Monday, September 26, 2011

Getting the Most From Your Online Job Postings

1Getting the Most From Your Online Job Postings You purchase a job posting on line. Post your ad and wait. Sadly, you get little to no replies. What happened? The old post and pray method does not work anymore. In order to get the best candidates to view your ad and apply to it, you need to provide compelling information that will entice a candidate to read your ad and apply to it. Here are some tips on how to get the most from your internet job postings.Include key criteria, including: location, salary, quality and stability of the company, corporate culture, work environment, and schedule/hours. Architect job postings in the order in which Job Seekers/candidates read a job posting: company name (logo/picture), job title, summary information, requirements, qualifications, benefits, and about the company.Eliminate potential barriers that Job Seekers/candidates indicate are their biggest frustrations: vague job descriptions, inflated requirements or just pasting in an internal job description and omission of key information in the posted job. Include the breadth of factors that Job Seekers/candidates may deem important: from compensation and location, to work/life balance.When posting job titles, take advantage of frequently used keywords. Having the right key words will help you to find candidates who are best suited for your job.- Start with job location and job category. Use relevant keywords in your job posting.- Here is an example of some of the top 20 most popular nursing keywords: Nurse; LVN; LPN; Management; CNA; Social Work; Medical; Assistant; RN; Phlebotomist; Nursing; Research; Healthcare; Psychology; Part-Time; Health; Registered Nurse; Nurse Coordinator; Manager; Case Manager.- Consider that the majority of nursing Job Seekers have created a job search agent in the last year and are receiving job alerts via email at least once per week.- Boolean Logic, the language we use to speak to our computers, is a series of commands that combine keywords into meaningful phrases for search engines. Don't be deterred if a resume has not been updated recently; send an email to the candidate to gauge interest.- A confidential resume allows Job Seekers to list their resume online while preventing a recruiter from seeing any personally identifiable information, such as name, email address, etc.- Many "passive" candidates are employed but are open to the prospect of other opportunities. For this reason, candidates with confidential resumes are sometimes a great target. Working conditions that are viewed to be most important to nursing Job Seekers are: work environment, salary, work schedule, bonuses and raises, nurse-to-patient ratio, paid time off (PTO), company reputation, and healthcare benefits.- Other popular perks: pleasant work environment, competitive salary, desirable work schedule, and the potential for bonuses and raises.- Conversely, a negative work environment has: no reward/recognition program, limited/no potential for promotion, and less-than-competitive compensation. Other highly noted reasons for attrition include: too heavy of a workload, and having a schedule that doesn't work with one's home life.- It is imperative that companies conduct due diligence on their competition to ensure that its offerings are up to par, and that Employers make certain that employees are aware of the Benefits provided.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Free Word Resume Template

1Free Word Resume Template If it is not economically feasible for you to pay for a resume service, you can use a free Word template. A free sample can help you create a resume quickly. The layouts are already prepared, so you don't waste time trying to setting the layouts yourself. Free templates are used a lot, and you are able to edit them to your liking.Free Microsoft Word samples are like other free sample resumes. Having a good sample can shave off time in that they're already formatted. They also have free samples that can be presented in a professional manner. The Microsoft samples are also tailored to put in the information that is needed.The free Microsoft resumes have different formats. If you're using the software, the resume package is pre-installed. The package includes Professional, Contemporary and Elegant templates that you can use. The Microsoft resume templates also have different formats: Entry Level, Chronological, Functional and Professional. Also included in the resume package of the software is a resume builder. The resume builder guides you through the steps of creating your resume. You just click and enter the information as requested.You can find Word resumes online by typing in "free Word Resume Template". To access free sample resumes from the Microsoftเธขเธ� website itself, go to the website and search for them. Follow the instructions for downloading.You can create a presentable resume from the free Word samples, if you choose to use them. However, there are some people who are against using these free resumes because they consider them "cookie-cutter". In other words, your resume doesn't stand out because you used the same resume that many others used. Within the different formats and styles, you should be able to select one that best fits you. You can also modify it to your specifications.The free Word resume templates differ from the pre-installed ones in the software. The purpose is to find a sample resume that is different and stands out. The free Word resume sample can do what other resumes can do. They provide formatting with headings and sections in the right place. The resume templates also include different fonts and designs, and it's easy to enter the information you need.Copyright 2007 Jay Tokarz

