The Vet2Work Job Procurement and
Advancement
Series
Istock
photo
GAP IN EMPLOYMENT
If a person is not working or doesn’t have a
plethora of employment experience, anything that can be useful
in filling gaps should be employed.
Taking an unpaid internship is a good way to learn a
company and let them learn if you are the person for them.
Volunteering in any way to help others also displays
characteristics which are extremely desirable to employers.
Volunteering can be done at a local hospital, Red Cross,
Salvation Army or nursing home, just to name a few.
Internships and volunteering allow you to network while
providing assistance to organizations.
During these internships and volunteer opportunities,
talk with supervisors and ask for references and referrals to
positions.
Also, taking a job in a related area to the
one you want in a company can also be beneficial.
Example: if you are desirous of making a move into a
billing position requiring experience and there is an accounts
receivable position available that does not require experience
or for which you have some of the experience – apply for the
accounts receivable position and network to move into the
billing position after you have done a good job in the accounts
receivable job. The
proverbial “foot in the door” is always a good solid way to get
the job you want – it just takes a little longer to get there.
What did you do during the six month gap in your employment?
Answer Guide:
Because I knew I was ready to re-enter the civilian
workforce immediately after the leaving the military, I
worked on a personal plan to get back into a civilian
position. I attended the available military-to-civilian
trainings, re-vamped my military resume
into a civilian resume, read self help books and internet
sites, visited and applied to some employment agencies, and
also built up a professional network through LinkedIn,
Facebook, and twitter.
I connected with past co-workers, and others
who could attest to my work performance and asked them if I
could use them as contacts.
Although the job search took longer than I
anticipated, I learned a great deal about myself during my
unemployment and realized that I am a person who really
enjoys the challenge of working and will probably work
well past my anticipated retirement age (smile).
How do you balance your personal life and work?
Answer Guide:
This question is to find out if you have made personal
arrangements to avoid calling in.
In the military, I learned how to balance my personal life and
my professional work life
I have a good backup plan for anything that might come up
so that I can full focus on my position and give it 100%.
If you could start your work life over what would you do
differently?
Answer Guide:
This question is to find out if you have any detour that may be
blocking your professional career and advancement.
Looking back over my career, I don’t think I would really change
much. The military taught me self discipline, time management,
professionalism, and team building skills.
I have learned from each and every past job experience,
both in the military and out, and am always willing to learn
more. I try
not to dwell on the things I could have done and to focus on
what I plan to do in the future.
What is your preferred way to communicate?
Answer Guide:
This question is to find out about your personal communication
style (be careful how you answer – saying that you “love to
text” may give the message.
I have several ways of communicating at home.
I use email as one form of communication and also
talk with friends and family via phone.
At work, I use only the approved forms of
communication.
In the past, my employers have all established guidelines
for communication in the office and I have followed those
diligently.
Tell me about a time when you misjudged a person.
Answer Guide:
This question is to find out about well you adjust to the
different personalities in your workplace.
Before I went into the military, I had a supervisor that I
felt was always very moody.
Being an upbeat and happy person, I had a difficult
time with his moodiness but I did my best to adjust to it
although I didn’t understand it.
What I didn’t realize at the time was his wife was
terminally ill and he was dealing with this situation with
little or no help from family and friends.
After I left the company a year later, I heard that
she had passed away and the supervisor left the company a
short time after me. One day, I made the decision to find
him and call him and offer my condolences.
It was the best thing I ever did because we during
that visit we became friends and we now meet and have lunch
often. I
believe the whole experience has made me a much more
thoughtful and accepting co-worker.
©
Copyright Vet2Work/Naturallysilver 2011. No re-publication of this article is
permitted without express permission. This is an excerpt from "Successful Career
Moves" by C.A. Stapleton. About the author: C.A. Stapleton, A.S., B.S.,
M.B.A., is an experienced, published professional career consultant, mentor, and
résumé/ biographical writer.
