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7/31/2019 2012 Grantham University Military to Civilian Transition Manual
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Grantham
UniversityCareer Center
Military-to-CivilianTransition Manual
2012
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Dear Service Member,
I would first like to thank you for your service to our Great Country in the form of your dedicated Military
Service. A new world is opening up for you now. I am honored to receive the opportunity to assist you with this
process.
You will find that your military service and experience is highly sought after in the civilian world. Manyemployers attempt to recruit their employees directly out of the military because of the quality of training, work
experience, ethic, and professionalism that are linked with your military experience.
With great pride, Grantham University considers itself a military friendly institution. This manual is another
way that we are able to give something back to you, a service member of our Great Military.
Today, there are four major barriers to soldiers getting employed quickly within their chosen professional field:
Thebrandinginformationthattheyputforthintotheirresumedoesnotmatchtheircareertoolsortheirprofessionalgoals.
Manysoldiersjobsearchtoolstendtobeoutdatedandnonfunctional Manysoldiersdonotbuildaprofessionalciviliannetworkaheadoftime;therefore,theyareunable
maximizetheuseoftheirconnectionstoobtaininformationaboutthehiddenjobmarket
ManysoldiersdonotutilizecivilianjobsearchsitestotheirfullestpotentialIt is the intent of this manual to assist you in combining your military training, experience, achievements and
awards with your education to create functional job search tools, and to arm you with information so that you are
able to conduct a productive and successful job search within your chosen profession.
Grantham University has been serving the needs of working adults and military members for over 60 years. We
pride ourselves on being a military friendly institution. We want to help our military members and veterans in
any way that we can. Therefore, please feel free to keep my contact information and contact me any time with
questions.
Sincerely,
Shanna M. Fowler
Career Services Manager
Grantham University
Phone: 1-800-955-2527 ext. 280
Fax: 1-866-752-6028
E-mail: sfowler@grantham.edu
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Table of Contents
Topic: Page Number:Transition Process 1
Separation Checklist 2
Career Testing 3-4
Professional Branding 5-6
Creating an Online Professional Presence 7-9
Building Your Online Profile Using LinkedIn 10-13
Sample LinkedIn Profile 14-15
Joining Professional Associations 16-17
Civilian Resumes 18-26Sample Civilian Resumes 27-30
Civilian Cover Letters 31-34
Sample Cover Letters 35-37
Federal Resumes 38-44
Sample Federal Resume 45-47
Federal Cover Letters 48-51
Sample Federal Cover Letter 52-53
Professional Portfolios 54-58
Sample Electronic Professional Portfolio 59-74Worksheets 75-82
KASE 76
Career Qualifications Research Worksheet 77
Career Planning Worksheet 78
Branding Worksheet 79
Application Tracking Form 80
Interview Cheat Sheet 81
Personal and Professional Reference Sheet 82
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The Transition Process within the Military
There are many steps in the transition process, especially within the individual military branches. The
process changes from branch-to-branch, and is different for each individual. In many cases, the servicemember is asked to make a list of where they would like to transition out of, and then the military will
review its own needs and transfer the military member according to those needs. This is one way that
the military helps the service member get ready for their civilian job search with little out of pocket
expense to the service member. Depending on the branch, this transfer can take place years prior to theservice members separation date.
The Transition Assistance Programs (TAPs) are one way that the military can assist you in preparing foryour civilian transition. Each branch has a unique version of their TAP program, and there is a chart
below for you to refer to the appropriate branchs TAPs program:
Branch TAPsProgram Website
Army ACAP(ArmyCareerandAlumni
Program)
http://www.acap.army.mil/aww/transition_assistance/tran
s_assist.cfm
AirForce TAP(TransitionAssistance
Program)
http://www.afcommunity.af.mil/transition/
CoastGuard TAP(TransitionAssistance
Program)
http://www.uscg.mil/worklife/transition_assistance.asp
Navy TAP(TransitionAssistance
Program)
http://www.cnic.navy.mil/CNIC_HQ_Site/WhatWeDo/Fleet
andFamilyReadiness/FamilyReadiness/FleetAndFamilySupp
ortProgram/TransitionAssistance/index.htm
Marine TAMP(TransitionAssistance
ManagementProgram)
http://www.usmcmccs.org/tamp/index.cfm?sid=ml
DoD TAP(TransitionAssistance
Program)
http://warriorcare.dodlive.mil/transitionassistance/
While the military does all it can to assist in positioning you for a successful civilian job search, there
are some items that you will need to start doing up to two and a half years prior to your separation date.Below, you will find a checklist of items that you will need to complete up to 36 months prior to your
separation date.
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Separation Checklist
Military Separation Date: MM/DD/20YY
Task Recommendations Actual Start Date Completion DateTake Career Test 36 Months prior to
your separation date
Begin creating your brand 36 Months prior to
your separation date
Establish an online professional presence 36 Months prior to
your separation date
Create a LinkedIn Profile to build your
professional network
36 Months prior to
your separation date
Join professional groups and associationsfor networking purposes
36 Months prior toyour separation date
Create and Maintain your CareerWarehouse (Master Portfolio)
36 Months prior toyour separation date
Research the civilian requirements foryour chosen field.
24 Months prior toyour separation date
Research companies associated with thefield and create a Top 5 list
24 Months prior toyour separation date
Create a clear and measurable JobSearch Plan
24 Months prior toyour separation date
Begin creating/building your professional
brand on your social networking sites
24 Months prior to
your separation date
Complete and Maintain your
Qualifications Inventory (KASE)
18 Months prior to
your separation date
Create your Federal Resume 18 Months prior toyour separation date
Create a matching Federal Cover Letterto match your resume 18 Months prior toyour separation date
Create your profile on USAJobs 18 Months prior toyour separation date
Create your Civilian Resume 15 Months prior toyour separation date
Create a matching Civilian Cover Letterto match your resume
15 Months prior toyour separation date
Create your profile on selected civilianjob search sites
15 Months prior toyour separation date
Begin networking with individuals thatare employed by employers on your Top
5 employers list
15 Months prior toyour separation date
Begin your passive Federal Job Search 13 Months prior to
your separation date
Begin your passive Civilian Job Search 12 Months prior to
your separation date
Begin your aggressive Federal Job Search 6 Months prior toyour separation date
Begin your aggressive Civilian JobSearch
6 Months prior toyour separation date
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Career Testing
Career Testing is not a new concept. Career Testing is widely utilized by many companies as part of their hiring
process, and many staffing firms utilize them in order to properly place individuals. Transitioning military
members and veterans are very unique because you tend to be highly skilled in multiple areas; therefore, the
question is where will you be the happiest at. In order to effectively answer this question, many times you willneed outside resources, such as career tests. There are many career tests, and many are at no cost, whereas others
have a small fee associated with them.
The purpose of the career tests is to find out what your strengths are, how those strengths will help you in social
settings, settings that are good for you, and based on your strengths the types of fields that you would likely enjoy.
There are many career tests that are online, and not all tests are reputable; therefore, I have included a listing
below of some common career tests that I have had experience utilizing:
TestName AbouttheExam Fee(IfKnown) LinktoExamPage
CareerTest.net Testdetermines
personalitytypeand
correlatescareersbasedonyourpersonalitytype
results.
NoFee http://www.careertest.net/
CareerPath.com Correlatescareersbased
oncolorsorother
indicators,which
representinterests,
values,andskillswith
availablepositionson
CareerBuilder.
NoFee;
however,there
areafewmore
advancedtests
thatdohave
fees.
http://www.careerpath.com/careertests/
MyNextMove SponsoredbyO*NET
(DepartmentofLabor),thetestisaninterest
profilerthatcorrelates
interestswithcareer
fields,andprovidesthe
individualwithresults
thatarebyeducational
attainment.
NoFee http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip
StrengthsFinder Thetestlooksforyour
professionalstrengthsby
askingyouabout
professionalsituation.
Theresultsaregenerally
fiveprofessional
strengths,andthe
correspondingbook
expandsuponthe
strengths.
