So how long, exactly, will it take to find a job? That depends on a number of factors:

• When did you start to apply? It’s a good idea to begin applying for positions that are open months in advance. This is especially true for federal jobs. Most applications will ask you when you can start, and an employer that is happy with you will gladly wait in most cases. Don’t wait unti lyou’re totally out of the military to begin the job hunt!

• What kinds of jobs do you want? If you’re seeking a career that has few job openings, it will undoubtedly take long to find a job. This varies from state to state. Also, keep in mind that certain jobs simply take longer to get because the paperwork before you can state is grueling. Federal jobs, for example, often require clearnces and aptitude tests, which can take a long time.
  

• Do you have a knock-out resume and cover letter? No matter what type of job you want, your resume and cover letter will be your potential employer’s first impression of you. It will take much longer to find a job if these documents are boring and generic, filled with mistakes, and hard to read. If necessary, hire a professional resume writer to help you revise your resume and cover letter so you’re the leader of the pack for any job to which you apply.

• Where are you moving?  Before you make a final decision about where to live, check out the job opertunities available in that area, as well as the unemployment rate. Many find it more difficult to find jobs in rural areas simply because there’s not a lot of selection in fields that are desirable. It depends on you and your career dreams.

And what are the “best” jobs? Again, that depends on a number of factors. The best jobs are ones that keep the employees happy, healthy, and financially stable. These jobs vary from state to state, but some of the top jobs current which you may want to consider if you’re making the military transition, include:

• Operations or Intelligence Analyst
• Network Systems Manager
• Field Service Engineer
• Opterations Manager Logistics
• Senior Training Manager
• Comptroller
• Construction Manager
• Contacts Adminstrator
• Engineering Manager
• Human Resources Manager
• Instructor in Military College
• Instumentation/Calibration Technician
• Labor Relations Manager
• Plant Manager
• Railroad Conductor
• Recruiter
• Security Manager
• Transportation Engineers
• Traffic Manager
• Warehouse Supervisor

Source: CNN’s Money Magazine (read more here)

The bottom line? When you leave the military, have a sound financial plan so that you can take the time you need to find a job that will truely make you happy.

But what kind of salary can you expect when you leave the military?

That depends on a number of things, including location, seniority, experience, networking, and…well…luck! However, here are some national statistics that you might find interesting:

June 2005 National Average Hourly Wages, By Career

• All Careers $18.62
• All White Collar 22.96
• Engineers, Architects, Surveyors 36.38
• Mathematical/Computer Scientists 35.30
• Natural Scientists 29.80
• Health-Related 32.18
• College/University Teachers 42.98
• Other Teachers 31.51
• Social Scientists/Urban Planners 31.02
• Social/Religious Workers 18.62
• Lawyers and Judges 51.20
• Professionals in Arts/Athletics 24.46
• Technical 22.28
• Executives/Managers 38.20
• Management-Related 27.04
• Sales 15.32
• Administrative Support/Clerical 14.53
• All Blue Collar 15.87
• Precision Production/Craft/Repair 19.95
• Machine Operators/Inspectors 14.19
• Transportation/Material Moving 15.28
• Handlers/Cleaners/Helpers/Laborers 11.63
• Protective Service 17.74
• Food Service 7.90
• Health Service 11.13
• Building Maintenance/Service 11.11

Source: National Compensation Survey: Occupational Wages in the United States Report from the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ten States with the Highest Median Income, 2002 to 2005

1. New Jersey          $82,406
2. Connecticut         $81,891
3. Massachusetts     $78,312
4. Maryland             $77,938
5. New Hampshire    $72,369
6. Alaska                $69,868
7. Delaware             $69,469
8. Illinois                 $69,168
9. Colorado             $68,089
10. Michigan              $67,995

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Sometimes in the case of the military, one often wonders if the feelings of a spouse are even considered during the decision-making process. The only answer you hear in the process is, “This is the government.” That answer isn’t good enough for many who expect life as a military spouse to be the same as it is for your average government job – Monday to Friday, 8-4:30, all holidays and weekends off. Unfortunately, life in the military is not a Monday to Friday job, and for those spouses who cannot adjust to that type of routine, the road will be long and rough.