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Free Sample Resumes

1Free Sample Resumes A resume is formal document that contains a summary of relevant job experience and education and is usually created for the purpose of obtaining a job interview. A resume is also called Curriculum Vitae or CV. Curriculum Vitae is Latin for life story.Employers use resumes as the first step in identifying and selecting probable candidates for employment and it is important that your resume present your work experience and educational qualifications correctly. Well written resumes present an impressive image of you to an employer. Employers look at hundreds of resumes for the same job and finally choose only one. It is important that your resume is properly formatted and provides all the relevant information about you. Looking at sample resumes that have been professionally written can help you create your own resume that is impressive and provides all the information that employers need.Sample resumes can be obtained for every job imaginable and you can download many specific samples for free in order to improve your resume. This improves your chances of getting a job since recruiters take notice of it right at the first of the screening process. Websites such as StudentPress.org help you format your resume to make them more eye-catching. Other websites like eresumes.com allow you to download free resume samples and formats according to the job profile you are looking at.Nowadays most employers prefer electronic resumes or e-resumes. Employers generally expect the applicants to send their resumes via email. Electronic scanning is one of the most widely used methods of screening a resume. Hence, it is important for your resume to emphasize certain keywords. If the scanner finds the correct word it is looking for, your resume stands a better chance of being selected. In order to achieve this, you should define your goals, list the skills you need for each job, decide the resume format and choose the right keywords. Creating a resume is the first step in landing a job, so an impressive informational resume is important.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Free Cover Letter Samples

1Free Cover Letter Samples Are there any good cover letter samples available online? Yes there are, and we list some of the best places to find them below.Before you look at these, it will pay you in the long run if you understand how a cover letter can work, along with your resume, to get you the job interview that you want.A job application is either speculative - you want to work for a company, but they are not advertising; or it is an application for an advertised job.The key to writing a good cover letter is to understand two things. First, that your potential employer will have many applications to look at, either all at the same time if a position has been advertised, or every morning if he or she has been given the job of assessing speculative applications. Second, he or she will likely have very little time to read them and to decide if a candidate merits an interview. So every word on the cover letter has to count.As your cover letter will be read before your resume, and it is in effect 'selling' you, it is vital that it tells the employer something about you which will generate interest and a positive feeling about you in the employer's mind. It has to be, at most, one page long.Traditionally, a one page cover letter consists of three parts. These are the introduction, the main body, and the sign off.For the introduction, you must address the potential employer by name: this will immediately differentiate you from more casual applicants. State the position you are interested in, and why you want to fill it. Refer to the job ad if relevant.For the main body, you must market yourself as the right person for the job or for the company, making the most of your qualifications, skills and experience, and relating them directly to the position you want.Finally in the sign off, make all your contact details clear and explicit, and remind the employer that further details can be found in your enclosed resume. By this point, he or she should be hooked.Here are some sites which give actual cover letter samples to read.California State University has many cover letter samples, mostly for speculative applications rather than for advertised positions. It gives a useful commentary on the merits of particular parts of the covering letters featured. See their cover letter guide for additional tips.Virginia Tech has produced a comprehensive cover letter resource, which includes a cover letter template, and both email and hard-copy samples of various cover letters. These include follow-ups to a personal meeting, applications for advertised positions, and speculative applications where no position has been advertised.Careerstrides.com has free cover letter samples specific to professional areas such as Accounting, Administration, Executive and Sales.Quintcareers has a large set of free cover letters, which they call 'job search' letters, covering areas like internships, cold contact, military transition, and recent college graduate. They also show you how to stand out from the crowd with a 'two column' letter layout. You should also have a look at their cover letter tutorial. Towards the end of this, they give sample excerpts from actual cover letters, explaining why they are effective - so you can learn by example.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Few Important Tips on How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse

1Few Important Tips on How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse Today a nursing job is in great demand. Choosing a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse can offer you immense employment opportunities as it is projected that the job prospects in this profession will further boom and may increase by at least 15% in the next few years. The career opportunities for Licensed Practical Nurses are definitely high in comparison to all phases of nursing. Besides this, over the last few years licensed practical nursing has become one of the better paying jobs.Being a licensed practical nurse, you will attend to patients and as per the circumstances your responsibilities may include gathering patient health information, applying dressings and bandages, feeding patients and collecting lab samples for testing. In addition to this, you will also assist patients with their personal hygiene, and at times may even require providing massages or rubs to the patient. Choosing this profession also will let you work as a visiting nurse for those families who usually favor to keep their family member at home.So, if you are thinking of how to become a LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) then you must know that this role would be emotionally and physically demanding. Moreover, as an individual you need to carry the will power to serve people. Here is step-by-step procedure that can help you understand the procedure to become LPN.Step.1Complete a LPN Training ProgramThe first gateway for you to enter the career in this licensed practical nursing field is by completing a LPN training program. You can get this training program at Community Colleges or Vocational Schools. The training normally takes 1 year and requires a high school degree or a GED. However, you must note that the program you choose get approved by their state's Board of Nursing in order to qualify you for nursing practice.The best place to look for your training can be at the NAPNEs (National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Services). This is the oldest organization of practical nursing education which concentrates on producing both practical and vocational nurses.Earn a LPN degree from a LPN nursing collegeYou may even go for or earn a proper LPN degree directly from a LPN nursing college. Usually the college's LPN program engages 1 to 2 years of study and training at hospital, community college or any health care facility. The LPN curriculum requires that you as the student learn and apply critical thinking in an actual heath care settings. Courses include anatomy and physiology, pediatric nursing, medication calculation, medical surgical nursing, nutrition, psychiatric nursing and CPR.Step.2 Pass the LPN Licensing ExamAfter you have completed your LPN training program or receive your license as an LPN, you also require passing the NCLEX-PN Certificate Examination. If you manage to pass the NCLEX-PN, then you can start practicing as a practical nurse. You need to pass this certificate examination to become nationally certified. But, again you must keep in mind that the requirements for nursing license are different from one state to another. Individual states administer this exam to qualifying candidates.Finally, as a licensed practical nurse (and vocational nurse), you can receive up to $35,000 a year upon graduation, depending on where you are located and what type of medical facility you work in.Being a LPN, you can also continue your studies to become a registered nurse, as many nursing colleges offer specialized LPN-to-RN degree programs. If you wish to earn the credentials as a registered nurse, then online nursing program may be a good option as it helps you earn online degree without any need to give up your current job. Today there many accredited online nursing colleges offering online programs that include LPN-to-RN or LPN-to-BSN, you can choose any of them but make sure your selected nursing program is approved at your state.Conclusion Today, certainly the job prospect of licensed practical nurses is high. This profession has tremendous scope for professional development and calling out candidates like you who can devote time to work for those who are in need of care.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

End The Jobhunt Early With an Awesome Cover Letter

1End The Jobhunt Early With an Awesome Cover Letter The job market is getting tougher and tougher these days...with everyone fighting to snag those jobs and make sure they're the ones who get seen, it's getting to the point where you're going to need an edge over the competition just to survive. But how do you manage it?Simply submitting an application and hoping for an interview is suicide these days. In today's world, that won't get you past round one. You need a special something that'll get you noticed and help you get that interview.Well, friend...I know what that something is! It's called a cover letter! Now, not just any cover letter will do the job...you're going to need a good one. The better your cover letter, the better your chances of nailing that interview.To get that job, you're going to need a cover letter that really connects with the guy reading it. It needs to show just how valuable you could be to the company, and influence the employer to set up a one-on-one interview. Once you get that interview, the job of impressing falls to you, but you have a lot higher chance of getting to that interview stage if you have a killer cover letter.Really, that's the most critical part of a cover letter. I mean, naturally it needs to give a good outline of your qualifications...but the real purpose of a good cover letter is to nail that interview. Trust me, once they stop thinking of you as a piece of paper cluttering up their desk, and start seeing you as the hardworking asset the company you could be, your goal of getting the job becomes way easier.Now, you may feel a little disadvantaged here...I mean, I've been stressing how important this cover letter is, and it's most likely that you're not exactly an expert on writing one. Don't stress over it! I know a way you can improve your cover letter writing skills with relative ease.Writing a cover letter is no different than learning any other skill...one of the best techniques for learning it is to just look at some examples. For most people, seeing what you're going for is a great help for figuring out how to get there. Now, finding good examples isn't always easy, so I've taken the liberty of doing the searching for you.The site I link to below has a ton of valuable cover letter examples (well over 50 unique samples based on different circumstances!) that you can use to see just where you're going. You really don't have to flounder in the dark with something important as this, and the place I found can light your way.