Nofeeifyou
purchasedthe
book;however,
ifyouhavenot
purchasedthe
book,thereisa
smallfee.
http://www.strengthsfinder.com/home.aspx
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Remember, your career test results are only as accurate as the information that you put into the test; therefore,
remember that the test is a tool for you to utilize to begin planning your career path, and is not something that has
to be advertized within the workplace.
As our interests change, so will our career test results, which is why we can be happy for years in one position,
and then suddenly the position no longer brings us the same happiness. Career tests are a tool that we utilize to
gauge our interest and skill level within a specific career field; however, it is up to the individual to create a clearplan to get to the career goal listed (if that is something that the individual is interested in pursuing).
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Professional Branding
In todays job market, an employer wants to know the applicant before they are hired, and they want to know the
applicants skill level. Applicants have to do things that will set them apart, and applicants must be able to market
themselves effectively in order to quickly obtain a position. This professional marketing is calledBranding, and
Brandingis the name of the game in the current job market.
Branding is not something that is done quickly, your brand is something that has to be nurtured continuously, and
it must be continuously added upon. You want your brand to have a clear message about you, professionally, and
your professional knowledge. You want to build and expand your brand so that it is recognized by professionals
within your field and by employers.
Branding is at the heart of professional networking; therefore, the first task that you want to complete is to modify
all of your social networking sites to ensure that all your sites are sending out consistent messages about you,
professionally. The last thing that you want to happen is to have an employer confused due to the personal
messages that you are sending out on social networking sites like: Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace; therefore,
you want these sites to be consistent with your other branding tools (professional networking sites, web pages,
blogs, etc.).
In addition to sending out consistent messages,you will want the content of each social networking profile to be
professional in nature. This is very important, as there have been several cases where current, and in one case
recently a future employee, wrote disgruntled messages about a company, and they were then terminated by said
company, or the offer of employment was withdrawn. Dont include any content, including pictures and wall
postings that you would not want a current or future employer to view at their leisure. You want your
professional brand to say that you are professional, knowledgeable, educated, and a skilled individual that has
extensive experience within your chosen professional field.
It has long time been said that it is not what you know or how many people you know, it is all about who you
know. This same principle pertains to people and associations that you choose to affiliate yourself with; therefore,
make sure that the people that you formally associate yourself within in your professional networking groups areprofessional and respectable, and make sure that you are affiliated with associations that are going to benefit
you and your brand. Associations are great tools that will assist you in developing your professional brand an
expanding your network.
A great example of how a professional association assists in the development of a professional brand and
expanding an individuals professional network is SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management). SHRM
assists professionals in the development of their brand because it is a highly respected association within the
Human Resources field, especially because of all of the professional development opportunities that it provides its
members. In addition to all of the professional development opportunities and career specific information that the
association provides its members, the association also has an internal social networking tool that allows human
resources professionals to expand their professional network online, as well as through live in-person events.
Branding is more than having an online presence; it is also about being able to network and being able to
communicate your skills, experience, and knowledge to other professionals in a very short amount of time. You
want the content that you convey verbally to other professionals to coincide with the content that you have put outfor the world in the form of social networking sites, and other online tools.
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In order to effectively create and maintain your brand, you should create the following statements that
should also be mentioned in detail within your online presence:
9 3035secondexplanationofwhatyoudo
9 3035secondexplanationofyourprofessionalgoals
9 3035secondexplanationofyourcurrentplanstoattainyourprofessionalgoalsstated
9 30secondexplanationofyourprofessionalhistory(TheHighlightsrelatingtohowyougottowhereyou
arenow)
9 10secondstatementofyourcurrentprojects
The above statements are calledElevator Statements, which means that you should be able to get through the
content of the explanations within a short elevator ride, and you should be able to get the same information from
the party in which you are sharing the elevator ride within the same elevator ride. These statements also come
very useful in an interview setting because you rarely want your answers to exceed 35 seconds within a first
interview, unless the interviewer is asking for a detailed explanation.
It is important that you keep the messages conveyed in your Elevator Statements consistent with the messages that
you are sending out in your online presence. Consistency is the key, and consistency will make you more
memorable and many people will consider you more of a professional if the messages that you send out are
consistent with your written messages. This skill directly correlates with your verbal and written communication
skills, which are highly sought after skills by many employers.
Branding will take time to complete, and it is up to the professional to decide how they are going to proceed. The
remaining portions of this section will focus on how to create and maintain an online professional presence, and
how to create profiles and how to be active in professional networking communities like LinkedIn. The previous
three items are crucial in the development of your professional brand, and they should be tools that you utilize
frequently to maintain your professional brand.
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Creating an Online Professional Presence
Most people have some sort of online presence; however, they tend to have a personal online presence, not a
professional online presence. When looking for a job, employers will view your personal online profiles as well
as your professional online profiles; therefore, it is important that your general online presence is giving the samemessage whether the profile is professional or personal.
In order to maintain a professional online presence, it is important that you remove any content from all of your
social networking sites that you do not want a potential employer to see. Please keep in mind that your photos are
generally viewable to employers, as well; therefore, dont forget to remove any pictures that you dont want an
employer to see. Prospective employers will review your personal and professional profiles to get a general idea
of how you will fit in with their company and/or departmental culture.
When you are branding yourself and creating an online professional presence, you want to have the same message
for each of your social networking sites, including: Twitter, MySpace, and Facebook. To better create a
professional presence, it is good to have a professional website and a professional blog that attaches to your social
networking sites. You can link your website and blog to your social networking sites, especially if you begin to
write articles that are related to your career field. The purpose of the blog and website is to show the world that
you are a true professional within your field.
Creating a website is incredibly easy, especially with all of the website builders online. The most common
method is through Yahoo because of their advanced webpage builders, and their previous association with
GeoCities. I have included a list of some of the more common web hosting sites and services below:
HostingSite Pricing
Information
Includes
Domain?
Link
JustHost.com $4.45(Promotional
Price)
Yes http://www.justhost.com/
iPage $4.25(PromotionalPrice)
Yes http://www.ipage.com/ipage/index.html
FatCowGreen
Hosting
$4.67(Promotional
Price)
Yes http://www.fatcow.com/fatcow/special
promo.bml?offer=INMAN&LinkName=No_Name
Inmotion
hosting
$5.95(Promotional
Price)
Yes http://www.inmotionhosting.com/
Hub $4.95(Promotional
Price)
Yes http://www.webhostinghub.com/
BlueHost $6.95 Yes http://www.bluehost.com/
IXWebHosting.
com
$4.95(Promotional
Price)
Yes http://www.ixwebhosting.com/
HostMonster $5.95 Yes http://www.hostmonster.com/YahooSmall
Business
$7.45 Yes http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting
IPower $4.95(Promotional
Price)
Yes http://www.ipower.com/ipower/index.bml
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Building a website increases your online professional presence, and it allows you to further build your
professional brand. You can utilize blogging features, email domain features (if the webhosting company offers
that feature), and you can even send out newsletters to help further build your brand. Remember, the better your
brand is built and the more well known you are amongst your peers within your field, the easier it will be to get a
job within the hidden job market.
There are other methods to building your professional online presence other than social networking, building awebsite, and maintaining a professional blog, and one of those methods is to join professional associations. Many
professional associations have online social networking tools and applications that are hosted within their
Members Pages. This tool allows you to connect with association members, and the association members are
generally other professionals within your career field. Many hiring managers will post positions within the
Member Only Pages of a professional association, and will utilize the social networking tools provided within the
site to review association members in order to locate potential candidates for their open positions; therefore, the
utilization of the association social networking tools provides you with another method to tap into the hidden job
market.
