Guest Article: Emma Banks

Hello everyone! I hope your week is going fine and dandy; I know mine is, it's my day off. (winkwink) I'm happy to introduce something new to the blog that I haven't done before; a guest writer. I'm very, very excited about the topic in hand. I know that a lot of military families go through this at least once in their lifetime and it's a very stressful experience.
Without any further ado; I'm very happy to introduce our authoress and her article:

Emma is a mid 20-something year old with a passion for life, love, fitness, and helping others. She loves to be active and get involved in as many sport and community activities as possible. Emma is currently studying to become a Career & Life Coach, and loves to network with people from around the world! Check out Emma’s blog at http://smileasithappens.blogspot.com/! 

Post-Military Employment and the Myths That Get in the Way

By: Emma Banks

It’s no secret that transitioning into civilian life following a military career comes with challenges. Regardless of the amount of time you’ve spent in the service, reentering the civilian workforce can appear daunting. Of course, buying into some of the job myths that exist won’t help to lessen any anxiety you may have either. Let’s take a look at some of the myths you’ve probably already heard and learn the truth behind them.

Myth #1: The jobs you can get after a military career are limited and difficult to find.

Truth: Many programs exist to help veterans find employment in a wide array of fields. Dozens of today’s top companies have joined forces to form the 100,000 Jobs Mission, a service that lists information on current job opportunities as well as statistics such as projected growth rates in various fields, average salaries for each field and educational requirements.

Myth #2: You will annoy colleagues and superiors if you ask for referrals.

Truth: Most people who appreciate your skill set and admire the work you have done in the past will be happy to put in a good word for you. Additionally, today’s employers understand that everyone has a busy schedule. In order to make it easier for individuals to get and provide references, many companies have partnered with mobile recruiting services, like JIBE, that allow you to request referrals directly from social networking sites such as LinkedIn or Facebook.

Myth #3: Because of your service-connected disability, no one will hire you.

Truth: Many disabled veterans have found and maintain gainful employment outside the military. The U.S. Department of Veterans offers several programs to help, including rehabilitation services, job coaching, on-the-job training programs, case management for disabled veterans and personal counseling.

Myth #4: You should quote job postings as much as possible in your cover letter.

Truth: All this proves is that you can read. Instead of quoting the job listing, reply to it with specific skills, talents and experiences you can bring to the position. Use your cover letter to illustrate why you are the ideal candidate for the job, by putting in the extra effort to set yourself apart you’ll be sure to rise to the top of the application pile.

If you think civilian life will be markedly different than your life in the military, you are correct. Life does, however, go on and any opportunities will present themselves if you remain open to them. Disregard the rumors you hear, and learn the truth. Success comes more readily to those who prepare for it.

Thanks Emma, we'll (or I know I will) be looking forward to more of your work at http://smileasithappens.blogspot.com/.