Friday, September 9, 2011

CNA to LVN - Carving Out a Career Path

1CNA to LVN - Carving Out a Career Path Do entry-level positions matter to you? Do you want to be on top? Do you think you have the right qualities to move up to the next level in your career? Are you aiming for a higher salary? Are you hungry for more knowledge, new challenges, and new experiences? Or are you the type of person who is willing to excel in a gradual manner (slowly, but surely)? If you said 'yes' to any of the above questions, that's great! Success in your career of choice always begins by dreaming big!Embarking upon a career path is not an easy task, especially in the medical field. However, those working in the medical industry find it to be a very rewarding job. It's a well-known fact that nurses are in demand at hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, and other medical facilities. Thus, a good way to start pursuing a career in the medical field is to become a CNA.What can you gain by becoming a CNA first, then pursuing the LVN or LPN career?If you become a CNA first, your clinical exposure will be varied, diverse, and intense. You will gain a first-hand grasp of nursing care and you will thoroughly understand the nature of the work. Therefore, it is always good to have gained experience before attempting to advance and move up in healthcare industry. Being a CNA can be a stepping stone in your career to more advanced nursing care duties and further career growth. You can advance from being a CNA to become a LVN or LPN, then from a LVN/LPN to a RN. The scope and depth of CNAs' duties are limited, but by gaining work experience and clinical skills, you can become a better health worker. It is a good idea to continue your education to pave the way for bigger career opportunities, income, and responsibilities.Want to become a LVN or LPN as your next career move? Why not?A Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) works under physicians and registered nurses. They act as a support for the ill, injured, and disabled patients or residents. Their work focuses more on giving injections, applying dressings, and observing residents for any adverse reactions to prescribed medications or treatments. They are involved in providing basic bedside care to the residents, taking vitals (temperature, blood pressure, polls, and respiration), and also supervise the nursing assistants.How to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) To become a LVN, you must complete a state-approved LVN training program and pass the licensing exam called the N-CLEX PN. The course will typically take a year to complete. Education and training take place in classroom settings as well as in hospital or medical facilities for clinical practice. The compensation ranges from $16 - $25 per hour and approximately 24,000 - 48,000 US dollars (USD) per year, which will gradually increase based on your experience. The LVN career is growing and the demand for LVNs is increasing, as the supply of nurses comes up short. In a market where supply does not meet demand, the LVN salary is made even more competitive to attract more qualified nurses, thus increasing the supply.LVNs usually work at hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, doctor's offices, or surgical centers, and provide many of basic services also performed by Registered Nurses (RNs). If you want to pursue this career, don't forget to contact the schools or colleges regarding the requirements of the course. Qualifications for the course vary from state to state. Many CNAs, who pursued a career as a LVN, are happy with their title, pay, and positions.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Bring Your Nursing Dream to the Next Level Find LPN Programs Online

1Bring Your Nursing Dream to the Next Level Find LPN Programs Online Almost everyone wants to have a second career move. Most people want to study again to find a higher paying job instead of the ones they currently have. Many will consider to be a nurse, because nurses are needed in almost all hospitals not just in the US but in other developed countries. And they have a good payout. But they have a hindrance, time. If you are a parent, how will you squeeze schooling time with your duties to your kids and boss? A degree will take more efforts, money and time from you. Mostly people will leave this option because of these. But today, there is a option. Why don't you take a LPN programs online. This is the greatest addition of offered courses by colleges and universities alike.How does it work? An online program allows you to study in your own home. You must have finished high school to take this program. You can pick on what time will be your school schedule, will it be day or night. How many hours will it take each day? Will it be in two or three or more hours? And pick how many days you will be studying, these includes Saturdays and Sundays. A teacher will guide you through the internet the lessons you are about to take. There are also exams that need to be passed. After a year of hard work, you have finished the program. That allows you to continue schooling being a registered nurse. Or you can pass the NCLEX-PN and work as a LPN. All of these you can achieve in the comfort of your own space and time. And while you are doing this, still you have a job and family. Very versatile to your needs.But why be a LPN? LPNs are general nurses. He or she takes your basic hospital needs; whether it is giving your medicines, checks the life support machine, checking your pulse, monitoring your health, and even taking care of a first born baby. The doctors and registered nurse are his or her bosses. A LPN earns hourly, in 7 times a week, 4 weeks in a month, in 12 months, in 365 days. LPNs jobs are a basic training to be a registered nurse after. So if you want to take baby steps to your goal, then this is right for you.But an online program has its weaknesses too. Since you only face the computer screen to learn, you lose the real stimulation needed in doing the job. A lecture guide will not take you anywhere in the real hospital situation. If you want to learn the basic tricks, then you have to do an internship in a hospital or clinic. This will add up on your resume when you are job hunting for a LPN job.So go on. Take a step further. LPN programs online are a great stepping tool to be a fully pledged registered nurse. Sounds interesting?