Building your brand is not just limited to the building of web pages and consistent information on your personal
social networking pages; it is also for your professional networking pages as well. The most well known
professional networking site is LinkedIn; however, there are many more professional networking sites that youcould benefit from, and I have included a list of those below:
SiteName Purpose Link
Biznik Communityofentrepreneursand
smallbusinesses
http://biznik.com/
Cofoundr Communityforentrepreneurs,
programmers,designers,investors,
andindividualswhoareinvolvedin
theprocessforstartingupnew
ventures.
http://cofoundr.com/
E.Factor Onlinemarketplacecomprisedofentrepreneursforentrepreneurs.
http://www.efactor.com/
Ecademy Businessnetworkforprofessionalsto
createandmaintaincontactswhile
sharingknowledge.
http://www.ecademy.com/
Entrepreneur
Connect
Onlinecommunitiesfor
entrepreneurstoconnect,
communicate,andsharetheir
knowledge.
http://econnect.entrepreneur.com/
FastPitch Abusinessnetworkandplatform
whereprofessionalscanmarket
businessandconnect.
http://www.fastpitchnetworking.com/
Networkingfor
Professionals
Aprofessionalbusinessnetworkthat
providestheplatformforonline
networkingwiththeinperson
networkingthroughevents.
http://www.networkingforprofessionals.co
m/
LinkedIn(Most
Common)
Onlineprofessionalnetworking
platformthatallowscollaborationand
connection.
http://www.linkedin.com/
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You do not have to limit yourself to one networking site, as you can create and maintain multiple online profiles.
Please keep the following in mind: the more profiles that you have, the more work you must do to ensure that the
information is up to date and the more work you have to do to stay active within the online communities.
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Building Your Online Profile Using LinkedIn
Many people think of LinkedIn as an electronic resume, and some even consider LinkedIn as an electronic
portfolio. People consider it an electronic resume because all of the information provided is the same type of
information provided on a resume submitted to a potential employer. Many people consider it to be an electronic
portfolio because it includes affiliations (generally in the form of groups) and professional recommendations.Because it does contain similar information to a resume, many employers will recruit from LinkedIn, and they
will review applicants LinkedIn pages if they are able to.
Remember, if you have a LinkedIn page, you have a public presence online; therefore, when building your
online LinkedIn profile, there are several items that you must keep in mind:
1. Theprofileis visiblepublically, meaning thatanyonethat Googlesyour name could potentially find
yourprofile.
2. Many recruiters and hiring managers are turning to professional networking sites, like LinkedIn as
potential recruiting arenas; therefore, keep this as professional as you would your resume and
professionalportfolio,asthisisconsideredyourprofessionalreputation.
There are many professional networking sites, as you saw in the previous section; however, the most common is
LinkedIn because it is cost effective and widely utilized within the United States, as well as internationally.
Because LinkedIn is the most widely utilized professional networking site, the information going forward will be
specific to your professional profile on LinkedIn.
The first thing that you will need to know about creating a profile on LinkedIn is that there is not a fee for creating
and maintaining a professional profile, nor is there currently a fee for being actively taking a part within the
professional networking groups. There is a cost to have more advanced profiles. Having an advanced profilegenerally means that your profile meets one of the following criteria: has exceeded a specified number of group
memberships (50 is generally the limit), and/or you have signed up (generally when you created your profile) to
utilize their employment center where they marketyou by sending your information throughout their network and
having your information appear higher than non-paying members in employer searches.
Creating the profile on LinkedIn is quite easy, you will sign up much the same way you would any other social
networking site; however, please bear in mind that employers will see your email address and other information.
Because potential employers will see this information, please make sure that all information, including your email
address, is professional in nature and supports the professional brand and message that you are portraying.
The initial LinkedIn sign-up process is very easy; however, making your profile 100% is a little more
complicated. The easiest place to start is at the beginning; therefore, gather your employment history.
You will need the following items regarding each employer:
9 Theemployersname9 TheCityandStateoftheemployer
9 Yourstartingandendingdates
9 TheCareerField
9 Asummaryofyourdutiesandaccomplishments
9 Yourprofessionalgoalormissionstatement
9 Asummaryofyouremployment
o Numberofyearswithinaspecificfield
o Knowyourspecialties
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Entering your employers information is the easy part; however, when you detail your summary of duties and
accomplishments, make sure that you are painting a positive professional portrait of yourself. You will want there
to be a reoccurring theme of work ethics, values, accomplishments and even duties in your position summaries.
For instance, if you are employed within the Labor Relations field of Human Resources, you will want the labor
relations theme to run within the applicable job summaries. You may also want themes, such as: honesty,
integrity, enforcement of regulations, company culture, communication, etc.
Just like with your resume, you will want to enter your employment information in reverse chronological order.
This means that your present employer will be the first employer seen closest to the top of the section, and your
oldest employer will be closer to the bottom of your profile.
After you have entered your employment information, you will want to enter your formal education. You should
start with your current degree that is in-progress, and then enter the completed degrees in the order of highest
attained degree to lowest attained degree. If you wish, for networking purposes, you can include your high school
graduation information on your LinkedIn profile. When listing your education, dont forget to include
associations and activities that you participated in; however,I would recommend not including professional
associations that give away your sexual orientation and your religious practices, as these are private and have
no place on a professional public profile.
After you have entered your employment and educational history within LinkedIn, you should begin your profile
summary. Remember, the profile summary will be the first item that an individual sees (just below your name)
upon viewing your public profile; therefore, think of this as your Qualifications/Skills Summary on your resume.
You will want to highlight your professional experience and the number of years of experience within a specific
field that you have. You will also want to enter your professional goals and aspirations here to let the world know
what you are setting out to do, professionally. Listing specialties is designed to assist you in being viewed/found
in key word searches conducted by other LinkedIn members and even in Google searches completed by non-
members. Including the specialties brings another level of professionalism to your profile; therefore, I would
recommend including specialties within your profile.
Remember, this is an electronic resume; therefore, you do want to include any honors or awards received. Those
that are in the military should have a very extensiveHonors and Awards section because each award,commendation, and medal should be listed in this section.
Each profile has a Settings area at the bottom of the profile. These settings can be very tricky because
employers have different thoughts on different settings. For the most part, your settings should not change. The
only settings that could change several times are whether or not someone should contact you regarding CareerOpportunities and Job Inquiries. These are also the settings that many employers disagree on. Manyemployers will only recruit a potential candidate if they are not looking for career opportunities; however, others
will not contact a potential candidate unless they state that they want to be contacted for Career Opportunitiesor Job Inquiries. There have been instances where individuals have received more offers and contacts if theyare not looking for another position; however, the reverse has also been true.
There are many other sections that are optional because they pertain to specific career fields; therefore, please feelfree to add them if they pertain to you. Adding additional fields like Achievements and Experiences may help
you in the long run; however, make sure that you are as specific as possible regarding the information entered.
Generally speaking, if you add these fields, they are managed by LinkedIn applications; therefore, make sure that
you are utilizing the applications in a way that is going to present you in the best professional light.
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Many individuals have extreme difficulty getting their profile to 100%; therefore, I have included some
basic information that a LinkedIn member will need in order to bring their profile to 100%:
9 Haveyourcurrentjoblisted
9 Haveatleasttwopreviouspositionslistedinyouremploymenthistory
9 Haveyoureducationalhistorylisted(youshouldlistdegreesinprogressorinstitutionsthatyouhave
attendedandhavetransferrablecreditfromifyoudonothaveanycompleteddegrees)
9 YouneedtohaveacompletedProfileSummary
9 Uploadaprofessionalphoto(thisphotowillbeabletobeviewedbyanyonewhoviewsyourprofile)
9 Includeyourprofessionalspecialties
9 Haveat least3 recommendationsfromotherLinkedInmembers(Youwillgenerallyrequestthesefrom
yourprofessionalconnections,anditisappropriateforyoutoreciprocatearecommendationwhenone
iswrittenforyou.)
The purpose of LinkedIn is for professionals to connect with each other, and even share information. In order to
do this, professionals need a forum; therefore, LinkedIn has the Groups feature. Anyone, including associations,
can create a group within LinkedIn for professionals to connect and discuss relevant issues related to their careerfield. Each group will have differing membership settings; therefore, if you join a group and your Groups Pageshows that the membership is pending, this not abnormal.
It is best to join groups that are going to allow you to network with other individuals within your career field.
You can locate these groups through key word searches within the LinkedIn Search Feature. Once you find agroup that is of interest to you, you will click on Join and it will take you to a group settings page. You will
want to make sure that your settings are appropriate for the group and for the type of notifications that youd liketo receive.
If you are a member of professional organizations, you will want to make sure that you join their LinkedIn groups.
