Job Market Competition is Fierce! Are You Prepared? Published July 29, 2014 By Michelle Aikman Nationally Certified Résumé Writer FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Employers across the country, in nearly every industry, are processing hundreds to thousands of applications for every job post. Talk about a tough market! In order to stay efficient and reduce the amount of time they spend reviewing résumés, most employers use online applicant tracking software (ATS) systems that filter out candidates according to their specified criteria. As a result, applicants that do not meet their definition of an "ideal candidate" are typically eliminated from consideration before a human ever sees their application. Military-affiliated candidates, comprised of military spouses, transitioning military members, veterans, Guard & Reserve, and dependents, need to pay close attention to this because there are extra steps necessary to avoid this electronic black hole. You are probably highly skilled and capable of performing the role. You are probably the highest-value candidate competing for the job. So, where is the problem? Unfortunately, majority of military-affiliated candidates do not fit the "ideal candidate" mold; job posts specify experience requirements that military-affiliated candidates simply do not possess such as specific job titles and years of experience in certain roles. Transitioning military members often struggle to properly translate their language (stripping away acronyms, cumbersome terms, language familiar only to the military community, etc.) so their target employer can understand their qualifications and can properly compare them against other candidates. This is particularly difficult for individuals who find themselves transitioning unexpectedly. Learning how to translate takes time and is much easier if you learn it early on in your military career. Military spouses are often unrecognized talent! According to a recent Military Officers Association of America study, 90% of military spouses are either unemployed or underemployed. With more education than the general population and often a range of work experiences under their belts, military spouses bring tremendous value to employers. However, we struggle with translating our experience and skills into relevant qualifications and employers often eliminate military spouses from contention due to their lack of appreciation for their unique value and because we typically do not meet their "ideal candidate" mold. Many employers also use the excuse that military spouses are a guaranteed short-term investment. The good news is that our society appreciates and recognizes our military members and veterans so there are a number of national initiatives and programs designed to help you during the transition period. There are also a number of initiatives and programs in place to support military spouses. Many employers are on board as well and recognize the tremendous benefits of hiring you. Many large employers have special veteran programs and designated recruiters searching just for veterans. The not-so-great news is that there is still a lot of progress needed because many employers still do not have processes and systems set up to properly evaluate and give credit for your unique qualifications. There are still many negative perceptions out there that prevent a great military-affiliated candidate from being considered or selected. Many employers are still very uncomfortable and unfamiliar with military jargon and the complex lifestyle of military spouses. The bottom line is that there is no fast-pass or smooth transition for you into your next civilian job. It is up to you to find out about the resources available to you, use those resources, do your research on employers and job search strategies, polish your message, create targeted and quantified documents to support your qualifications, and navigate the job market. If you are actively seeking employment or want to prepare yourself for future transitions, join me for the Career Readiness Boot Camp scheduled in conjunction with the Inland Northwest Hiring Heroes Career & Resource Fair. Through the workshops, we will also collect information about your struggles, needs, and interests to share with Spokane area who employers will attend an employer education workshop before the fair. Employers will learn about the military community and discuss ways to improve their hiring processes to recognize and capture the great talent right here in our military community. Competition is fierce in the open job market. Are you prepared? CAREER READINESS BOOT CAMP The boot camp consists of six separate workshops that are all free of charge. "Tips for Military Spouses" Aug. 7, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Balfour Beatty Community Center with childcare provided. "Career Management Crash Course" Aug. 14, 6 to 8 p.m. "Charting Your Course" Aug. 21, 6 to 8pm "Why They Should Hire YOU" Aug. 28, 6 to 8 p.m. "Targeting and Translating Your Skills" Sept. 4, 6 to 8 p.m. "Rapid Resume Reviews" Sept. 11, 6 to 8 p.m., all at the American Red Cross Center, 315 W Nora Ave., Spokane, WA 99205. Register to HiringHeroes.INW@redcross.org. INW HIRING HEROES CAREER & RESOURCE FAIR The INW Hiring Heroes Career & Resource Fair is Friday Sept. 19,10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St., Spokane, WA 99202. Job seekers and employers can register for the career fair at www.redcross.org/hiringheroes. The INW Hiring Heroes Career Fair is being coordinated through a joint effort by representatives from the American Red Cross, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Fairchild Air Force Base, Greater Spokane Incorporated, Joint Service Support System Washington National Guard, Operation Spokane Heroes, WorkSource Spokane, and other local partners. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/INWHiringHeroes or call (509)326-3330. Michelle Aikman is a premier Nationally Certified Résumé Writer and is the Lead Career Management Consultant of Skilled Assets. She is an active-duty military spouse with "in-the-trenches" experience navigating the job market in multiple regions as an engineer.