How to Ace Any Military Job Fair
On this episode of The Dog Tag, Matt Elledge talks with Martin Traylor, the Transition Service Manager for the SFL-TAP at Fort Hood. Martin shares his insights on how to get the most out of any military career fair. Martin and Matt have several years of experience working together on Fort Hood to help transitioning service members find their post-military careers.
Martin and Matt cover the whole spectrum including how to prepare for a hiring fair, what to do and not do at the hiring fair, and how to follow up with recruiters after the hiring fair. Looking for a job is a full time job, but don’t let that discourage you. You already have the skills and training to prepare for any mission and this is no different.
Show Notes:
Introduction. [:50]
How to prepare for a job fair. [3:15]
The difference between a recruiter and a hiring manager. [5:30]
Why you must tailor your resume to each job posting and hiring organization. [6:09]
Research the companies featured at an upcoming job fair. [9:15]
How to conduct yourself at the career fair. [13:23]
How to dress appropriately. [15:24]
How to personally interact with recruiters at the fair. [17:21]
What kind of discussions to expect when talking with a recruiter. [18:10]
What to do during and after the job fair to set yourself apart from everyone else. [21:12]
Business cards versus job application packets. [26:28]
Opportunities for Veterans at job fairs on military installations. [27:27]
Online job search resources and social media. [28:23]
Know all you can about the industry and organizations you’re interested in. [31:34]
Entrepreneurship often happens three to four years after transitioning out of the service. [34:01]
Martin talks about what being a Veteran means to potential employers. [36:07]
- Stay tuned for our next podcast: Employment for Women Veterans
- Listen to our previous podcast: Education Benefits for Veterans
Helpful Resources:
Hire Our Heroes: Build a Resume
Related Podcasts:
Find Your Post Military Career
U.S. Army’s Soldier for Life Program
Find Your Dream Job with Hiring Our Heroes
Listen to this podcast on iTunes or SoundCloud.
The Dog Tag® is brought to you by the Texas Veterans Land Board and the Texas Veterans Commission. Find more episodes at TexasVeteransPodcast.com. If you have questions about this topic, or suggestions for other podcast topics, call 1–800–252-VETS or email vlbinfo@glo.texas.gov. Visit TexasVeterans.com to find out more about your benefits!