Joining their groups allows you to interact with group individuals and be privy to information that may not be on
the association site yet, which gives you an edge over other professionals that are not part of the field. Joining the
group is also another way for you to network with other members and be active within the group setting.
Groups offer a variety of benefits. One benefit is the networking capabilities and the social interactions between
you and other group members within the discussion forums, events, and webinars. Another great benefit is that
many hiring managers will post open positions within a group for individuals within the group to apply for. This
is part of what many recruiting professionals call the hidden job market. An advantage of applying for a job
this way is that you are a familiar individual because you are a member of the same group as the hiring manager.
That hiring manager can not only view your profile, but they can also review your discussion postings and
responses to get a feel for your skill level and level of professional knowledge. In a case where you are a
member of the same LinkedIn group as the hiring manager that you have applied with provides the potential
employer with several writing samples and a general feel for the type of verbiage that you utilize on a regular
basis, which potentially speaks for whether or not youd fit within the company culture.
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Participating within groups is highly important. If the information that you provide is accurate and helpful, many
individuals may decide to follow you within the group, or even connect with you. This following tactic allowsyou to build and expand your professional network very quickly. This practice of participating in discussions and
events also is branding opportunity for you. The content that you post within LinkedIn, or any social networking
site, should coincide with the professional image that you want portrayed about yourself. If you want to be known
as a professional within your field, you must participate in discussions and show the professional field that you
know your stuff. You can prove that through interactions, webinars, networking events, and even your publicprofile.
Many groups and associations will have local chapters within specific areas that have regular meetings. If you
join a local group within LinkedIn that does have regular meetings within an area, you will want to use your
judgment regarding safety and make sure that you take measures to ensure your own safety, such as notifying
someone at home where you will be and what time you will be back.
LinkedIn is a type of electronic resume, and it does have features that allow you to utilize your profile in such a
way. For example, the profile does have a tool that will allow you to view and download your profile in a .PDF
file format. You will notice that the document that is downloaded is similar to a resume, and it does have your
recommendations on a separate page, as it tells the reviewer that # recommendations available upon request. I
have included a copy of the PDF File from my public profile at the end of this section. The profile also has afeature that allows you to share your profile with other users of LinkedIn to help you increase your connections
and to remind your existing connections to update and maintain their profiles.
LinkedIn does have features that allow you to utilize it like an electronic professional portfolio. For instance, it
has the letters of recommendations that are available for anyone to see that is visiting your public profile. There
are features that allow you to post projects and items that you may include in a Creative Portfolio. There are also
applications that allow you to collaborate on documents. There are many applications that you can add to the
profile to truly make your profile an electronic portfolio, and each item that you add allows a connection, or
outside reviewer in some cases, to view more of your work, knowledge, and experiences.
Remember, LinkedIn is a professional social networking tool; therefore, it is important that you are responsible
when adding information and files to your profile. Once content is added to the site, it is difficult to removebecause the item is often cachedinto the site and will not be removed until the cache is cleared. You should only
include information and files that you would want a potential, or even current, employer to see.
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Shanna FowlerCareer Services Manager
Summary
5 Years of Human Resources and Employment Recruiting experience
5 Years of Retail Management experience5 Years of Higher Education experience
5 Years of Student Services Experience
3 Years of Career Services Management experience
It is my goal to provide quality information to students to make them successful in utilizing their
credentials within their own job search.
Specialties
Student Services, Career Services Management, Student Retention, Employee Recruitment,Customer Service
Experience
Career Services Coordinator/Manager at Grantham University
January 2006 - Present (5 years 3 months)
Currently manages Grantham University's Career Services Program. Duties include: reviewing and
updating Career Services' materials and resources on a designated schedule, make changes to the
materials as needed, reviewing the usage of all services to determine the services used the most
and to determine the reason that other services are not being used, creating and updating all
training materials for the program on a designated schedule. In addition to creating and
maintaining all Career Services' materials, I also create, market, and facilitate all Webinars for
current students and graduates to attend for their own professional development.
5 recommendations available upon request
Cash Manager at Barnes and Noble
September 2007 - March 2009 (1 year 7 months)
Balanced all drawers and store safe. Tracked shortages and overages to review whether or not
trends are appearing for specific employees and customers to ensure shrink is managed, and even
reduced. Managed and trained a staff of 10. Handled any store complaints and managed store
returns.
Customer Service Representative at T-Mobile
June 2005 - January 2006 (8 months)
Answered incoming customer service calls regarding the following: billing inquiries, technical
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problems, service issues, phone upgrades, and plan/usage reviews.
Cash Manager at CompUSA
August 2003 - June 2005 (1 year 11 months)
Managed a staff of 20. Balanced all drawers and safe. Directly responsible for reducing store
shrink through proper training and vigilance. Handled all chargebacks between credit card
companies and the store. Responsible for training all new hires. Managed applicant database and
was responsible for phases one through three of interview process (application, application
review/call backs, and first interview).
Rides Lead/Office Clerk at Worlds of Fun
April 2002 - October 2003 (1 year 7 months)
Managed a crew of 37 for three seperate rides. Responsible for disciplinary action, training, and
communicating processes to team. Also responsible for interviewing, hiring, and terminating park
employees in the Park Operations Department. In this position, I was responsible for maintaining
an employee and applicant database.
Education
Grantham University
Bachelors of Science, Multi-Disciplinary Studies, 2009 - 2011
Grantham University
Associates of Arts, Multi-Disciplinary Studies, 2006 - 2009
LIBERTY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLHigh School Diploma, General, 1998 - 2002
Activities and Societies: Future Business Leaders of American (FBLA), Advanced Debate,Advanced Forensics, and Student Council
Honors and Awards
Grantham University Service Award July of 2006
Grantham University Chairman's Award December of 2008
Grantham University Student Advising Award June 2010
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Joining Professional Associations
We discussed professional associations previously in the online networking and branding sections of this manual;
however, we did not discuss how to select professional associations and what goes into joining professional
associations. We will be addressing these subjects and other subjects within this section.
Selecting the professional associations that you would like to be a member of can be tricky, especially if you are
not sure how to find the associations. Looking for a listing of associations can be as easy as a Google search;
however, selection on which association to select can be a little more difficult. Most associations will have a
member cost associated with them; therefore, you will want to review the cost of the membership versus the
benefits that you will receive as a member.
Before joining a professional association, will want to know if they offer some of the following benefits:
9 Discountsonprofessionalcertifications
9 Professionaldevelopmentopportunities
9 Accesstodiscountedprofessionalcertifications
9 Webinars
9 Memberonlyresourcesandpublications
9 Accesstomemberonlycontentpertainingtoyourprofessionandnews/changesthatareoccurringin
theprofessioncurrently
9 Networkingopportunities
9 Networkingtools
9 Annualconferences
9 ConventionsandSymposiums
9 Mailedpublications
Generally speaking, your membership fee will not be significant; however, the fee will generally merely grant you
access to member-only content and provide you discounts on events, certifications, conventions, etc. The purpose
of joining professional associations is to obtain the most up-to-date information pertaining to your profession and
to give you the opportunity to attend events and conferences that can easily turn into excellent networking
opportunities.
Many universities, including Grantham University, have student chapters of professional associations. These
provide an invaluable resource to students, as they provide a forum where association members can have
professional development opportunities facilitated by professionals of that field and even have another
engagement opportunity with their instructors.
If a professional cannot join a student chapter of a professional association, most cities have local professionalchapters that one can join. Most of these local chapters will also have a membership fee, and they will generally
meet on a monthly basis, maybe more frequently depending on the organization. Most associations will haveprofessional development opportunities available to attendees at each meeting. These opportunities are not only
great opportunities to professionally develop within your field, but they are also great networking opportunities, as
these professional local chapters are a large window into the hidden job market. Many times, potentially vacant
positions are discussed and even unveiled at these events prior to the positions being formally posted on an
organizations website or even a local online job board, like Monster and CareerBuilder.