That doesn’t mean that spouses are weak if they find life as a military spouse not what they have envisioned. After all, for many it means giving up a career of their own to travel from place to place. It also may mean that you will be unable to accept a job in your chosen field because of routine moves that potential employers are not willing or able to accept. You may find yourself working at the local Commissary or Bx instead of as a supervisor or Manager at the local bank where you worked previously. It’s hard to climb up the corporate ladder, when that ladders is always moving.

This isn’t the kind of life that everyone can accept, and for those who choose not to do the traveling, it means a long distance marriage where you stay behind and become the primary caregiver of the children and have little time with your spouse. The question is which is the lesser of the two evils—giving up your job and traveling the world with your spouse and children or staying behind with your children and seeing your spouse only on leaves or weekend passes if he or she is stationed close enough to do that.

Is there an easier way? Shouldn’t a spouse have a say in the length of time one is allowed to remained stationed on one base?

Unfortunately, that depends upon the rank, service time, and type of job the spouse performs for the military. A great deal may also have to do with the branch of service—the Navy, for example, may require your spouse to be on a ship for up to three of every four or five years, and though that may mean time apart, it may also mean that you will remain in one port for a longer period of time. When there are choices, they have to be between the husband and wife—the military is not going to make any concessions for the fact that your spouse doesn’t like moving every year or two or that your kids are tired of changing schools and leaving their friends.

Being a military spouse is not an ideal situation for raising children or having a “normal” marriage, but if you accept that from the beginning, it will be less difficult. Children tend to adapt if you accustom them to it from birth because it’s the only life they know. If, as a spouse, you make the conscious decision that you are going to take it in stride, then you will fare much better. Find a career that doesn’t mind if you move around frequently or become involved with the many employment contractors that exist all over the world. Take the time to enjoy the experience instead of complaining about what you could have had, and the transition to life as a military spouse seeking employment will be much easier or everyone. Make it your choice to accept the situation as normal. Use your voice to support the work your spouse does rather than to voice your frustration you’re having finding a job as a military spouse.

Of course it isn’t…but the fact remains that it’s a dog-eat-dog world in many business environments. Working on a team is a great experience, but in most cases, you need to make sure that you don’t…well…get eaten. Here are some tips for surviving in a business world where “teamwork” is all about “me” instead of “us.”

• Never trust someone to do one of your tasks unless you’ve specifically cleared the reassignment of the task with your boss or manager. Let’s say that Bob offered to print your report for the big meeting tomorrow. What will you do if Bob decides to take a personal day instead or suddenly leaves for vacation? If you are assigned a task, do it yourself.

• Back up your work. If you give your only copy of something to someone else, there’s a good chance you’ll never see it again. Make multiple copies or have the file on a memory stick/floppy disk so that you can reprint easily.

• Assign all “team members” specific tasks. If you do have to work on a team, don’t assume that everyone will simply pitch in to get something done. For many people, the workday ends at 5, no matter if the job is complete or not. Divide the project into smaller tasks and work together to decide who will be doing what. If possible and practical, submit a copy of the tasks list to your boss so that if part of the project fails, he/she knows who’s fault it was.

• Avoid being friends, at least during working hours. If you have to work on a team with others, keep your friendship out of it until you punch out for the day. It’s great to go to happy hour with your coworkers or even hang out with them on the weekends, but if your let that friendship enter the work you have to do, you might find your coworkers trying to capitalize on that friendship. Don’t let anyone take advantage of you.

• Have ethical business practices, even if others don’t. It’s tempting to cheat, plagiarize, lie, etc if it makes your job easier. And if everyone else around you is doing it? Well, even the most moral person has to make some tough choices. However, it’s important to stick to your guns. If the environment where you work is totally corrupt, find a job job if possible.

