieved….” There are no complete sentences being used in the example below.

Over eight years of experience in full lifestyle projects utilizing Agile/Scrum methodologies in diverse environments. Ability to quickly and efficiently design, rapid-prototype, and integrate software solutions within pre-existing infrastructures. Skilled in collaborating with junior engineers in pair programming, and leading cross-functional teams located in different time zones.

CLEARANCE: TS/SCI with FSP, active (or current) (ONLY IF APPLICABLE)

Please do not list your clearance if it has expired. It’s as though you never had it. Also, please do not say “clearable.” If the position requires the clearance, that means you have to have one that is active, or has been active less than 24 months ago (current).

EDUCATION:

     MS, COMPUTER SCIENCE, MIT

     BS, MATHEMATICS, UCLA

Don’t include the graduation date or the address of the college.

CERTIFICATIONS:

     Cloudera Hadoop,     2014

     Certified Scrumaster, 2010

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

If applicable. Please list software, hardware, databases, operating systems, tools, software applications, etc. Please put the number of years experience after each skill, like Java (6 years). It is also helpful to put the list in alphabetical order. You do not need to state MS Office products unless the position description states a particular level of proficiency needed, such as “Advanced Excel.”

KEY QUALIFICATIONS (or) CORE COMPETENCIES

Here is where you can highlight the top six points, using normal bullet points:

• 5+ years of demonstrated experience in website development with database functionality using HTML, ColdFusion, JavaScript, Dreamweaver, CSS, SQL
• Experience in creating tables, writing custom SQL queries, and performing backups for MS SQL Server databases

Also, please do not waste valuable space here by saying that you are a hard worker, team player, organized, problem-solver, etc. If you held any viable position for any length of time, we assume all of these attributes to be a given.

Finally, your Professional Experience. Recruiters are persnickety about certain things. So, please lay out your experience like this:

ABC Company                                                                                04/13- present

Software Engineer

What is most important is the title of the position, and the dates should be all the way to the right. Repeat: dates should be all the way to the right! If you have worked in different roles in the same company, still put the start and end dates and show the differences like this:

ABC Company                                                                                 04/13- present

     Software Engineer,     06/14-present

         Bullet point

         Bullet point

         Bullet point

     Jr. Software Engineer, 04/13-06/14

         Bullet point

         Bullet point

         Bullet point

So, about those bullet points in your professional experience. Many global companies rate candidates by the “STAR” method. Situation, task, action, result. So, in your 3-5 bullet points per position, do not list out your duties. Instead, state: what was accomplished, how it was done, what tools/methods were used, and the brilliant result. In the result, put a quantifiable number or percentage, if possible. Increased sales by 26% Q3-Q4. Successfully managed 28 people on 4 teams in 5 countries. Here is where you showcase your achievements, and not just copy/paste your job descriptions.

The professional experience should go back about 10 years, unless you are applying for a job that requires more experience. If it calls for 20, just put 20+ years, rather than 34.

Start your summary like this: Software Engineer with 8+ years experience in… It will be truly helpful to know the years of experience at the get-go, since the number of years needed will vary across contracts. Please do not include your lawn mowing business from middle school, no matter how entrepreneurial you think it makes you look. It does not look good on your resume. Again, something else that recruiters joke about. So, for those of you who have many more years of experience, you can simply list the titles in “Other Relevant Experience”.

Lastly, there should be a list of professional organizations, volunteer groups, and if you won an award that wasn’t from your high school home ec department but is highly relevant to the position you are seeking, please include that here.

To summarize, the reason that your clearance, your education and your key skills need to be up top is that those are the most important things needed in order to match up your qualifications to an existing req.

Finally, from Jimmy Eat World – The Middle:

Hey
Don’t write yourself off yet
It’s only in your head you feel left out or looked down on
Just try your best
Try everything you can
And don’t you worry 
​
Jo Weech is a career coach and technical recruiter in the defense and intelligence communities.

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​Last week, I was interviewed by Karen Hunter on SiriusXM Urban View about tips for veteran job seekers, in honor of Military Appreciation Month. Afterward, the responses from veterans in all corners of CONUS was overwhelming! That response has prompted this article.

Some context: I grew up in/around the military for the bulk of my life, and have worked on post and on base. Currently, I enjoy sharing monthly at our local SFL-TAP classes on how to leverage social media for your job search. At #HIREconf NYC this year, I had the privilege of speaking on a panel about military recruitment. 

What follows are my top suggestions for your transition from military service to civilian employment.

Your Resume

This is NOT anything like what you have to fill out for USAJOBS, where they require the number of hours worked, salary for each position, etc. What is the purpose of a first date? To get a second date. What is the purpose of the resume? To get the interview!

Recruiters are going to spend a whopping 6 seconds viewing your resume, so you need to capture their attention in the “top fold”. Please refer to my blogpost on ClearedJobs.net called, “Before You Hit Apply For This Job”. http://blog.clearedjobs.net/before-you-hit-apply-for-this-job/ It is a “how to” on formatting your resume.