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There are many professional associations associated with every career field imaginable; however, I have made a
small listing of larger associations associated with common degree programs and professions below:
HumanResources Financial ComputerScience Engineering CriminalJustice
SHRM ABA ISACA ACM IACP
NHRA AFP CHMBA ASEE ACA
PIHRA AAA ACM ASME NAPPO
CUPAHR FPA CCIA IEEE AJA
HCI SFSP ICCA FEDcia
ERA IMA CompTIA IPA
ASTD AAFA AITP NSA
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Civilian Resumes
The first step to writing a resume is to decide who and what you are writing your resume for, your TargetMarket. You must consider your audience and consider the type of experience that the receiving party wouldlike in their ideal candidate, you can find this information in the job description. For many military service
members, this means translating your training, awards, achievements, and experience into verbiage andterminology that the civilian world can relate to.
The key item that you must keep in mind when writing your resume is time. A typical recruiter and hiring
manager will receive 900 or more resumes for a posted position, and that number can be higher if the job was
posted on a job board site like Monster or CareerBuilder. Because of the sheer number of resumes received, it is
highly important that your resume be organized, concise, and easy for the reviewer to skim through, as the
average reviewer only spends 5 seconds skimming any given resume received for an open position. Throughout
the process of writing your resume, keep the matter of time in mind: 5 seconds is all you have to impress a
potential employer.
The first step to doing this is to electronically record all of yourawards, accomplishments, training and
experience (If Applicable) in one document (Example:KASE Worksheet). This document could be a Word orExcel document. We will use this document later when creating your actual, career-specific, resume. You shouldkeep the information short (Example: Supervised up to 30 employees, Proficient with de-escalating situations,Expert in Microsoft Office Programs, Experience coaching employees in a team environment, etc ). Within thissame document, you will want to record all of your supplemental skills that you possess (Example:Highly
Organized, Good People Skills, Professional Demeanor, Fair, Courteous, etc). The last set of information thatwill be kept in this document are descriptive action verbs that describe some of your duties within your
employment history (Examples: analyzed, budgeted, chaired, coached, edited, established, improved, introduced,
motivated, organized, persuaded, reported, researched, reviewed, saved, solved, supervised, trained, translated,wrote, etc).
The second step is the fun part! You get to decide the type of career that you want to break into. This is the fun
and creative part of the job search, so think outside of the box. You need to first decide on the career field,which will probably be a field linked to the type of degree program that you are currently completing or may have
already completed. You are able to utilize your results from the career test that you previously took for guidance
in this area, should you choose to. The next step is to narrow down the actual career that you want to seek within
that broad career field. For instance, Computer Science is a very large career field that contains careers like:
Computer Programming, Computer Networking, Information Technology, Information Security, Project
Management, etc. You will want to narrow down to a range of three to five careers within a given career field.
You will be working with one of these careers at a time from this point forward.
Once you have decided on your desired career(s) within the given career field, you will want to begin determining
why you want to get into that particular field. If it is merely to utilize your military experience and training within
the civilian world, or even a specific company, then write that down (Example:I want to break into the HumanResources Field because I want to utilize my people skills to make an organization the one of the best places towork in the area). We are going to use this information to create yourobjective statementlater on.
The next step is to decide which awards, accomplishments, training, and military experience are relevant to the
career that you have chosen to target your resume towards. Remember, your resume is not your application, it is
merely a reflection of your skills and experience within a specific career or career field. The goal of the resumeis to get you in the door for an interview with a specific company, hiring manager, or a specific job. You will
complete the actual application, which will contain your employment history, during the initial employment
screening process (initial interview) with your potential employer.
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We will now begin writing objective statements. You will want to brain storm statements that are linked to thecareer field using the statements that you recorded earlier regarding why you want to break into the specific
career. Remember, yourobjective statementis telling the employer the career field that you are breaking into andwhat skills you bring to that field and to the employer. In employer specific resumes, you will want to tell the
employer exactly why you want to work for them and theskills that you uniquely possess that would be a
remarkable assetto their organization and its mission.
The objective statement is the first sentence that an employer will read about you; therefore, it needs to catch their
eye so that they will want to read what other skills you possess that could potentially be assets to their
organization. This statement should be short and should, in some ways, mirror the job descriptions overall theme
and purpose. When writing this statement, you will want to add some powerful action verbs that you recorded in
your document discussed at the beginning of this process (KASE Worksheet). Many employers will merely
complete database searches with some of their desired key words; many times these key words do include the
company name and position title. Often times, the database search will only pull up your resume if the desired
key word is in the objective statement.
Objective Statement Example:
To utilize my ten years of labor relations and recruiting experience combined with my formal education toattract the right talent and retain existing employees in the role of Human Resource Supervisor at XYZ
Company.
There is an alternative to writing an objective if you are uncomfortable writing an objective statement at this time;
however, in todays market it is not a bad thing to have the objective statement and the alternative on your
resume. The alternative objective is merely listing the career field/job title below your name on the resume.
Objective Alternative Examples:
Shanna Fowler Shanna Fowler Shanna Fowler Shanna Fowler
Project Manager Computer Programmer Recruiter Trainer
I highly recommend doing both objective types because the objective statement is a great way to personalize your
resume towards a specific job and company, and the alternative quickly lets the recruiter decide who to forward
your resume to.
We will now begin compiling a list of skills that you have to bring to your future employer. To do this, you must
understand what skills the employer is looking for. According to recent Career Builder Hiring Manager and
Employer Surveys, employers are seeking the following skills: Communication (Oral and Written), Honesty,Integrity, Interpersonal Skills, Motivation, Initiative, Strong Work Ethic, and Team Work Skills.
Professional Skills Profile Example 1:
x 11yearsofhumanresourcesexperience x Excellentorganizationalskillsx Over5yearsofretirementbenefitsexperience x Familiarwithregulationsrelatingtobenefits
x Over3yearsofemploymentbenefitsexperience x Polishedverbalandwrittencommunicationskills
Education is one of the most important parts of your resume because it can solidify your knowledge and
experience, but it can also hurt your application if you provide too much information. Many times applicants will
provide too much information by providing their high school graduation date, which allows the recruiter and
hiring manager enough information that they can accurately calculate your age within two years, which can leave
you open to agism.
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Education Section Example 1:
Grantham University Kansas City, MO
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Expected Completion Date: 04/2011
Sample High School Kansas City, MO
High School Diploma Completed
Your Education section should only include your formal education completed at an accredited college and/or
university. The section should not include professional training and certifications, as these should have their own
sections within your resumes. In many fields, professional training and certifications are just as important as your
formal education and experience; therefore, these need to be proximately listed in your resume.
Professional Certifications Section Example 1:
Professional CertificationsSenior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Completed: 01/2011
Professional Human Resources (PHR) Completed: 12/2008
Professional Certifications Section Example 2:
Professional Licensures and Certificationsx FirearmsLicense x ConcealandCarryLicense x PeaceOfficerLicense
Professional Associationsx MissouriPeaceOfficers
Association
x ProfessionalLawEnforcement
Association(PLEA)
x AmericanFederationofPolice
andConcernedCitizens(AFP&CC)
If you have military experience, that experience already gives future employers a good idea that you meet thebefore preferred skills, because Leadership and Communication skills are skills that the military prides itself on.
These are also skills that should be listed in this section. Other examples of skills that could be listed are as
follows:Advanced Excel, Advanced Word, Advanced Outlook, Advanced Access, Advanced Power Point,
Programming C, Programming in C++, Programming in HTML, Oral Presentation, Organization, ComputerNetworking, Written Communication, etc. Begin compiling all of your skills in an Excel document.
The final step is to select a template. Most employers like to see resumes within a template format within Word
because it organizes the information more efficiently. There are many ways to locate a template. The first, and
preferred way is to create your own template using the template tool within Microsoft Word. The second way is
to complete a resume search within Microsoft Office Online (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/) and
download a pre-made template. The third, and final way, is to complete a search online and select a template at
one of the many resume sites. Some templates found online are free, others will charge a fee for each templatethat you want to view and download.
No matter the template that you select, make sure that your job duties and your accomplishments associated with
each position are highlighted appropriately. Many times, applicants do not give a complete image of the job,
which confuses the potential employer. Make sure that your job duties put your position accomplishments incontext, as this helps answer the employers question of whats in it for me.
