What is the "best advice" Civilian Recruiters can provide Service Members & Veterans for Transition & Employment going into 2017?

You're going to have to start picking out clothes everyday again. Honestly, the ease of wearing the Uniform everyday was something I may have taken for granted.

Do what makes you feel whole. You have to identify what you need to move forward in life. The most important thing about your day is how to make yourself feel fulfilled and happy. The old saying if you do what you love you will never work a day in your life. Whatever it takes to accomplish that is where you should go!

My first recruiter back in 1976 told me that if I wasnt going to college right away and joined the military service, to make sure that the career field that I chose was one that would transition into a civilian career once I served my enlistment or retired. The best advice he could give a high school graduate, because the field I chose clearly led to the career that I have today and will soon retire from. I have enjoyed every moment of it! My career field is something in which I learn something new every day and will never know it all. Therefore each day is exciting and new!

Number 1. Education, either college or a trade school. Pick a career path you enjoy and are excited about. 2. Research the company you are interested in joining. Know about the job you are interested in applying for. Outline your qualifications for the job and practice for the interview so you can speak naturally. Express enthusiasm for the company and the job but don't gush over it. 3. Expect rejection and don't let it get you down. 4. Use the areas of your service that relate to civilian life and the job. Don't fall into military jargon during an interview. 5. Make sure your resume is: up to date; grammatically correct; spelling correct; concise; well organized ; relevant to the job you are interested in. 6. Always present a positive image of yourself to everyone you meet, including receptionists, secretaries even the guard at the building entrance. You never know when a prospective employer might ask one of those other employees what they thought of you. These are just a few points I made to job seekers at various job fairs in which I represented my agency.

Expect civilian employers and fellow-employees to not have a clue what you've been through and to downplay everything you say. Also, try not to get ticked when civilians don't have the same self-discipline you do.

I think all this advice is good to an extent , but I feel the service member needs to excel as a asset to that employer so in their off days they are less likely to face termination and it takes some determination on the transitionees part on their long term goals as to how to accomplish that ....IMO...

Here's a huge piece of advice, RESEARCH the company you are applying to. Know what their products are and their goals in the business world. What programs do they offer. Things like that.

When I went went to a job fair with our corporate recruiter, there were countless people who got our name wrong!!! Even though there was a HUGE sign behind us.

There is a BIG difference between Cisco and Sysco. Same pronunciation, different companies. Also another big difference is Level 3 and L3. Two VASTLY different companies.

Simply ~ Remember, You are not in the military anymore. DO NOT expect any civilian to follow your work ethic. That's not to say there are no civilians with good work ethics but if you adhere to this proviso, you will find yourself in a better place for the job.

There were 3 ideas.. I think s 4th is good also; Work with S'one else. Sometimes working with another with some same ideals can help one to reach their goal of owning their own business sooner and the financing will be easier because more than one person's money is involved. In time as the business matures and profits are realized , one can set aside $ to buy the other partner out when the right time approaches.. maybe the other partner will come forward first..

The job market has moved on during service and will continue rapid change. Resume up to date by a professional resume writer with the knowledge to adapt MOS, leadership and military skills to the current corporate world.