Thread: Anyone Want to help Our Troops?

I'm volunteering at the local base, teaching troops coming out, how to write resumes, interview etc... I've put together a program they love but all of my experience has been working in or owning private sector businesses. So during the last class, I was explaining the radical differences in priorities and thinking between the military and the private sector (e.g. profits are simply never a consideration in the military), when one of the seergeants asked about the difference between military thinking a public sector civilian thinking. I was able to offer some insights but could really use some feedback from people who have worked there for a substantial period of time.
If you would be wliing to help in this regard, please IM or otherwise let me know. Thanks. FS

Don't see the difference between private and public sector jobs:
1. Do the job accurately
2. Do the job safely
3. Complete the work on-time.

When will profits enter into 95+% of the working populations perspective?

Originally Posted by dudeman

Don't see the difference between private and public sector jobs:
1. Do the job accurately
2. Do the job safely
3. Complete the work on-time.

When will profits enter into 95+% of the working populations perspective?

Obviously we have different perspective and knowledge base. If you're genuinely curious, I guess I can explain but this post wasn't intended for debate purposes. I will share that I am concerned with profits every day, as is every single person who works for me. Most people who have ever worked for me, wanted to know "why" as much as what was expected of them. For some, it was making or increasing profits, others might be saving or controlling costs and so on...
No matter what you do in the private sector, you fall into one of only five roles.

Your question is an interesting one. Every time I think of a difference, I realize it really isn't that different. DoD Civilians are a mixed bunch which includes some really hard working, motivated people and some that are content to collect a paycheck but do no actual work. The outside is the same.

One difference is you usually find fewer people who are unwilling to work in outside businesses because they can be fired much more easily on the outside.
You may find people who aren't as good at politics or navigating bureaucracy on the outside - many DoD civilians are masters of these skills.
People on the outside are more likely to not show up or quit without warning.

I'll give it some thought, I do have experience with both. Overall people are people. There are some differences, but they aren't absolutes, only tendencies and trends.

Originally Posted by NoPartyAffiliation

I'm volunteering at the local base, teaching troops coming out, how to write resumes, interview etc... I've put together a program they love but all of my experience has been working in or owning private sector businesses. So during the last class, I was explaining the radical differences in priorities and thinking between the military and the private sector (e.g. profits are simply never a consideration in the military), when one of the seergeants asked about the difference between military thinking a public sector civilian thinking. I was able to offer some insights but could really use some feedback from people who have worked there for a substantial period of time.
If you would be wliing to help in this regard, please IM or otherwise let me know. Thanks. FS

Well for starters download this...it's free.

2012 After the Military Handbook

Download here====>https://vfwdeptla.org/uploads/2012_A...y_Handbook.pdf

After familiarizing yourself with the handbook, I recommend the following books:

Life After the Military: A Handbook for Transitioning Veterans (Military Life)
http://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Mil.../dp/1605907405

Operation Excellence: Succeeding in Business and Life -- the U.S. Military Way
http://www.amazon.com/Operation-Exce.../dp/0814408222

Good luck.

Great thread. This is something I've been working on a lot as the Vice President of our University's Student Veterans Organization. I recently had an opporuntity to go to a resume/career workshop at Google that was designed for veterans. As many of you probably know, it's not unusual for Google to have more than 1,000 applicants for each job opening; the Google HR people helping us were at the very cutting edge of the job market.

I took a mandatory week long resume writing class before I seperated from the Marines that was largely worthless. The instructor was a retiree who basically just ran through some silly government checklist without helping too much. Most of his information was geared towards government jobs, an application process that is quite different from the private sector. After working with Google, going through the job application process, and a variety of other career counseling services here are a few of the big points.

-Resumes should be very concise and SHORT. A lot of military guys have a habit of putting every single thing they've done down. Unless you've been in for 10+ years, your resume should be 1 or maybe 2 pages max.

-Drop all the acronyms that the military uses. Sometimes we don't realize some of the terms we're using mean nothing to HR. Don't say that you were a platoon commander incharge of a logistics platoon that provided class 1 to a regimental size unit in Iraq. Say that you created and implemented a supply chain management plan and managed a team of 30 soldiers that provided x millions of dollars in critical equipment to more than 2,000 soldiers. Every descriptor should be like this, run it by a civilian to see if they understand

-Look for key terms in the job description and then make sure they're in your resume. A lot of companies use programs that identify key words to screen out thousands of applications.