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Professional Experience Example Entry 1:
Labor Relations Manager 01/2007-Present
XYZ Technologies Kansas City, MO
Directly responsible for ensuring that the XYZ Technologies was in full union compliance, as well as federal and
state compliance. To ensure compliance with all three entities, became highly entrenched within compliance
regulations, and created several systems designed to update and verify that company polices were directly in linewith union rules, as well as federal and state labor regulations.
Accomplishments Duties
xCreatedacontinuousscheduleforpolicycreationand
updates,andcreatedclearpolicyapprovalprocessto
ensurecompliancewithregulations.
xCreatedandmaintainsapositiverelationshipwith
unionrepresentativestomaintainconsistent
communicationbetweenallparties.
xCreatedaHumanResourceManualformanagers,in
ordertoassistthemwiththeirquestionsabout
internalpoliciesandprocedures.
xAdvisedmanagersonhandlingindividualpersonnel
issuesinmannerthatwaslegal,ethical,andinline
withestablishedrules.
Professional Experience Example Entry 2:
Employee Benefits Administrator 05/2007-PresentABC Technologies Kansas City, MO
xWorkedwithfinancialorganizationsandinsurancecompaniestoputtogethertheemployeebenefitspackagefor
currentemployees,andcreatedproceduresforCOBRAwithinsurancecarriers.
xQuicklyresolvedanyemployeeproblemswiththeretirementpackageortheinsuranceplanswiththeindividual
venders,andthattheresolutionwasfairtotheemployeeandwithinagreeduponpolicies.
xCoordinatedallannualreviewsanddirectlyprocessedallemployeestimecardswithADP,changesinpay,
processingnewemployees,terminations,andemployeechangestotaxfilingstatus.
Professional Experience Example Entry 3:
Highway Patrol Officer 12/2008-Present
Missouri State Highway Patrol Kearney, MOAccomplishments and Awards Duties
x1of3officersselectedtotrainrecruitsintheonthe
jobtrainingcomponentofHighwayPatrolAcademy.
xCoordinateswithstateandfederallawenforcement
agenciestolocateanddetainpersonsofinterest.
xLiaisonbetweenMOHighwayPatrolandFederal
Agenciesduetopolishedcommunicationskills
xEnforcesstateandfederalhighwaylawstoensurethe
safetyofcitizensandmotorists.
xReceivedacommendationforaccuratereporting. xOftenthefirstrespondertohighwayaccidentscenes.
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If you download a template to use, remember that thousands of people have likely downloaded that same
template; therefore, make sure that you make the template your own by changing aspects of it. You can change
the font, you can add tables, and you can even change the order of the sections. Again, keep in mind thatyour
resume is a unique professional portrait of you; therefore, your unique skills and experience shouldnt fit
within just any resume template, so make a resume template that fits to your personal skills and experiences.
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Anatomy of a Civilian Resume
Contact Information:
1. Full Name (You can only include your middle initial if youd like)
2. The type ofprofessionalthat you are (Example: Human Resources Professional) - This really helps thereviewer quickly know where to forward your document prior to reading your objective statement.3. Mailing Address (Recruiters often verify this information in a specialized verification tool; therefore,
make sure that you list the address where you receive your mail.)
4. Telephone number (Day Time Phone Number) Never include your desk phone at your current job,unless you are applying for a promotion within your current organization.
5. Email address (Primary email address) -Do not include your employers email, this should be a personal
email address; however, the exception to this rule is again if you are applying for a promotion withinyour current organization. The email address that you provide should be professional (Example:
shanna.fowler@example.com).
Objective:
This should be one sentence, and the Objective Statementshould be position, even company specific. Thestatement should includeKey words and Action words that may show up on an ATS (Applicant Tracking System)
search.
There are two primary parts of an Objective Statement, and they are as follows:
1. General Qualifications
a. Could be Experience
b. Could be Skills
c. Could be Education
2. Professional Goals and/or Aspirations
a. Could be as simple as attaining the job that you are applying forb. Could be as complex and specific as having an goal that youd like to accomplish in the position,
if hired.
Note: You can find those key words and action words in the job description, and employers often use the company
name and position title as Key Words for the ATS System.
Skills Profile:
Just like the objective statement, you will want to use key words linked to the position that you are applying for.
This is an ideal section for you to include computer skills and other technical skills. The employer will likelyhave a skill-set of theirperfectcandidate in mind; therefore, you can utilize the job description itself to uncover
these ideal skills for theirperfectcandidate. By doing this, you show that you could potentially be very close, inskills, to theirperfectcandidate.
Note: You should only include 6-8 skills/qualifications in this section.
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Education:
Your education should be listed in reverse chronological order, or highest attained degree to lowest attained
degree. If you are currently working on a degree, you will want to list that information at the top with your
expected graduation date. To prevent age discrimination, do not list your high school graduation date, unless
the employer requests the information. Requesting high school graduation information is not uncommon for
companies that handle confidential or government information.
Make sure that you include the following information related to each educational milestone achieved:
1. Name of institution
2. City and State
3. Degree (Example: Bachelors of Science in Business Administration)
4. Graduation Date or Expected Graduation Date
1. As an alternative to the date, you can just state the word Completed for this section
Note: To prevent age discrimination, do not list your high school graduation date. If you believe that agraduation date leaves you open to ageism, you can just list the word Completed in place of the graduation
date.
Professional Training:
You can have a majorTrainingheading or you can have an Education and Professional Trainingheading, andthen haveEducation as a subheading andProfessional Trainingas another subheading. Both methods are highly
utilized; therefore, it is a matter of which method best compliments your skills and experiences.
If you have a lot of training, make sure that you are only listing the training that is relevant to the position. Try to
limit the training that you list to 3-6 training entries.
The training entries should mirror your Education entries in certain ways; therefore, the entries should
include the following sections:
1. Training Title
2. Completion Date
If you earned a certificate, you will put the name of the certificate in place of the training title and will want to
adjust to Professional Training subheading to the following: Professional Training and Certificates.
Note: The training and certifications listed in this section should be relevant; therefore, try to includeprofessionally related training and certifications, and try to make sure that the information listed is within 10years. There are exceptions to the 10 year rule depending on the type of training and certification; therefore, use
your best judgment.
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Experience:
This is traditionally where one would list their professional work experience that is relevant to the position that
they are applying for. This is the section of your resume where you are telling the employer that you know your
field well by showing the positions that you have held that have prepared you for the duties and responsibilities of
the position in which you are applying for.
There are three acceptable ways to list this information:
1. Employment/Work History: If you utilize this heading, the reviewer is going to expect to see every
position that you have held and have been paid for. This heading is generally only seen on some types of
federal resumes; however, sometimes a job description will ask for this specific information on all
resumes submitted to them. The order should be reverse chronological order.2. Professional Experience: If you utilize this heading, the reviewer is going to expect to see every position
that youve held that is relevant to the position that you are applying for. Relevancy is usually
determined by similar duties and how long ago the position was held. Generally speaking, the positions
listed in this section should only go back 5-7 years and no more than 10 years. The order should bereverse chronological order.
o If you have military and civilian professional experience, you may want to have two sub-headings
under your Professional Experience heading:Related Civilian Experience andRelated MilitaryExperience.
The first sub-heading should be the one with the most recent professional experience.
3. Experience: Prior to utilizing this header, please note that this is the broadest of all of the acceptable
headers. Within this header, you can list yourprofessional experience, and experience gained throughother avenues, such as: Military Experience, Contracting Experience, Professional Work Experience,Internships, Volunteer Experience, Course Work, Course Projects, etc. Because this section is so broad,if you include experience attained by avenues other than professional experience, you will want to sign-post these to make it easier for the reviewer to understand where the experience was attained from. Allentries should be listed in reverse chronological order.
o Note:If you include course projects in this section, it is a good idea to include a copy of the final
project in your portfolio.
Achievements:
Detail specific milestones that you achieved that can be quantitatively measured. For Example: Increased
revenue by 35% by instituting an electronic communication process.
