Marketing Military Skills Application

How can transitioning veterans effectively market their military skills?

When pursuing a civilian career after the military, veterans must use military experience to the fullest advantage. A career in the military awards service member numerous marketable skills and veterans must express valuable talents effectively. Whether on a resume or in the interview, veteran job hunters must ably show how military duties match up to on-the-job responsibilities.

Transferable Skills
On your resume, showcase transferable skills with a bulleted list. For example, if you discovered a way to make complete a task half-again faster, you could list it on your resume as: Implemented new organizational procedures to increase operation efficiency by 50%. Always highlight skills in plain language business owners and managers will understand.

In an interview, flesh out your responses. The CAR method represents a good technique for answering interview questions. CAR stands for challenge, action, and result. The strategy involves telling an anecdotal story explaining a challenge, the actions taken to solve it, and the resulting outcome achieved. The CAR strategy effectively displays how a prospective employee may become a valuable asset to the company.

Ability to Take Direction
Soldiers respect the chain of command and possess the ability to take orders. On a resume or in an interview, express the ability to take direction and complete tasks as assigned. Express an understanding of taking direction as a means of adapting in order to yield further productivity. Also display an understanding of company policy and a desire to help the the business achieve greater success. Listing or discussing examples of tasks successfully accomplished under the direction of a superior officer properly showcases an ability to take direction.

Leadership
The ability to lead others represents a strength commonly found in military personnel. Express your ability to take charge and inspire others to accomplish a task. Providing numbers of staff members under your authority and describing improvements made in productivity prove leadership abilities. Also provide anecdotal examples of accomplished goals as a team leader.

Teamwork
Employers desire associates able to work on a team. Military experience may provide numerous examples of the ability to function in a group in order to achieve a common goal. In addition, the private sector offers a diverse workplace, and employers seek associates able to work with people from various backgrounds with varied personality types. Discuss experiences involving work with a diverse group of individuals which resulted in the achievement of positive results.

Punctuality
The ability to meet a deadline holds extreme importance in the business world. Showcase time-management skills and list tasks completed under specific time constraints. In addition, express any actions performed above and beyond what was required in order to complete the task. Employers hire associates willing to go the extra mile and get the job done.

Accelerated Learning Curve
Employers want to hire a worker able to hit the ground running. Showcase the ability to quickly learn new skills and concepts. List examples of new skills achieved in order to complete a specific task. This shows employers flexibility and a willingness to take on new challenges.

Efficient Performance Under Pressure
The business world often delivers a high-pressure work environment. Veterans possess the ability to overcome challenges and obstacles through strength and determination. Show possible employers an ability to accomplish tasks in spite of stress, difficulties, or deadlines.

Tech Savvy
Companies hire associates possessing an aptitude for technology. The military utilizes international and technical trends pertinent to business. Discuss exposure to cutting edge military technology and become a tech savvy asset to a civilian company.

Self-Motivation
Employers want workers possessing drive. Prove to hiring manages an ability to self-motivate. Military experience often transfers into a strong and self-motivated work ethic in the civilian world of business.

Proven Success
Hiring manages like to see proof of accomplishments, and past behaviors often indicate future actions. List any awards, accommodations, medals, or other formal recognition of a job well done. This allows employers to expect future successes from potential employees and may help employers make tough hiring decisions in favor of former military personnel.