MilitaryStars Blog

Tip of the week-- Military Resume

Hello all, this is Todd Hecht- Managing Partner of MilitaryStars. My business partner Curtis Hagens and myself have been getting out of the office and traveling to our Military Hiring events across the country over the past few months. As you all know, prior to the MilitaryStars Career Expo's, we conduct and employer panel and information seminar covering Resume Writing, Interviewing and general job search tips. Each and every time we seem to run into the same questions over and over about writing a military resume. So i decided that each week I am going to post a "Tip of the Week" to see if we can add just one more tool to your job search tool box. Please feel free to forward these tips to your fellow service members and if they haven't already encourage them to register to receive the free updates from us on Military Transitions at www.MilitaryStars.com/blog. 

This Weeks Tip of the week is on the battle between using an Objective Statement or a Summary of Expertise. While both of these methods have their place, I am going to break it down for you to help you know when to use each:

Objective Statements, can sometimes limit you to the position you are listing. I always recommend only using an OS when you are applying for a specific position on a companies web site or when you are bringing a paper copy of your resume to a specific interview (in which case you will want to list the position you are interviewing for).

A Summary of Expertise on the other hand is a tried and true way to get your resume more coverage and hopefully make it a viral marketing piece on your behalf. What I mean here is that in the age of on-line Job Boards and large corporate internal web sites, it is imperative that your resume is applicable to many positions at once. Utilizing the SOE will NOT limit you to just one position, if a hiring manager or recruiter comes across your resume and feels you may be a fit for another department they will be more apt to forward you on vice blowing past you to the next candidate because your Objective Statement says "Project Manager" instead of "Program Manager" or "Maintenance Supervisor" instead of "Lead Technician"

Well there you have it, the first "Tip of the Week" from me, please feel free to respond via the MilitaryStars Blog and I will be more than happy to answer any of your questions. Until next week..

Todd Hecht, Managing Partner- MilitaryStars, LLC

Affordable Veteran Housing Program

We're very happy to be heading to Baltimore this week, and it was great to read this local story of veterans getting some much-needed help.  The VA has created a program in Maryland which assists homeless veterans in moving into rental housing - the veteran pays a percentage of the rent from income or benefits, and a voucher picks up the rest.  The link (Baltimore Sun) shows how much the program has helped everyone from a Vietnam veteran to a young veteran single mother, and how all they often need is a little help in getting out of a crisis.  Great to see them getting that help; have a great week!

Thriving Small Business By And For Veterans

The brutal economic news in Michigan gets sent out constantly - it was great to see this profile of a small business success story in the state.  Run by a service-disabled veteran, the company has made hiring and working with fellow veterans its calling.  It's a growing organization in construction and housing - that might seem pretty unbelievable these days, but, as the link notes, the veteran in charge has had a plan from day one and learned unbelievable toughness and resiliency in the service.   Congratulations to him and may many be inspired by it! 

Free Vocational Training For Bay Area Veterans

We're excited to be heading back to San Francisco soon, so it was fantastic to read about this Bay Area non-profit organization.  Inter-City Services fully pays for vocational training for veterans, perfect for anyone looking to start one of many in-demand technical careers offered by our client employers.  The link (Oakland Tribune) also wisely points out that this free training is available without any effect on your current veterans' benefits.  Inter-City Services wants more veterans to know about them, so consider this doing our part!        

Starting Over: Nothing New For Transitioning Military

Countless people are entering completely new career fields right now - they're finding the best fit with their skills and interests but leaving behind years of familiarity and comfort.  Sound familiar?  Everyone who transitions from the service has always faced this same process, regardless of economic conditions.  Many of these tips on starting a new career apply seamlessly to the transition from the military, especially thinking of your skillset in general terms, not industry-specific ones (the industry in this case being the military - when people advise you to remove military acronyms from your resume, this is what they mean).  Hope you find it useful - have a great week!

Veteran Support On Campus and Into Careers

I've spoken with the young veteran profiled here in the past, and it's fantastic to see him get this recognition!  Former Marine Nathaniel Donnelly helps head the Veterans' Center at San Diego State, and the link, from the school site, shows just how much they've been able to accomplish and what else is in the works for veteran students.  One program will offer an online professional graduate program for those interested in high-paying science and technology careers, a great way for veterans with training in these fields to maximize their civilian earning potential!

Reservist's Landmark Civilian Career Case

I've seen the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) come up in two ways over the years: stories of employers being honored for supporting their Guard and Reserve employees, and others of employers breaking the law by firing employees while overseas.  After reading this, I get the feeling a lot more people will be writing and talking about it: an Air Force reservist who was unlawfully terminated from his civilian job just received over $1 million in damages.  A retired Navy captain and present attorney who helped revamp the USERRA was asked for his thoughts on how the law is sometimes perceived, especially now, and had a great answer:

"Yes, this law is a burden on employers.  Congress decided that burden on employers and sometimes co-workers is justified by the nation’s need to defend itself."

 As a Guard member or Reservist, make sure you know your rights, and that you know hundreds of employers are proud to support you - I think you'll be hearing a lot about it soon!  

Public Service Includes Service to Veterans

Last Thursday the Senate voted to expand the number of national service jobs to a quarter-million by 2017.  Included in the plan is the creation of a Veterans' Corps, where those who have served would help those who are currently transitioning to find a career and many other components of civilian life.  What remains to be seen is how exactly the group will come to be - one possibility is through AmeriCorps, who regularly attend our events.  The group is meant to function through partnerships with private organizations, and our relationship with AmeriCorps is a great example of how that can happen!  Keep it in mind and have a great week.

Servicewomen's Benefits Awareness

Shoshana Johnson, who was held as a POW with Jessica Lynch, is in her native Southwest to help get the word out about the benefits available to transitioning female veterans.  She will be speaking as  part of a womens' veterans conference in New Mexico this Saturday.  As she notes, women carry out many of the same missions as male soldiers and are entitled to the same benefits.  Hers have led her on her way to fulfilling her dreams; congrats to her for bringing attention to fellow servicewomen!

For Military Families and All Families

A week from tomorrow, on Wednesday, April 1 at 8 pm, PBS is airing a special from Sesame Workshop about military families that everyone should see.  Called Coming Home, it offers advice and inspiration for returning servicemembers and their families facing injuries external and internal.  It features Sesame Street characters but should be watched with adults; it can be intense but leads to a tremendous appreciation and pride for veterans.  I was fortunate enough to catch an advanced screening and really hope word gets out!