-Have humility when it comes to your military accomplishments, but don't be afraid to let them know the competency you displayed in doing your job.

-Practice interviewing skills. Come up with a big list of possible questions you might be asked, and then come up with answers. Also go into the interviews with a few questions ready to ASK the interviewer. This is a great way to show the interviewer that your competent and on point.

-Research the company inside and out before interviewing.

-There often isn't a direct link between military and cilvian jobs. Go outside your comfort zone a bit, if you sell yourself well, you may end up with a job that you don't seem qualified for on paper.

Most of these are standard interview/resume stuff that also apply to civilains, but I've found that military TAP classes skip them.

Originally Posted by Herkdriver

Well for starters download this...it's free.

2012 After the Military Handbook

Download here====>https://vfwdeptla.org/uploads/2012_A...y_Handbook.pdf

After familiarizing yourself with the handbook, I recommend the following books:

Life After the Military: A Handbook for Transitioning Veterans (Military Life)
http://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Mil.../dp/1605907405

Operation Excellence: Succeeding in Business and Life -- the U.S. Military Way
http://www.amazon.com/Operation-Exce.../dp/0814408222

Good luck.

Originally Posted by IgnoranceisBliss

Great thread. This is something I've been working on a lot as the Vice President of our University's Student Veterans Organization. I recently had an opporuntity to go to a resume/career workshop at Google that was designed for veterans. As many of you probably know, it's not unusual for Google to have more than 1,000 applicants for each job opening; the Google HR people helping us were at the very cutting edge of the job market.

I took a mandatory week long resume writing class before I seperated from the Marines that was largely worthless. The instructor was a retiree who basically just ran through some silly government checklist without helping too much. Most of his information was geared towards government jobs, an application process that is quite different from the private sector. After working with Google, going through the job application process, and a variety of other career counseling services here are a few of the big points.

-Resumes should be very concise and SHORT. A lot of military guys have a habit of putting every single thing they've done down. Unless you've been in for 10+ years, your resume should be 1 or maybe 2 pages max.

-Drop all the acronyms that the military uses. Sometimes we don't realize some of the terms we're using mean nothing to HR. Don't say that you were a platoon commander incharge of a logistics platoon that provided class 1 to a regimental size unit in Iraq. Say that you created and implemented a supply chain management plan and managed a team of 30 soldiers that provided x millions of dollars in critical equipment to more than 2,000 soldiers. Every descriptor should be like this, run it by a civilian to see if they understand

-Look for key terms in the job description and then make sure they're in your resume. A lot of companies use programs that identify key words to screen out thousands of applications.

-Have humility when it comes to your military accomplishments, but don't be afraid to let them know the competency you displayed in doing your job.

-Practice interviewing skills. Come up with a big list of possible questions you might be asked, and then come up with answers. Also go into the interviews with a few questions ready to ASK the interviewer. This is a great way to show the interviewer that your competent and on point.

-Research the company inside and out before interviewing.

-There often isn't a direct link between military and cilvian jobs. Go outside your comfort zone a bit, if you sell yourself well, you may end up with a job that you don't seem qualified for on paper.

Most of these are standard interview/resume stuff that also apply to civilains, but I've found that military TAP classes skip them.

I really appreciate the input and positive attitudes from both of you. Thanks guys and thank you for your service.

Originally Posted by IgnoranceisBliss

...........

PM sent.


To the OP, watch these videos. Perfect for what you are trying to do.

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvp_P...feature=relmfu

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UouH...feature=relmfu

Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JVI4...feature=relmfu

Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVyra...feature=relmfu

"Obviously we have different perspective and knowledge base. If you're genuinely curious, I guess I can explain but this post wasn't intended for debate purposes." No party

i'd like to hear about. Why are you discriminating against poor minorities and others that decided not to go into the military?

Originally Posted by dudeman

"Obviously we have different perspective and knowledge base. If you're genuinely curious, I guess I can explain but this post wasn't intended for debate purposes." No party

i'd like to hear about. Why are you discriminating against poor minorities and others that decided not to go into the military?

What are you talking about? Helping a certain group of people in America who have dedicated themselves to the whims of the nation for four years is discriminating against those people who haven't risked death and danger?