Question:
The Navy as we know it is very standardized, making resume writing very
easy. For instance I was an On Scene Leader work center sup. and DCC
PMS sup for my department. Now we all know what that means and what
type of jobs I performed, but do you know of any books or manuals
besides the Blue-Jacket that might better serve as a tool for enhancing
my civilian resume making it easier for prospect employers to grasp
what exactly we did.
Answer:
Let's address the Transition Bulletin Board (TBB) and Defense Outplacement
referral Service (DORS) systems. Avoid using the canned paragraphs if at
all possible. Be aggressive and submit for as many job codes as you can,
it makes the recruiters job easier to find you. I'm looking for the
equivalent of the Navy OpticalMan "OM" rate right now for some positions at
one of the Big 3 Defense contractors and all I can find for searching are 2
"Other" Technician codes. Plus the geographic features tend to cover too
wide an area, and it doesn't discriminate between services. If I look for
a sonar tech in Norfolk, I get every tech in all services looking to end up
east of the Mississippi. Almost impossible to winnow that down, I need to
look at all the resumes and I can tell you it doesn't take long before you
start rejecting resumes as soon as enough emerges on the screens to read
the first paragraph or two. They do have one OUTSTANDING feature that not
everybody uses, they have the opportunity to include an alternate point of
contact. If my requirement comes up and you have just gotten out, wanna
take a wild guess at how I can find you if your only address is on the
resume is back on the ship? That alternate address is a relative who knows
where you are and that can get you the phone call.
I've been in recruiting/staffing directly or in-directly for about 18 years
now , 16 in house at one of the major aerospace companies. Minimize the
jargon, but describe in enough detail that someone with no military
background can understand. Don't use NEC's or MOS's, the likelihood of
finding someone in staffing that understands them is almost nil. If you
are a radar tech say radar tech not technician on electronic systems. Most
companies are going to resume databases with keyword searching. we search
for types of equipments, job titles, etc. so over simplifying won't help.
Over civilianizing is not a good thing either. There is a happy medium to
hit. BTW, don't fluff up responsibilities, be realistic. We always get a
chuckle when we get a resume from someone getting out after one tour who
says he was a work center supervisor responsible for all the radars or
sonars on his ship as an E-4. Be realistic.
If you can, research your target companies and write your resume to
highlight your strengths where it will help them. Heresy of heresies for
someone in staffing but try and send your resume to both HR and an
appropriate line manager. I just recently had to explain to several
recruiters that one of the managers who called us looking for people with
fleet maintenance procedures for positions at Pax River and North Island
was not only not talking about ships but aircraft and had to show them on a
map where both locations were, Yes, ladies Pax River is Patuxent River and
is in Maryland and North Island is in San Diego, neither in Virginia. Post
your resume on appropriate internet sites, headhunter.net, monster board,
there's no good reason you should have to pay to post. We spend a lot of
time on internet searches of one kind or another. Contact your Vet's Rep
at the local State/VA employment centers when you get home. They often
have good leads, likewise some are duds, but most Vet Reps try pretty
hard. Don't be afraid to post several versions of your resume, the cost
is right.
