For 200,000 service members exiting the military each year, finding employment is a key part of the transition. Yet navigating a job search in the digital era can be a daunting task. And for military spouses, frequent relocations leave them learning new job markets every two to three years. It’s why Indeed aims to simplify the process by putting everything a job seeker needs in one place — from a resume profile to features like tailored search and job alerts, company reviews and salary data.
Attention to detail
Maggie Hulce, an Army veteran spouse and Vice President of Indeed’s Global Sales Strategy, explains that a thorough profile can help an applicant stand out to employers.
“Indeed offers a simple resume template to fill in your skills and past experience — the more relevant details you add, the more likely you are to get a response from employers. For example, if you are planning to transition out of the military in the next six months or less, we’d recommend you fill out the specific “Military Service” box. This includes your military branch, military experience and end date of service, and helps employers know your background and when you will potentially be available to start,” Hulce said.
She also recommends creating multiple job alerts to get the latest opportunities in real-time. By getting a jumpstart on new postings, job seekers can ensure their profile is up-to-date with keywords from the listing.
Getting started
The first step of any job search is evaluating career aspirations. Andrew Dennis, Product Commercialization Specialist for Indeed Veteran Strategy, offers three starting points for getting started:
- Research! It is important to sufficiently research any companies or industries that might be of interest to you. Think about what you want to do next, and how your skills and background align with requirements for various roles. Reading job descriptions and Company Pages on Indeed can help you with your research.
- Fill out your resume, making sure to include your military service, and share it on Indeed. It’s free to upload your resume on Indeed and employers can search specifically for veteran resumes, which will help you stand out from the crowd.
- Apply to roles that you feel fit your background and skill set. It’s okay to apply to several roles across various industries to get a feel for what aligns best with your background.
Dennis adds that in some cases veterans may want to consider a path different than what they did in the military. One of Indeed’s search tools includes a section to browse by job title or keyword, which enables job seekers to explore job descriptions to see what peaks their interests.
“For example, your MOS/military job code may not necessarily define your civilian career path. You’ll need to translate the skills you’ve obtained in the military into language your future employers will understand, including the intangible skills you might have such as communication, teamwork, people leadership, critical thinking and others,” Dennis said.
Do your homework
It is important to remember the job search is a two-way street. Job seekers and employers are both looking for the best fit for their needs, which is why it is vital that veterans and military spouses conduct research. Indeed offers company reviews which can provide information about companies’ hiring process, workplace culture, CEO leadership and more. Plus, the salaries tool helps job seekers determine salary expectations and negotiation points for a desired position.
Highlight your military affiliation
Indeed recognizes the unique strengths and talents that emerge from military service, and so do the employers who list jobs on the site. This is a reason why Indeed created a solution for companies to find and target job seekers with a military background.
“Veterans.indeed.com is a site specifically designed for the military population. We provide job seekers tips and resources that can assist them with their job search and direct them to create an Indeed Resume to help get their job search started,” Dennis said.
If you are a military member preparing for the transition to the civilian sector, or a military spouse looking to start or grow a career, Indeed houses over 20 million jobs on its site from over 1.3 million sources — with more being added each month. Visit Indeed to get started on your job search.
For veteran job seekers looking for career guide resources, visit Indeed’s veteran job seeker homepage. For employers looking to connect with veteran talent, visit the Indeed for Veterans employer homepage.
