Safe Harbor Workshop Offers Resumé, Interview Tips

Photo By Andrew Damstedt | George Odom, a FEMA representative, shares his experience transitioning out of the military at a Navy Wounded Warrior Safe Harbor workshop July 22.  

BETHESDA, MD, UNITED STATES

07.28.2016

Story by Andrew Damstedt 

Naval Support Activity Bethesda

In a continuation of its efforts to help Sailors make a transition from military to civilian life, Navy Wounded Warrior Safe Harbor hosted a workshop July 22 aboard Naval Support Activity Bethesda (NSAB) with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) representatives on ways to polish resumés and improve interview skills when applying for government positions.

Rebecca Siceloff, FEMA representative, stressed to workshop attendees that they should tailor their resumé to fit with the job description. That way, hiring managers and other human resource specialists can see an applicant is qualified for a position.

More importantly, she said people need to figure out first what they want to do after they leave the military.

“You have to really do some soul searching yourself,” Siceloff said. “I transitioned from the insurance industry to emergency management. I did that because of my passion as a volunteer. You have to figure out what (your) transition is and start researching that.”

She advised them to read job descriptions and decide whether or not the job is for them.

One tip she shared was to include the industry’s terminology so their resumé made it past round one.

“You’re competing against hundreds of applicants,” she said.

Plus, she said the resumé needs to show how a person is qualified for a position.

“Don’t just apply to apply,” she said.

Gary Simpson, Navy Wounded Warrior Safe Harbor transition care coordinator, advised them to look broadly at their job search because some jobs that might not jump out at first could be what they want to do for their career. He shared a few job descriptions, such as a driver or a cleaning supervisor, noting that they both came with a good salary, but they might not immediately have jumped out as jobs one would apply for after transitioning out of the military.

George Odom, a FEMA representative, shared his transition story to the group.

“In 2011, I was sitting in the same seats that you guys were sitting at,” he said.

Odom said he went to Simpson’s office every day for almost two years to get advice on his job search.

“I had no idea how to put a resumé together at all,” he said. “I couldn’t say what I did from the military on paper.”

Three things service members need to make the transition to civilian working life is “being able to say who you are and what you can do for that organization. Second thing, that resumé is very important … the first thing a hiring manager is going to see is that resumé. That resumé is speaking for you. Third thing is knowing that you are ready.”

He said he failed his first interview because he wasn’t ready for the transition to civilian life.

“After that first bombshell of an interview, I took six months off,” he said. “Though I still worked with Gary for the first six months; I took six months to realize who George was and not who the military guy was.”

Siceloff also shared tips on how to ace an interview. To prepare for the interview, she said to know the section of the organization the interview is with, read the mission statement and know the industry’s terminology.

“When you get to that interview, be able to talk in the language of the industry you’re applying for,” Siceloff said.

She said to dress professionally, use eye contact and don’t slouch during the interview. Also, be prepared to ask questions such as what a typical day in the office is like.

After giving out these tips, the FEMA representatives looked over the service member’s resumés and interviewed them for jobs.

For more information on upcoming Safe Harbor workshops contact Simpson at 301-400-0576.

• Date Taken: 07.28.2016
• Date Posted: 07.29.2016 07:59
• Story ID: 205427
• Location: BETHESDA, MD, US