5. Having a negative attitude

Not every job you do will be your dream job. Sometimes, we all have to do what we have to do to support our families. If your dream is to own your own construction business and you’re applying to be a lowly carpenter, try to think positively. During the job interview, if you have a negative outlook, this negativity will shine through. Look at every job as a chance to learn and grow as a person. No one ever said that the first job you take has to be a career.

4. Devoting too little time to job hunting

Have you ever heard anyone say that looking for a job is a full-time job? They weren’t exaggerating. If you’re out of work, you should be spending at least 8 hours a day searching for opportunities, filling out applications, readying your professional resume, and networking. Jobs don’t just fall from the sky.

3. Providing a sub-par resume

Your military resume may have helped you to get promotions while in the military, but a professional resume does more than help you in the civilian world–it is you. Your resume is your first impression and if that first impression doesn’t leave a lasting imprint on potential employers (or if it leaves a bad imprint), you’re out of luck. It’s a great idea to seek help with your professional resume from a certified professional resume writer.

2. Not doing your homework

Do you know what the job outlook is in your career field of choice? You should. It’s important to do your homework when job hunting so that your can look for jobs in the right places. Also important is research any company where you are applying. Learn exactly what is required of you in a certain job (should you get it!), and beef up your professional resume to highlight the most important skills. For example, if you are applying for a job as a Human Resources Manager, and you’ll be asked to talk to the press, you might want to cite public speaking skills you have. On the other hand, if the Human Resources Manager works purely in-house, team work awards and skills are more relevant.

1. Not considering all of your options

The number one reason your job hunting is failing? You’re probably not considering all of your options. If you want a job as a pilot, but there are only one or two airports in your area, your chances at getting a job are slim. Do an inventory of your skills. Make a list of all of the responsibilities that you enjoyed while in the military. For example, did you like speaking in public schools about the military? Maybe you could work as a recruiter. Did you enjoy going on outdoor excursions? Perhaps you’d be best suited for an outdoor job, such as a ranger. Don’t limit yourself–check out all of the jobs available in your area, and give them a chance.

I’m talking in the sense of job skills. When you’re in the military, you don’t have the same experiences as a civilian (that might be the understatement of the year actually), but when you leave the military and make that transition to the “real” world, your professional resume will be put up against resumes of military and non-military people alike. How do you stack up? Are you “cheaper” as a job candidate? Most people in the military have no idea how to determine their value for the civilian job market. Here’s a handy way to size up your skills, using a method I like to call PRICE. What’s your price?

People skills. In most jobs, you’ll either be working with the public or with teams of other coworkers. It is therefore important that you have great people skills. Your resume should reflect how the military has helped you develop you people skills. Did you live in close quarters? Were in you charge of a team? Did you job involve talking to civilians?

References. Some people overlook this part of a professional resume, but you absolutely need good references. If you don’t have leaders willing to recommend you for a job, you may want to think twice about your attitude, skill level, and work ethic.

Internet and Technology. We live in a fast-paced world, and there are almost no jobs (at least, none that will earn you more than minimum wage) that don’t require the use of the Internet or new technologies, at least in some aspect. Make sure that your resume notes your computer experiences, as well as other technical skills you may have. Even if they aren’t directly related to the job where you’re applying, these are never bad skills to mention.

Critical Thinking Skills. The military prepares you in this area to the tee, but you must prove it to potential employers on your professional resume. You should talk about these skills in your interview as well. You have the ability to think on your feet. You can adapt to new situations. You can work creatively. You can serve leadership roles. You can follow directions. All of this skills are important in any civilian job.

Ethics. If you aren’t an honest person, you won’t go far in life. This isn’t something that you can always easily reflect on your resume, but it is something that will allow you to keep a job, as well as something that will help you find people to writer recommendation letters in the future. Business ethics are overlooks by many people, and the world isn’t always fair, but your “value” will be higher if you do what is right instead of what is easier.

What’s your PRICE? The transition to the civilian world may be difficult, but it’s not impossible. There are jobs our there for you. Simply remember that you need People skills, References, Internet and technology know-how, Critical thinking skills, and Ethics. Display these traits on your resume, and your value in the civilian job market will be pretty high!

