Preparing and Searching for a Job After the Military

​Return to the Veteran Assistance Guide for more information.​

Before you start your job search it's important to prepare and have an action plan. This will include updating your resume, reviewing job search options, networking, and interviewing to achieve your goals.

The first part of the process is to prepare or update your resume. Now that you've mapped your military skills to civilian skills, updated your workplace skills, and possibly went through training, you want to make sure your resume reflects everything you have to offer an employer. Use these worksheets to pull additional action verbs and keywords you can add to your resume. Along with resume samples specific for veterans, Illinois workNet has a free Resume Builder tool available to you from your account dashboard. 

Now that you've updated your resume and refreshed your knowledge on the process, you are ready to get out there and find a job. Review the various application processes. If it's been a while since you've applied for a job, some things may be different. What hiring managers are looking for and the ways you can showcase your skills may be different. There is a chance, as well, that there are more types of interviews and styles that are used by hiring managers today.

It's important to use a variety of job search tools when searching for leads and to customize your resume to each job opening. This will allow employers to see the specific skills and job history information that pertains to that specific job. Customizing your resume will help you stand out from other job seekers – it's recommended that you customize your resume and cover letter to each job you apply for.

There are many different outlets to find job postings. Some popular ones include:

• Online Job Boards: These are very common now in the digital age. Don't get overwhelmed by the number of sites, just pick the top ones and start there. The Illinois workNet Virtual Job Fair and Job Finder and Illinois JobLink will help get you familiar with the process and connect you to great job openings.
• JobLink offers specific resources for Veterans. Along with being able to search for jobs, it is possible to search by Military titles, Company, and City. Give the Work in Illinois for Veterans site a try and begin your job search the easy way. 
  
• Newspapers and Weekly Advertisers: This print (and online) method provides great leads. You can find a lot of local job openings in the classifieds of your local paper.
• Company websites and social media: If there is a certain company you are interested in, be sure to check out their website or social media pages to find out about job openings. Check out our social media guide to get more tips on this.
• Hiring Events and Job Fairs: These are great opportunities to find employers who are hiring or recruiting. Find events near you on the Illinois workNet Events Calendar. There may not be physical job postings but there are a lot of opportunities. Remember these events are like on the spot interviews so take the time to get prepared for interviewing.

Finding additional ways to market your skills can also help you stand out and shine to potential employers. Networking is a vital way to open yourself up to more job opportunities. Use those close to you to discover job openings, friends and family can be your first contact with employers that are looking for new hires. Learn more about networking and how to master it with these resources.

Above all, always remember to stay positive throughout your job search. It may take time. If you're not finding the right jobs, expand your search options. If you need further assistance, visit your local Veteran Service Officer (VSO), IDES Veterans Representative, or your local Illinois workNet Center Career Advisor to see what resources they can provide to help you achieve your goals. Be sure to evaluate and reevaluate anything that you can do to widen your job opportunities. Again, you're not new to difficult situations, so remember your value and rely on your past experience to know that you will conquer the job search process!