The type and degree of assistance provided by on-base agencies will vary from post to post and base to base. The amount of help provided to people leaving the service is a direct reflection of the attitude of the command and the assets available. Military commands care about the welfare of the troops, but there are many pressing demands for time and assets. For enlisted people the first step should be to talk to the reenlistment people or career planners. Officers should spend some time with senior officer management specialists. Find out what your options are, especially if you are leaving the service early and still have the option of staying. Are you as qualified as you would like to be to enter the civilian workforce, or would you be better off to stay in for another tour to gain more training, experience, or academic education? These are all valid questions that a trained career planner can help you work through.
Don't forget to inquire about reserve component programs if you are separating and not retiring. Membership in the Reserve or Guard offers you an opportunity to continue to serve on a part-time basis and earn some additional income as well as make some valuable contacts in the community. Other members of the unit can often provide leads on jobs within the community.
Retirement services officers are very valuable assets in help ing to make a smooth career transition. They provide various services such as briefings by experts on technical matters including pay, veterans’ benefits, and veterans’ rights. Many are also closely attuned to the employment market and can provide sound information on job prospects and maybe even some solid leads.
Visit the education center and find out what classes are being taught that could help you prepare yourself for the job search. Many centers now offer courses on resume writing, interviewing skills, and other important subjects, many of which are accredited by participating colleges. If your military back ground has not been evaluated for constructive college credit, that can also be accomplished. The counselors can help you work out a plan to continue your education after leaving the service, and they can get you started on necessary documentation that may be needed later on. Although you may have to pay to attend some of the courses, many services are free.
Find out if there is a job assistance point on your base. They are generally located in the Family Service Centers (USAF, USN, and USMC) or with Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP).
Spend some time with the employment counselor and have your resume reviewed. These centers may offer classes on job-search subjects and have information available on upcoming job fairs, local employment vacancies, and various other job-related subjects. Some even coordinate their own local job fairs. All of these services are free.
Visit the civilian personnel office. Review the listings for current vacancies and ask to talk to a personnel specialist concerning application for government service. Find out if classes are being offered on techniques used to complete the Standard Form 171 (the standard federal government job application). Ask what documentation may be needed to qualify for various programs and to substantiate program eligibility. It's much easier to obtain necessary forms and certifications while still on active duty than it is after your personnel file has been retired into the bottomless cave of the official records center.
Outside Agencies
One of your first stops outside the gate should be the state employment service. The name may vary by state, but all of the offices provide essentially the same services. If you are separating (not retiring), you may be eligible for unemployment benefits if you can't find a job within a specified period of time.
Be sure to inquire to determine your eligibility. Ask to speak to the Local Veterans Employment Resource (LVER) counselor, or if you are disabled, the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) counselor. These people are there specifically to help you! Have them review your resume and plan on discussing your job-search strategy with them. Check out your salary expectations for a sense of reality and ask for information on some of the companies you have targeted to approach. The counselors are highly trained and dedicated to helping veterans. They have a lot of information on programs you could be eligible for and may be able to come up with some leads on immediate vacancies with local companies.
Visit a couple of private employment agencies. If your salary range has regularly exceeded the high fifties, you may qualify to work with an executive search organization, commonly called a headhunter. Both employment agencies and executive search firms advertise in the yellow pages, major metropolitan area Sun day newspapers, and trade journals.
At the private agencies, talk with the counselors and ask that they review your resume and your salary expectations for the marketplace you're going after. Get them working to help you line up some interviews. We don't recommend that you pay anyone to help you find work unless you have seriously tried and been unsuccessful. The agency is going to charge the hiring company their fees for referring you. It's not fair for them to turn around and charge you as well. Caution: Do not give anyone an exclusive contract on you. You want as many sources as possible working for you. Don't sign any contract unless you read every word. Some agencies use deceptive advertising to get you in and really are not outplacement companies with specific job-vacancy listings. This has been identified as a real problem in the employment industry, so be careful.
