Veterans and spouses really work to find a new job in a normal economy. When a possible recession looms over your head, it can feel like you are about to be dragged under.
Know this: As a military job hunter, you are better off than you think in these stormy waters. Your natural leadership, adaptability and problem-solving skills are going to help you land that job.
Need to translate your military skills into words civilians will understand? Sign up for our next free master class, “Translation Lab: How to Translate Your Military Experience for a Civilian Audience.”
As the transition master coach for Military.com’s Veteran Employment Project, I have helped more than 26,000 transitioning military members, veterans and military spouses find their next high-impact job in all kinds of conditions.
I remind my clients that a quick job hunt and a generous collection of job offers is the result of how you let yourself think about current conditions and in what order you tackle the work of transition.
Visualizing a Great Job Hunt Strategy Is Everything
That’s why I have spent the past few weeks pointing job seekers to the picture above, “The Great Wave off Kawagawa” by Japanese artist Hokusai, created in late 1831. (Yeah, fine art! It is a helper, Job Seeker. Trust me for a minute.)
Even if you don’t like wood prints, you can’t avoid this one. It is everywhere. You can get it on a canvas. You can get it on a backpack. You can get it on a T-shirt. Or a jigsaw puzzle. A makeup bag. A laptop case. A shower curtain. A tote bag. You can wallpaper your bedroom.
I don’t know whether it is everywhere because this is the zeitgeist of our times or because the copyright slipped. All I know is that this image represents the perfect plan for navigating the job hunt in the perfect order. If you keep this picture in mind, you can navigate current conditions, no matter how rough they get.
Catch the Wave: How the Current Situation Affects You
If you are looking for a job right now, you know that this is not the normal order. Federal government layoffs, hiring freezes and restructuring alter the job market for military veterans. No need to panic. Even if federal employment was your first choice or your backup plan, duck it right now until you are in calmer waters.
Better options are found in resilient sectors that continue to offer opportunities despite economic fluctuations, such as health care, cybersecurity, data analysis, IT support, logistics and supply chain, renewable energy, manufacturing and venture capital.
Grip Your Oars: Lean on Your Hard Skills During a Recession
When it comes to the job hunt this year, you’ve gotta grip those oars -- your hard skills. Remember, your hard skills are the things you can do on the job. These are specific, teachable abilities that can be defined and measured. Often acquired through education, training or on-the-job experience, hard skills are essential for performing specific tasks or duties within a given role. Think of technical proficiencies such as:
- Audit
- Avionics
- Coding
- Communications
- Compliance
- Cybersecurity such as CISSP, CCSP, CEH, CISM and GCIA
- Data analysis
- Logistics forecasting
- Logistics issues
- Operational change management
- Project management
- Specific platforms
- Supply chain simulation
- Technical writing
- Transportation simulation models
Weapons systems
Get it All in the Boat: A Strategic Resume Weathers the Storm
See how everyone in the picture is hunkered down in the boat bracing for the wave? This is what you need to do, too. But this boat is your resume. You must load it up with all of the hard skills you identified above.
So often I see how job seekers forget to include all the skills they have, because they don’t think of them as skills. When you read a job listing, take note of all the skills you have done before that the job requires, then include the civilian terms on your resume.
If you are struggling to identify those skills, sign up for our newest free master class Translation Lab, where I will demonstrate how to translate your military skills into the hard skills employers want most.
Join the Crew: Unexpected Offers of Work Get You Onboard
Networking is crucial, especially during a recession. While it is important to reach out to former colleagues, friends and family to let them know you're looking for new opportunities, get ahead during a recession by joining a company through a temporary gig or freelance work.
During a recession, companies often slow down their full-time hires until they know what the market is going to do. Still, they may still need temporary or freelance assistance. Someone you know might offer you a short-term project, contract work or even a part-time role. Go for it. Joining the crew in this way allows you to build relationships with potential employers and fellow workers, which could lead to permanent positions once we are in calmer waters.
No one can predict what the employment situation might be when they get out of the military. If you are getting out in the current climate and want to know how the changes in federal work might challenge you, rework your strategy by watching our free master class on video, “Federal Employment: What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do.” I’ll go in-depth into all the strategy and tools you need to land that next job fast.
Find the Right Veteran Job
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