There are two ways to highlight your achievements:
1. Have a specific section for it just under yourSkills Profile. The problem with this method is that it could
leave the recruiter/hiring manager guessing where the achievement occurred, which can likely land your
resume in the round file.2. Have a sub-heading for achievements/accomplishments under each employment heading within your
experience section on your resume. This method shows the recruiter/hiring manager where the
achievements occurred and allows them to have a visual image on your resume that you consistently go
above and beyond your assigned duties.
a. Note: If you use this method, I recommend utilizing the Table Tool in word processingapplication to create two columns- the first one to the left would be for Accomplishments and the
second one to the right would be for duties. You want the accomplishments on the left because weread from left to right; therefore, the reviewer will notice your accomplishments prior to your jobduties.
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Membership, Affiliations, and Certifications:
You can adjust the section title accordingly (Examples: Memberships and Affiliations, Certifications,
Affiliations and Certifications, Memberships and Certifications. etc); however, this section should give an
employer the perception that you are connected within your profession, and that you are consistently trying to
improve yourself professionally by corresponding with individuals within your profession and obtaining further
professional certifications.
Because employers do want their employees connected to others within their profession, many employers will
review your professional social networking profile to see what groups you belong to, how active you are in those
groups, and to merely view your profile to see who you are connected to and what you state that you are doing.
Often times, especially if you have certifications, this section will be with education or professional training.
Many times, people will rename their Professional Training subheading to Professional Certifications, and this is
an acceptable alternative.
Again, the presentation of this section varies by how this section best puts your unique skills and experience in
context to your reviewer (recruiter /hiring manager).
Note: Make sure that you exclude any information that may be used to discriminate against you in this section.
References:
Remember, you dont have to list your references in theReferences section unless the job description specificallyasks for your references. Keep in mind, you want to protect the personal information of your references;
therefore, it is inadvisable to keep the contact information of your references with their names on a generic resume
stored online.
To avoid listing their personal information, but to keep the References heading, it is more common to find the
below statement in this section instead of references because it lets the reviewer know that you do have referencesand they need to ask you for the contact information of those references:
References will be furnished upon request.
Tips on Formatting the Resume Document:
xUse your space effectively and maintain alignment xRemember, your margins are not set in stone
xUse the table tool in Word to maximize your space xUse bullets to keep information easily skimable
Length:
Remember; think of your resume as a marketing flyerto potential employers. If you think of the document thisway, remember that flyers should only be one page because people dont spend a lot of time reading them. These
same basic concepts also apply to your resume. Try to keep your resume to one page because the reviewer will
only likely spend 5-15 seconds reviewing the document.
If the resume is longer than two pages, the recruiter will not read it, and your resume is likely to be filed in the
round file.
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JaneDoe 7200NW86thStreet
KansasCity,MO64153
HumanResourcesBenefitsProfessional (816)5955759Jane.Doe@example.com
Objective
ToapplymyhumanresourcesandbenefitsexperiencetocreateaqualitybenefitspackageforXYZTechnologies
EmployeesandtoensurecompliancewithfederalandstatehumanresourceregulationsinthepositionofHR
Generalist.
SkillsProfilex 11yearsofhumanresourcesexperience x Excellentorganizationalskills
x Over5yearsofretirementbenefitsexperience x Familiarwithregulationsrelatingtobenefits
x Over3yearsofemploymentbenefitsexperience x Polishedverbalandwrittencommunicationskills
Education
GranthamUniversity KansasCity,MO
BachelorsofArtsinHumanResourceManagement GraduationDate: 02/2011
GranthamUniversity KansasCity,MO
BachelorsofScienceinBusinessAdministration GraduationDate: 03/2009
ProfessionalCertifications
HumanResourcesGeneralistCertification Completed:02/2011
RelevantProfessionalExperience
EmployeeBenefitsAdministrator 05/2007Present
ABCTechnologies KansasCity,MO
xWorkedwithfinancialorganizationsandinsurancecompaniestoputtogethertheemployeebenefitspackagefor
currentemployees,andcreatedproceduresforCOBRAwithinsurancecarriers.
xQuicklyresolvedanyemployeeproblemswiththeretirementpackageortheinsuranceplanswiththeindividual
venders,andthattheresolutionwasfairtotheemployeeandwithinagreeduponpolicies.
xCoordinatedallannualreviewsanddirectlyprocessedallemployeestimecardswithADP,changesinpay,
processingnewemployees,terminations,andemployeechangestotaxfilingstatus.
EmployeeRetirementAdministrator 06/200505/2007
XYZFinancial KansasCity,MO
xCreatedZYXTechnologiesretirementpackage,andmanagedallcommunicationsregardingtheretirement
packagetoemployees.
xWorkedwithindividualemployeestoexplaintheguidelinesandregulationsoftheretirementplantothem,and
howthebenefitplanthattheyareonwillbenefitthemnowandinthefuture.
xWorkedwithindividualsthathadnotifiedHumanResourcesthattheywereretiring,andexplainedhowthey
couldmaximizetheuseoftheirplan,andhowtobenefitfromtheplanatretirement.
EmployeeRelationsRepresentative 04/200306/2005
BBBIndustries KansasCity,MO
xWorkeddirectlywithindividualstaffmembersonquicklyresolvingproblemswithcoworkersandmembersof
themanagementteamthroughamediationprocess.
xAdvisedmanagementontechniquestoprotectthecompanyinemployeedisputes,especiallyanydisciplinary
actionoranysituationinvolvingpayment(timecardissues,projectpay,bonus,etc)
xTrainedemployeesonthecompanysnewbenefitpackages,andprovidedinstructionstoemployeesonhowto
jointhecompanysgroupinthepackagespresented.
PersonnelRecruiter 02/200004/2003
ABC,Incorporated KansasCity,MO
xCoordinatedwithdepartmentalmanagersontheirstaffingneedsandtheirvisionofanidealcandidate,and
postedalldepartmentsopenpositionsononlinejobboards.
xUtilizingkeywordsearcheswithintheATSSystemandwithintheonlinejobboards,locatedqualifiedcandidates
foropenpositionswithinthecompany.
x Initiatedcontactwithinqualifiedapplicantsviatelephone,andfacilitatedinitialphoneinterviewandthen
proceededtoscheduleonsiteinterviewwiththehiringmanager(s).
References
Referenceswillbefurnisheduponrequest.
orrganizationsti andand createdr te rocroc
any employeem pr
at hee resolutiou
d all annualn revier
ng new employel
yee Retirement
Financial
Created Tec
package o e
xWorkedo w
how tht
xxWoo
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ons
ganizationall skills
with regulationsi relati
ed verbal and rittenr
Kansasns City,, MO
Graduation at
Kansass City,
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tly processedoc alla
ons, and employe
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t rement packaga g
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elationson Represep
ustriess
rked directlydi y with
he managementa
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xxTrained
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rsynefitsfinication skillsk
11
: 03/2000 9
Kansas City, MO
anies to putu togeth
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delines andd egul
them now and nn
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leted: 02/201
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mployee benefitsn
insurancea plansp
edupon policies.o s.
mecards with DPD
x filing status.s
28
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Jane DoeBusinessAnalyst
7200NW86th
Street KansasCity,MO 64153 (816)5955759 Jane.Doe@example.com
Objective
IamseekingapositionwhereIcanutilizemytenyearsofprojectmanagementandanalysisexperiencetoassistinthedevelopmentof
qualitysystemsandgeneralproceduresasaBusinessAnalyst.
ProfessionalProfile
Skills
xOver13yearsofITexperience xExcellentverbalandwrittencommunicationskills
xRetiredU.S.AirForce xExcellentleadershipabilities
xSkilledwithprogramminglanguages xExtensivereportingandprojectmanagementexperience
TechnicalSkillsandExpertise
Languages Reporting Software
x HTML x CandC++ x MSOfficeApplications(IncludingAccess) x MicrosoftVisio
x JavaScript x PL/SQL x CrystalReports x ERwin
ProfessionalEducationandTraining
Education:
GranthamUniversity KansasCity,MO
BachelorofScienceinComputerScience ExpectedGraduationDate: 09/2011
ProfessionalCertificationsandTraining
x CompTIAA+ x CompTIAProject+ x MCP
ProfessionalExperience
Project Manager 12/2006Present
XYZTechnologies KansasCity,MOx ReviewedandutilizedCrystalReportstotracksuccessesofnewapplicationsonproductivity.
x UtilizedMicrosoftProjecttotrackallprojectsandtoensurealltaskswerecompletedontimeandcorrectly.
x Managedallprojectsrelatingtolaunchingnewapplicationsfrominceptionthroughtheimplementationprocess.