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Aptitude tests are designed to assess your logical reasoning or thinking performance

1Aptitude tests are designed to assess your logical reasoning or thinking performance Aptitude tests and logical reasoning tests are getting a lot of attention these days. These tests are basically designed to assess an individualเน�โ�ฌย�s thinking performance or his logical reasoning. A number of companies use these different aptitude tests during the recruitment process. This helps them to select the right candidate for the particular job and helps them to know about the individualเน�โ�ฌย�s intelligence or aptitude. When searching for a job, we generally give importance to our resume and prepare our self to face some difficult interview. But in the present scenario, working on your aptitude or your logical reasoning is also very important. You can make use of free psychometric tests that are available these days and can help you to be prepared for such tests. The psychometric tests like aptitude tests or reasoning tests consists of different types of questions that may be used to test abilities like verbal ability, numerical reasoning, spatial reasoning, abstract reasoning, data checking, mechanical reasoning or numerical reasoning. The types of questions depend upon the different companies and the type of job you are applying to. For instance the mechanical aptitude tests are used for jobs like related to military or emergency services. So if you are applying for these services then you should practice the mechanical aptitude tests. The questions in the aptitude tests are of multiple-choice that has a definite answer. The person undergoing these psychometric testing or aptitude tests is required to answer the question within a given time limit. You can make use of online aptitude tests or the free psychometric test that can help you to practice your timings and improve your scores. When applying for a job, you may have to appear for online aptitude tests. Some of these psychometric tests are used to determine your speed while the others aim to evaluate your power. The former is used for administrative or clerical jobs while the latter is generally used for managerial level or professional level jobs. Thus, if you are applying for a new job then you need to practice your logical reasoning as well. There are various website that can help provide with sample aptitude tests so that you may practice them. One such website is www.psychometric-success.com. These websites not only helps to provide practice material but may also help you to understand more about psychometric testing and the kind of questions that may be expected for a particular job. Paul newton is well known author who write articles for psychometric-success .He write on topics Aptitude Test,Mechanical Aptitude Test.For more information visit www.psychometric-success.com Related Articles - Aptitude Test, Aptitude Tests, Assessment Centre, Career Aptitude Test, Employment Aptitude Test, Free Aptitude Test, Free Psychometric Test, Job Aptit, Email this Article to a Friend! Receive Articles like this one direct to your email box!Subscribe for free today!

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Adjusting From Military Life to Civilian Life