I often see every duty station listed, and points that read like a job description. All that you need to do is to put the start date of when you went into the service, and the ETS date, or “present” if you are still on terminal leave or about to start. Then, in that one entry, only highlight the positions you held that are commensurate with the civilian position you are seeking. Do not put in each task performed. Just share about 3-5 bullet points of successes and achievements/accomplishments, and put them in the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format. Basically, what you did, how you did it, and the quantifiable result. Remember, you are not trying to sell yourself for the position, you are simply giving us tidbits to entice us to schedule the phone interview!

Another thing I see is the home address being put in the contact information line. Please protect you/your family and leave this out. We do not need to know where you are physically located at this juncture. Also, if you are stationed at Ft. Meade but are going to PCS to Austin, TX, put “Austin, TX” as your location on your resume. Most civilians do not know that your final move will be paid for, and you could be eliminated from consideration by an unknowledgeable recruiter who does not have a relo budget for that position. 

Additionally, do not list any jobs you had pre-military, unless they are pertinent to the position you are seeking. Most veteran resumes I have reviewed show a MOS that took them into a different direction from what transpired up until enlistment. If you entered as an officer, no need to put your pizza delivery jobs from high school!

The civilianization of your resume: have a civilian review your verbiage, or a recruiter trained in the art of deciphering military lingo. Do not use the word “ammunition” or “ammo”. State “supplies” or “inventory”. Do not use the word “deployed”. Say “overseas assignment”. Why? Although you cannot be legally discriminated against for your veteran status, you also cannot erase people’s internal biases. Neutralize any words that conjure up images of “war”. Why? Because the person looking at it may be seeing images in their mind of the last war movie they saw where armed military personnel shot innocents in a remote village. Seemingly all but gone are the days of “Proud to be an American”. Your resume needs to most probably get past a millennial whose parents did not serve in the military, and may not know what this entails, nor what it means. You are not hiding your service nor being ashamed of it. You are simply highlighting your experiences and skill sets in a way in which the reader can relate and understand.

Your LinkedIn Profile

Many have said to me that because their positions are in SIGINT or HUMINT or Cyber or they have poly clearances, they are not permitted to be on LinkedIn. All you need to do is look up some of your buddies and see that they are all on there! How to know what you can/cannot post up? Get your resume through pre-pub first, and then you will know what verbiage can be shared. A seasoned or well-trained recruiter knows how to “read between the lines” if they are recruiting in the intel community for federal contractors.

Tips:

Your profile pic should not be of you in uniform. Why? You are auditioning for a civilian role, so your costume needs to match that role. LinkedIn profile photographers are fairly unanimous in stating that the best colors to wear are a white blouse or shirt, and navy blazer, with or without a tie, depending on the position sought. Do not be faced squarely toward the camera. Put one shoulder slightly in front, dip it just a bit, lean forward ever so slightly, and please SMILE FOR THE CAMERA! This is not your military ID card. So many LI photos look like mug shots. Companies want to hire people who look pleasant to work with, so project that positivity!

The Summary Section is the ONE place you can use the personal pronouns of I, me, and my. Do not simply iterate your skills and abilities. This is the place to shine! What problems do you love solving? What is it about the roles/responsibilities you are seeking that excite you most? Is it mission? Is it complex problems? Let your passions shine through so we know what enthuses you, and what you will be happiest doing. Cultural fit is just as important as matching skill sets. I know it has been instilled in you to not brag or to draw personal attention. This is not about “bragging”. It is about truthfully stating your stellar achievements. What seems like “no big deal” to you is actually impressive and needs to be clearly communicated.

Most of all, make sure that whatever is in your resume matches what you put on your LinkedIn profile! #truestory

Networking for the Next Job

It is well quoted that 72% of all jobs, industry-wide, are filled by networking and referral. You have spent the last 3 or 30 years networking almost exclusively with military personnel. So, how do you network for that next position?  Start by making a list of all the companies in your target city that have jobs that are of interest to you. See if you are connected to anyone in those companies. If not, are you 2nd connected? Then ask your shared connections if they are comfortable connecting you to that person. Invite them out for coffee. (Pay for the coffee!) If you have miles between you, schedule a Google Hangout, or phone call. Ask questions about the company, what they like about their positions, what are the challenges that company is tackling, how is the culture, and do they have opportunities for growth? Note: I did not say to ask them about how to get a job there, or to connect you with a specific hiring manager. This is important! This is what is called an informational interview. It is to glean information. When you find a position that rocks your socks, send your contact an email identifying the job title and number. Let this person know that you are going to submit your application online on Friday (it is now Tuesday), but if they have an employee referral program and he/she is comfortable referring you, the resume and cover letter are attached. If not, you will be submitting the application online. No harm, no foul.
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These cover the most pertinent questions/comments I received. If there are additional questions you would like to see covered, let me know! Send me a connection request. And, thank you for your service. Not just a cultural saying, but stated with the sincerest of sentiments. #Respect #Admiration #Veterans #JobSearchTips #MilitaryTransition

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