Interview handbook for military leaders

Will you face a few? Will you be well-served by being ready even if you're not asked these exact questions? Related: For the latest veteran jobs postings around the country, visit the Military. Related: Does your resume pass the 6-second test? Get a FREE assessment. Whether you want to polish up your resume, find veteran job fairs in your area, or connect with employers looking to hire veterans, Military.

Sign up for a free Military. Reserve component soldiers won't need to be on a government computer to look for active duty slots on the Tour of Duty site. Hire Heroes USA offers job services for veterans and transitioning military members. It compiles its work in an annual report What should you wear to your interview?

Suit, pants, dress, skirt? Blouse, sweater, jacket? Solids, stripes or patterns? Are you looking for a job outside the defense industry or the Department of Defense? Are you hoping for a civilian employer Get special job alerts, offers and insider tips on making the most of your military experience in the civilian workforce. View more newsletters on our Subscriptions page. Veteran Jobs Career Advice. All rights reserved. There are often no two days alike in the military and we must be prepared to make changes as needed.

Changing daily landscapes keeps me energized and the challenge keeps my mind sharp and innovative. However, I also feel there is value in a continuous schedule and standardized processes in which certain tasks are repetitively performed. I've found that such tasks help develop patience and discipline, and they provide a sort of comfort to some people. Interviewers ask this question to find out how well you'd fit into the company's culture.

Researching the company beforehand will give you an idea of where their culture aligns with what you feel comfortable with. These areas of overlap are what you'll want to incorporate into your answer. Example: "I'd like to work in a team-oriented environment no matter what happens. I was surrounded by my team members every moment of every day in the military, and I believe that leaning on each other is how we've gotten through the toughest of times.

I've been good at being a leader because I took the time to listen to my team. Now I look forward to building a similarly tight-knit team. The interviewer is looking for how you've used your leadership skills, problem-solving and adaptation to circumstances and how these examples set you apart from other candidates.

Whether you choose to talk about a team-related accomplishment or one in which the credit was all yours, an open-ended question such as this allows the interviewer to identify what's important to you. Make sure your response omits military jargon. You can rely on the STAR method for this question. Example: "My unit was responsible for managing the training of new recruits. When I started the orientation process, it was difficult to complete—not because the recruits were inept, but because the material was very technical and frankly, dry reading.

This wound up leading to low evaluation scores, jeopardizing the recruits' future in the military. To make the program more relevant and engaging, I revamped the program to make it much more interactive and therefore comprehensible. I'm beyond pleased that the new structure of the program has been so well received. As a result of these accomplishments, my leadership team nominated me for an award and I was proud to have received the commendation which played a key role in my last promotion.

As a former military member entering the civilian workforce, it is important to come into the interview clear-headed and ready to communicate their skills persuasively.

Following these tips will help you succeed in your next civilian job interview:. Remember your audience. Do your best to avoid military jargon in your responses. It's a good idea to practice using the civilian versions of military terms when referring to experiences that took place in the military.

This will make the communication more direct between you and the interviewer and make the interview go more smoothly. Speak positively. When referencing any part of your work history, do your best to use positive language, even if the situations you dealt with were not optimal.

Speaking positively about former coworkers and bosses will show the interviewer that you can acknowledge the benefits of different personalities and approaches to situations and what value they offer to their team and the company. Provide real-life examples. Practice relating your experiences with potential situations you'll need to handle should you get this job. Make sure your examples explicitly outline how your skills were used to solve a problem and produce desired results.

This will give the interviewer valuable insight into how you are likely to behave in their workplace. Show your enthusiasm for teamwork.

Emphasize your ability to motivate and work alongside a team to contribute to high productivity and excellent results. This will show the interviewer that you don't expect to work alone all the time and that you welcome the opportunity for collaboration. Be confident. Even if you're nervous, exude confidence.