CAMP MABRY, Texas - Be proactive, be prepared and take advantage of all the resources available.
As a recruiter who works to help veterans find jobs, Leslie Goodman said that’s advice she wants all military members to know and practice when transitioning from the military to the civilian workforce.
Goodman was one of several employers, recruiters and organization representatives at the Texas National Guard and National Charity League, Inc.’s Military Women in Transition event Feb. 16, 2014, at Camp Mabry.
Organizers of the event touched on several aspects of the job search and career enhancement process, which included social media, resume reviews and mock interviews.
Goodman said one of the biggest challenges for military members transitioning to a civilian career is that there aren’t enough military occupational specialties that directly translate into a civilian occupation.
“They have the discipline and training, but not the job skills,” Goodman added. “It’s difficult to take a service member who worked with artillery to apply those skills to a career in the civilian sector.”
Although some career fields in the military don’t directly convert into a civilian career, the basic skills gained from military service can give veterans an advantage.
Lisa Young, Annie Worthen, and Jennifer Grier, all U.S. Army veterans, said they can capitalize on the foundational skills they learned in the military - discipline, attention to detail, how to remain focused on the task, and always completing the mission.
Those are all qualities employers look for, Goodman said.
Goodman also stressed that service members should always be prepared when interviewing.
Many job seekers don’t know to research the company, the company culture, or the interviewer prior to going to a job interview, Goodman said. By doing their homework, jobseekers can have an edge.
In addition to doing research and planning for the future, Goodman said it is important for service members to take advantage of the programs the military offers its members like the G.I. Bill and eArmyU.
Worthen had the opportunity to perform a mock interview with Goodman, where she said she learned helpful information that can aid in her own career search.
Worthen was pleased with the event and the honest feedback she received.
“This event is great because the information they’re giving us, we didn’t know,” Worthen said.
Members from the Austin chapters of the league, Texas Military Forces Family Support Services and Operation Homefront conceived the idea for the event after a brainstorming session. As a result, the group recognized a lack of transitioning services for military women.
“Our organization has a national initiative, Service from the Heart, focused on supporting military members and their families,” said Julie Ballard, Hills of Austin chapter president. “There were transition services for men, but none that focused on the unique needs of women.”
After spending 12 years in the Army, Young said she appreciated the clothing closet and the opportunity to speak with hair and makeup experts.
“We’re so used to wearing a uniform everyday, so they’re teaching us what to wear,” Young said.
The clothing closet allowed attendees to choose from new or gently-used business attire and receive advice from hair and makeup professionals, which featured Daniel Esquivel, a designer from season 11 of “Project Runway” and season 3 of “Project Runway All Stars.”
Esquivel, whose father served in the U.S. Air Force, said he was happy to give back to the community.
Esquivel gave fashion advice and raffled one of his designs to an attendee, which will be tailored to fit her.
Organizers said the event was successful because it presented options for women veterans and dependents, as well as providing an opportunity for teens in the league to engage with and serve military members - something that doesn't happen often.
“We can see this happening again,” Ballard said. “But we will always bend toward the greatest need.”