1Adjusting From Military Life to Civilian Life After several years of serving your country you are now officially out of the Army, now what? First and foremost give yourself a huge pat on the back, as you should be commended for serving and protecting this great country. Next you need to decide what to do with the rest of your life.When making such a big decision you first need to ask yourself what it is you enjoy? If you enjoy animals for example, then perhaps you should consider a veterinary carrier. But what if you don't have the training?If you want to do something after your Army life that requires schooling then waste no time and get going. Many who served in the Army qualified for the G.I. Bill, which gives you money for college. You should know if you have the G.I. Bill or not, but if you are unsure you can always go talk to a recruiter who can then put you in touch with the proper personnel. Also, because you served in the Army, there are many scholarships, grants, and loans that are specifically designed to aid you in your quest for greater knowledge. To find out what these are, seek the advice of the financial aid office in the college you are thinking of attending.Perhaps though college isn't right for you. In this case maybe you can take what you learned in the Army and apply it to civilian life. If you were in the Military Police for example, then perhaps a career in law enforcement would be rewarding for you. Maybe you worked in the motorcade. With the skills you learned there, you could easily translate that into a good paying auto technician job. The point is, whatever you did in the Army for Uncle Sam, there is almost always a counterpart in the private sector.When you are seeking private employment be sure to mention that you served in the Army as many employers look for the discipline in an employee that the Army teaches. Being in the Army looks great on a resume and you never know which prospective employer may have served in the armed forces as well.Before deciding what to do, ask yourself these questions first:o What are your goals?o What are your skills?o What are your interests?o Do you want to seek higher education?Once you have secured your employment and are looking for housing, keep in mind that there are many loans that are tailored for those that served in the Army. If buying a house is your desire, then talk to your real estate agent about any special loans for former military.Any move in life takes getting used to. A move out of Army life and into civilian life takes a lot of getting used to. Remember the decisions you make will affect the rest of your life so take your time and choose wisely. There are many advantages and special offers for those that did serve in the military, as there should be, and you should take full advantage of each and every one.