Sr.HelpDeskAnalyst 10/200312/2006
AAASoftwareDevelopment KansasCity,MOx Receivedincominginternalcallsregardingsoftwareproblems
x Closedexistingticketsrelatedtosoftwareproblemsbyresolvingtheissueandcollaboratingwiththeindividualwhocalledinthe
originatingproblemtoensuretheresolutionwassuccessful.
x UtilizedCrystalReportstotrackproductionandcommonissues
x Consulted with senior management regarding the implementation of new software applications, and the effect of the
implementationonexistingprograms.
HelpDeskAnalyst 12/200210/2003ABCSoftwareDevelopment KansasCity,MOx Receivedincomingcallsregardingsoftwareandhardwareproblems.
x Completedbasictroubleshootingwiththereporter.
x Createdindividualticketsforeachissue.Closedtheticketsthatwereresolvedbytroubleshootingandescalatedticketsthatwere
notresolvedbytroubleshooting.
HardwareTechnician 11/199812/2002
UnitedStatesAirForce(HonorableDischarge) KnobNoster,MO
x Receivedhardwaretroubleticketsfromhelpdesk,andtraveledtoeachbuildingtoresolvehardwareissue.
x Workedwithsoldierstosetupnewcomputersandtoresolveknownhardwareandsoftwareissues,includingsoftwaresetup.
References
Referenceswillbefurnisheduponrequest.
ncei
r
giesand utilizedz Crys
d icrosoftcr f Proje
nageda alll projectsr ct
r.r Help Desk An
Softwareivede
nt verbal andd writtenellent leadershipe abiliti xtensivei reportinge n aning
ations (Includingl Acce
rts
A roje o track successesc
projectsp e anda toto ee
aunchingn new app
entrnal callsll egardi
ts relatedat o soft
em o ensurer the
l Reportso o track
ith sen oro mana
entation ono ex sts
esks Analystarea Devvo
icationt o skillssmanagemenm experiexSoftware
Microsoftr t Visio
ERwin
sas City,C MO
xpected Graduationr t D
sascations on
s were complete
m inceptione n throu
ansroblems
s by resolvings h
as successful.c s
and commono ssus
rding he implemp
.
/20111
x MCP
29
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JohnExample
LawEnforcement Professional7200NW86
thSt KansasCity,MO 64153 (816)5955759 John.Example@example.com
ObjectiveToapplymyelevenyearsoflawenforcementexperiencecombinedwithmyprovenleadershipabilitiestoensure
thesafetyandsecurityofthecitizensinXYZCityasanXYZPoliceOfficer.
SkillsProfile
x11yearsoflawenforcementexperience xPolishedverbalandwrittencommunicationskills
xRetiredUSArmy(HonorablyDischarged) xExcellentleadershipabilities
xSuccessfullycompletedPOSTTraining xProventrackrecordinsuccessfullytrainingrecruits
Education
GranthamUniversity KansasCity,MO
BachelorofArtsinCriminalJustice Expected GraduationDate:04/2011
GranthamUniversity KansasCity,MO
AssociateofArtsinCriminalJustice GraduationDate:02/2007
ProfessionalLicensuresandCertifications
x FirearmsLicense x ConcealandCarryLicense x PeaceOfficerLicense
ProfessionalAssociations
x MissouriPeaceOfficers
Association
x ProfessionalLawEnforcement
Association(PLEA)
x AmericanFederationofPolice
andConcernedCitizens(AFP&CC)
RelatedProfessionalLawEnforcementExperience
HighwayPatrolOfficer 12/2008Present
MissouriStateHighwayPatrol Kearney,MO
AccomplishmentsandAwards Duties
x1of3officersselectedtotrainrecruitsintheonthe
jobtrainingcomponentofHighwayPatrolAcademy.
xCoordinateswithstateandfederallawenforcement
agenciestolocateanddetainpersonsofinterest.
x LiaisonbetweenMOHighwayPatrolandFederal
Agenciesduetopolishedcommunicationskills
xEnforcesstateandfederalhighwaylawstoensurethe
safetyofcitizensandmotorists.
xReceivedacommendationforaccuratereporting. xOftenthefirstrespondertohighwayaccidentscenes.
RelatedMilitaryLawEnforcement Experience
UnitedStatesArmy(HonorablyDischarged) 01/200012/2008
MilitaryPoliceInstructor
AccomplishmentsandAwards Duties
xCreatedandupdatedmodernMilitaryPolicetraining
curriculumforenlistedsoldiers.
x LetterofcommendationforMilitaryPoliceCurriculum
xCreatedandmaintainedMilitaryPoliceOfficer
Curriculuminaccordancewithcurrentlaws,rules,
regulations,andmilitaryprocedures.
xReCreatedallMilitaryPolicetrainingcurriculainboth
EnglishandSpanish.
xFacilitatedinstructionofclassroomcoursesrelatedto
theMilitaryPoliceOfficerTrainingCurriculum.
xUnitedStatesArmyAchievementMedal
x2UnitedStatesArmyGoodConductMedalsx3MeritoriousServiceMedals
xThroughclearandcommunicatedmetrics,determined
whichsoldierswouldprogresstobeaMilitaryPoliceOfficer,andwhowouldneedalternativetraining.
MilitaryPoliceSpecialist
AccomplishmentsandAwards Duties
xRifleMarksmanshipMedal
xPistilMarksmanshipMedal
xCommunicateddisturbancestoteamof6specialist
andledteamthroughtheentiretyoftheresolution.
xUnitedStatesArmyGoodConductMedal
x2MeritoriousServiceMedals
xEnforcedthelaws,rules,regulationsoftheArmyand
oftheUnitedStateswithmilitarypersonnel.
xReceivedletterofcommendationfromCommander
forimplementingproceduresformisconductonbase.
xMaintainedpeacefullivingcommunityforthose
soldierslivingonbasethroughregularpresence.
References
Referenceswillbefurnisheduponrequest.
r
way PatrolPa
omplishmentss t a
rs selectede tot tra
ing componente o
n betweenn MO
enciese due o pol
Receivedd a com
Unitedte S
Milita
and writtene commun
dership abilitiesil
ack record n successf
nsas City,t , MO
E
KansasK City,i MO
oncealo and Carry Lice
essionale o L
tion
the onnthetrol Academy.y.
ol and Federalr
unicationt skillssk
r accura e reportr r
onorablyra ischai
ructor
complishmentsi n a
d updated moder
um orr enlistedlis sos
r of commendatie i
eCreatedte all ilitt
English andd Spa
xUnitede Statet
nitedMerr
ills
ng recru tss
Graduationo ate:t 4
Graduation Da
Peacee Officer
cement Ame
a
rney, M
ety o
Often thet
lice tra n ngra
y Police Curriculuurr
xx
ainingn curriculac in
ente Medal
ductd ee
derationn off Policei
erned CitizensC s (AFF
1
Duties
ith state and ee
locatel and detd
and edee
an
30
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Civilian Cover Letters
Throughout this process, remember the following: written communication skills are one of the most sought afterskills by potential employers. With that being said, the Cover Letter that you submit with your resume is the very
first writing sample that a potential employer sees of you, and they will assess your writing skill level utilizing
this document.
Writing a successful cover letter is not just one step. Just like writing a resume, there are multiple steps that must
be followed in order for the project to be completed.
The first step to writing a cover letter is determining the delivery method of the cover letter. Are you going to
send the cover letter via mail, email, or utilizing the submit button of a job search engine? Each of these
methods has some basic guidelines to follow, especially involving the format of the actual cover letter. It is
advisable to have an easily changeable template for each of the methods of submission.
Just like your resume, your cover letter should be targeted to a specific career field, and even position within a
specific company/organization. Unlike your resume, the cover letter should be so granula
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