Yahoo Finance Veterans Should Think Like Burglars
If a skilled burglar were attempting to rob a house, would they politely ring the doorbell and expect to be welcomed through an open front door? Of course not! Instead, they would pick a lock, break a window, climb a tree, use a ladder or sneak in through an HVAC duct. A good burglar would do what it takes to get into the house to commit their crime. An effective veteran job seeker should be as resourceful and inventive when seeking access to a company where they would like to work. Of course, one would expect a higher ethical standard for a military veteran than a burglar, but the task is the same. Metaphorically, most job seekers perform the equivalent of a weak rap on the door followed by a dejected walk back to the curb when no one answers at their dream company. Successful job seekers display a sense of determination, resilience and creativity that is effective and impressive to the organization.
[See: 25 Awesome Business Jobs for 2016.]
Most active job seekers think that career search consists of submitting online applications and emailing resumes. Occasionally, this will lead to opportunity, but the majority of jobs are filled with candidates who were referred by existing personnel. It is the primary responsibility of job seekers to place themselves in a position where that referral can take place. This is one of the primary outcomes of effective networking.
Once a veteran job seeker has identified a position or a company where they might like to work, they must devise a penetration strategy to obtain the information and access necessary to gain admission. The required information, known as intelligence in the military, consists of understanding the true nature of the opportunities at the company. These include roles, responsibilities, required or just nice-to-have certifications and degrees and the organizational culture. By conducting online research and meeting with insiders, the veteran job seeker will be able to devise and test a hypothesis and argument for personal fit. Sometimes, the job seeker may learn that there is, in fact, no fit. This, too, is a form of progress that frees up focus for more productive efforts.
[See: The 8 Stages of a Winning Job Search.]
Access to people comes from developing allies for your search. Most good people enjoy giving advice to job seekers as long as the candidate is polite, professional and diligent. Few contemporary Americans can resist a respectful request from an eager veteran who wants to meet and learn about their jobs.
Use LinkedIn and your personal and always developing network to approach individuals from whom you can learn and be referred to others. Ideally, you will be introduced by existing contacts but direct cold contacts can work, too. The phone call or email may sound something like this:
"I am leaving the Army after four years in the infantry where I earned the rank of sergeant or squad leader. I am currently exploring opportunities in the commercial banking field while I finish my accounting degree at X university. May I meet with you for coffee to learn more about your career at Ernst & Young? I know I can really benefit from your experience and expertise."
[See: 8 Things That Are More Productive Than Staring at a Job Board.]
What soulless individual could resist finding a focused thirty minutes for this former soldier? This meeting is called an informational interview. By displaying an appropriate level of gratitude and comprehension, the veteran will find new contacts to leverage by following up on new leads, and the process continues. By further probing to learn about companies, cultures, roles and hiring professionals, the veteran job seeker will make progress towards a job and career that makes sense for him or her. The key is the active engagement and relentless follow up. Most job seekers, veteran or civilian, fail because they think passive applications and blind resume submissions are enough.
How pathetic would a house burglar have to be if they just knocked on front doors until they found one unlocked? A veteran job seeker who sits at home and passively applies to jobs is just as pitiable. If you combine the guile and creativity of a burglar, the persistence of a computer hacker and the determination of a woodpecker you can start to picture the positive and aggressive attitudes that underlie every effective job transition.
As a veteran, you know the value of hard work, discipline and follow through. You will need those skills and attitudes again as a civilian in your search and beyond. If the metaphorical door won't open, it is up to you to find another way in.
The 25 Best Jobs of 2016
More From US News & World Report
