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Congratulations – your job application caught the eye of the recruiter and you've been invited to interview. If you're pursuing a job in the civilian sector, particularly if this is your first foray outside of the military, we've got tips to help you stand out and make the cut.
"If you've made it to the interview stage of a job search, then you're doing something right," said Janet Farley, career coach, military spouse and author. "That's the good news here. The bad news, on the other hand, is that there is a high potential to tank the interview if you don't know what you're doing."
Study Up
To prep yourself, do some research, Farley said. If you know people who already work there, particularly if they're also transitioned veterans, find out about their experience there. Start your online exploration on the company website to get an idea of how the company projects itself, but also search for news articles and other posts from outside the company to get a sense of its profitability, reputation, long-term viability and competition. Reuters and Bloomberg are good sources for business news. Job sites such as Glassdoor, Indeed and Vault offer valuable resources such as company reviews by employees, as well as interview reviews written by previous job candidates. LinkedIn, the professional social networking site, is another resource.
Those sites with employee reviews may give you some insight into how formal the atmosphere is. Before you head in to shake hands, be sure you know how to dress the part.
"The last thing you want to do is show up for the interview wearing casual attire when everyone else you see there is wearing a business suit," Farley said. "The reverse of that example could also prove awkward. Instead, do your homework ahead of time. Know the expected dress code before you show face lest you are remembered for the wrong reasons."
At Chevron the level of formality and interview process varies greatly depending on what kind of position you're applying for, said Michele Gorun, global recruitment programs supervisor. Some positions will land you in a room with other applicants for a group experience, others will require a suit and tie in the board room. Regardless of the setting, you want to be ready to prove your worth, she said.
"You want to go in, be professional, be knowledgeable, have some information with you that you're aware of Chevron's value, mission statement and the role you're applying for," Gorun said. "That's consistent all around."
Interview Etiquette
For most service members, being on time means showing up 15 minutes early, Farley said. Five to 10 minutes is appropriate in civilian circles.
Expectations in the private sector differ from those in the ranks; this is a different professional culture than the military. It's often a less formal setting than what you find in uniform. Farley describes it as a meaningful conversation between two interested parties where there is a useful exchange of information. Locking eyes, formal address and monosyllabic responses are the respectful norms when dealing with higher ups in your chain of command, but it may be a bit intimidating for a more casual encounter in a corporate setting.
"These may be desirable interview behaviors for sitting center stage in a promotion board, but in a post-uniform job interview, you'll need to soften your body language and communicate verbally using your civilian words," Farley said.
Find ways to make connections between the dots of any potential disconnect with employers who aren't familiar with the way the military works. You'll need to clearly explain how your past experiences have prepared you for the requirements for the open position you're pursuing.
"You never have a second chance to make a first impression, so doing a little bit of homework and research prior to that interview, that will set you ahead," Gorun said.
Unlike a review board, that information won't necessarily be obvious to your civilian interviewer.
"Even just trying to show an employer that you are trying to fit in can go a long ways," Farley said. "You should do your homework ahead of time to prevent miscommunication from happening during the interview."
That means spending some prep time translating the job description to specific examples of how your military career gave you the experience you need for the job you're applying for. If a job description lists "identification of pursuit of cost-reduction opportunities," give specific examples you managed to save money in your military career, Farley said. A phrase like "ensure transactional efficiency of contracts" basically means you confirmed paperwork was correct and you carried out the terms it entailed. Even if you didn't specifically work with contracts, cite examples of how you accomplished similar tasks.
"Employers, particularly those who are not familiar with the military's way of doing business and expressing how they do business, look for the words they understand," Farley said. "Providing those words will be up to you."
Speak Their Language
While acronyms and jargon are the foundation of military speak, they often sound like a foreign language to people in the private sector. Drop "Hooah" and "Roger, that," for "of course I can do that." Rather telling your interviewer you wrote OP orders for the battalion commander, tell him or her you wrote strategic business plans for senior management that detailed the organization's overall mission and outlined its future goals, Farley said. (For more on speaking "civilian," read Beyond Military Skills Translation)
Above all else, be sure you clearly communicate why you'd be the best fit for the open position and what you bring to the company. Explain how your skills and experience will benefit your potential employer, why you fit in to the company culture and give specific examples of how you can contribute.
"You can do this," Farley said. "Be patient and work your job search efforts consistently. You have marketable skills and qualifications. If you take the time to carefully connect the dots between what the military taught you and what the civilian work force needs, you will be offered a decent job in time."
So with the right preparation, you'll be ready to sell yourself with confidence and honesty.
"At the end of the day, it's about representing yourself and being professional and being focused on the task at hand and understanding the organization and being prepared," Gorun said.
Photo Credits: Digital Vision, Getty Images
This story is presented by our sponsor Chevron. For more information, visit chevron.com.
©2015 Chevron Corporation. No U.S. military endorsement is implied.