7 Resume Building Tips for Transitioning Veterans

7 Resume Building Tips for Transitioning Veterans Note: Names have been changed to protect the identities of the brave and humble. This is a way to turn your job search into a marketing campaign, a process to sell you to your next employer.1. Start with quick stories that make you proud These are the kinds of things that you want to tell people about. They're the things that hunters painted on cave walls. When they're translated into civilian terms, they're the things decision makers value for their team. They may have happened in the military, on a job, in a volunteer position, or as part of a school project. Getting an interview is not about sending someone a history of part of your life; it's about letting decision makers see everything you have to offer them. This is where you start to develop the material that lets the decision makers see who you really are and how you are going to contribute to their success. Enter these in a master file under the heading "Selected Accomplishments."Example: Dan was able to get the air conditioning going when it broke down. In Iraq, there are times when that's a pretty important thing. He didn't have the right tools or the right parts but he got it going. When he started looking for a civilian job, his first thought was, "What am I going to tell them? Do they want to hear that I know how to blow things up?" His aptitude for repairing things when it seemed impossible and the fact that he was an NCO landed him a job as a supervisor in a facilities management department. Once he understood his value, he went from couch-surfing and a part time job in a gun range to a good paying job.2. If you get stuck, drag out your documentation Your superiors told the military world what they valued about you. Use it! Veterans tend to believe that they didn't do anything exceptional. Veterans usually say, "I just did my job." It's hard to see that you're doing exceptional things when everyone around you is doing exceptional things. Sometimes, you need someone else's take on your value. Grab every good thing they said about you and add it to your master file under the heading, "Selected Accomplishments." You'll translate it for civilians later. Just get it in your master file as soon as you see it.Example: Ann was an officer. Just hearing the word resume almost made her ill. She was underemployed in her first civilian job and reporting to a boss whose disrespect was a daily reminder that she needed to be looking for another job. Being battered by negativity every day wears you down, diminishes your self esteem. She resisted getting started on a resume for nine months. Taking the first step seemed insurmountable. She doubted that she could do any better. When she dragged out her documentation and started entering her accomplishments in her master file, she called to say, "I forgot how good I am!" She's moved on.3. Mine those stories for transferable skills Use your imagination. When you think about your stories, what characteristics made the story a success? What plain language can express the acronyms you know so well that just do not translate to terms that decision makers can understand? If you were explaining what you did to your grandmother, how would you explain it? When you hit on a plain language term while you're thinking about how you'd explain it to your grandmother, enter it in the master file under the heading, "Skills.".Example: Ben was an Admin. He got out and started looking for jobs as an Administrative Assistant not knowing that, in the civilian world, that's a clerical position and often a very low level clerical position. His interviews were puzzling to both him and the interviewers until he worked his stories for the plain language version of what he did for the Base Commander. Once he saw that the part of the work he did that he most enjoyed had an exact civilian equivalent, he started looking at event planning as his objective and is taking classes to make that happen. His GI Bill will keep him going until he is ready to look for that job.4. Troll the internet for job postings that sound like a fit Look at job postings in the industries that interest you. Consider the fact that clean energy and biotech are areas that are growing. Consider how you might fit into one of those industries and look at job postings. Imagine how what you did in the military might fit into civilian industry. What industry would make you wake up happy to go to work every morning? What industry would make you proud? There's no reason to look for a job that will leave you unsatisfied. Enter the job title and industry into your master file under the heading "Objective." In a resume, the objective is not about you or what you want out of life, it's the decision maker's objective - someone to do a specific job with an interest in their industry.Example: Ed was a Jet Mechanic in the Air Force Reserve. Home was in an area where there are no nearby airports. Neither he nor his family wanted to leave the country and move to the city. His career coach headed him toward wind power, where the turbines are not that different from what all of his valuable training in the military prepared him for. Wind energy is a new industry. There aren't that many people who already have experience in the field and transferable skills can be a life saver for a company just trying to get started. Some of the most remote areas in our country have wind farms. His objective could be "Maintenance technician in the wind industry."5. Mine those postings for transferable skills Beef up the skills section of your master file as you go. While you're looking at the job postings in the industries you'd be proud to support, look for those civilian terms for the work you already know how to do. As soon as you see a term you can use, add it to the master file under the heading, "Skills."Example: Bill was in the Army Reserve. He got out of the service with a disability. The truck he was driving hit an IED in Iraq and he suffered permanent damage to his shoulder. His job at home was driving a truck. He kept at it because he knew the job market was tough but it meant 24/7 pain for him. He knew he needed to find another line of work. His career coach pointed him toward a school that would certify him as a construction estimator when construction was nearly dead. When he completed the class, his was one resume in a pile of resumes for inexperienced estimators. Bill had extensive HazMat training in the military and it gave him the edge. He got a job with a small construction company right away.6. Enroll in an accredited school with an active veterans group Miss being part of a military unit? Feel alone? Don't have the education decision makers want for the job you want? Enrolling in an accredited junior college or university will get you on track for the education you need and you'll find a group of other Veterans going through the same transition. The Veterans counselor can probably help you get additional school credit for your military experience. You may be closer to that Associates or Bachelors degree than you thought. Add your education to your master file under the heading "Education" and put the anticipated completion year at the end of the line.Example: A nearby junior college has one of the most active veterans groups in the area. Veterans who are taking classes there have access to employers, VSOs, and the local patriot community who are ready to help with fund-raising events and barbecues. There is a spirit of camaraderie that the Veterans were missing when they first came back and felt disconnected from family and friends. The military changes you and sometimes the people in your life don't know how to reconnect with the new you. They were waiting for the old you to come back. Having a unit with common goals can make the transition and the reconnect more comfortable.7. Now the history needs to be included Enter your work experience in your master file as one-liners, starting with your title because you are the product that you're marketing and this is a marketing campaign. The job you did, who you did it for, and when you did it are all that's needed here. If you have never been out of work for more than a month or two, month and year are good enough. If you have gaps that lasted more than a few months, year to year dates will avoid concern. Enter these one-liners under the heading, "Experience."Examples:Infantry, United States Army 2005 - 2010Electronics Technician, United States Navy 11/2003 - 04/2009Truck Driver, XYZ Freight Company, Denver, CO 2001 - 2005Director of Information Technology, High Tech, San Diego, CA 05/2004 - 01/2011Facilities Manager, Big Convention Center, Washington, D.C. 2008 - 2010Conclusion Once you have a master file started, keep one copy of it on your computer and another copy on a backup device. Never remove anything from your master file. Always add to it and save any additions to the backup copy as you add accomplishments and skills, education, and work experience. Polish the accomplishment statements to make sure they are in plain language. When you need to send a resume, save a copy of the master file with a meaningful name so you know who you sent it to and when. For example, EmployerName-2011-01-15.doc would be a good way to recall the resume when you get a call for the interview. From that new copy of the master file, which will be way too many pages for anyone else to ever see, delete everything that does not fit that job and sequence the skills and accomplishments as that employer has shown their priorities. You'll have a resume that's an obvious fit for the position that decision maker is trying to fill and you'll make it past the gatekeeper and onto the decision maker's desk or screen. The interview is up to you. Dazzle them with your exemplary character and qualities.