First, try looking for a job on or near the military base where your spouse is stationed. These places are used to employees leaving and are very military-friendly. As long as you are honest about your expectations for the time you’ll be in the area and can provide an excellent resume, most employers are willing to hire you.

You can also check out the career counselors on the army base. They’re there to not only help military transitions to the civilian life, but also to help spouse find jobs. Recently, there have been a number of companies that have stepped forward to help with the military spouse problem. Companies such as Boeing have been offering to work with military spouses and transfer them to whichever branch is closest when you move.

Of course, you can also look for jobs that work with moving often. Substitute teach is a good idea, or you can look for jobs that allow you to telecommute, such as sales jobs or freelancing jobs. Working online is a great choice.

The key is to ask for help when you need it! Here are some great places to start:

Military Spouse Job Search 

The Military Spouse Career Center

Military Spouse Career Center 

Good luck with your job hunt!

• Aviation Manager: $156,981
• Administrative Executive: $280,511
• Chief Pilot of a Jet Fleet, $136,668
• Chief Risk Management Executive: $151,523
• Electric and Gas Operations Manager: $114,020
• Finance Director: $185,525
• Government Sales Manager: $101,046
• Health and Safety Manager, $108,160
• Level V Test Pilot: $144,465
• Recruiting Director: $102,329
• Test Pilot Manager: $155,797
• Web Security Manager: $117,776

All figures are found online from Salary.com, where you can look up the salary range for almost every job.

To begin your job search, start with the perfect military resume. Hopefully, your military training has given you the skills you need to get the job you want. If it hasn’t, start with an entry level position and work your way up to that six-figure salary. You can send your military resume to federal employers to start, as these positions are great to military retirees. You can also look for jobs overseas, especially if you’ve lived in a foreign country before and enjoyed it.

You don’t have to go back to Iraq. Even though the money is good, there are other ways to make it as well. Get your military resume revamped by a professional, and you’ll be well on your way to winning that perfect civilian job.

• Leadership: While in the military, you’ve probably been in charge of a team in some fashion. You might have actually been in charge of LARGE teams on a daily basis. Don’t forget to

note this! Listing your official title on your military resume is fine, but most people in the civilian world don’t know the difference between a corporal and a captain. If you held a leadership position note it!

• Teamwork: Leadership is important, but so is the ability to take direction and work with others. Even if you apply for management positions, you probably will have a boss above you, so you have to be a pleasant co-worker and an efficient team member. Allow this to shine threw on your military resume.
• Special Clearances: Cleared for government positions? Definitely note this on your military resume. It will put you before other applicants who would need to go through the process before being hired.
• Computer Skills: If you have experience working with technology, this is invaluable. It can be rare to find applications used to leadership positions AND with computer skills. Note this on your professional resume.
• Punctuality: In the military, scheduling is king. Make sure you remind potential employers of this on your military resume. Everyone loves an employee who will be on time every day.
• Specialty Skills: What did you do while in the military? If an of your specific skills would potentially help you in a new job, make sure to talk about this training. For example, if you were trained in self defense and are now applying to be a security guard, this is an advantage. Other things you shouldn’t overlook include mechanical work, medical training, flight or special driving classes, and management skills.

When writing your professional resume, it is important to put your best foot forward. That includes mentioning the training you received in the military. Even if you don’t have a degree, you may still be extremely qualified for a job. Apply, apply, apply! With a great military resume, you’ll find yourself getting interviews in no time.

And that’s a question I can’t answer for you. The military transition to the civilian world can be just as difficult as deploying once again. In fact, my ex-military men and women find that they truly miss the military after they leave. For most people, family and other career goals eventually overcome the draw of the military, but there is always the option to remain enlisted for the rest of your working life.

If you decide to continue deploying again and again, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Who will take care of your children? If your spouse is in the military as well, this may be of especial interest, but even if he/she is not, will raising the children alone most of the time work for your spouse? Will you have enough time to spend with your children? Will there be a surrogate mother/father, to act as a male/female role model in your place?

• What will you do with your car and house? If you decide to deploy again and again, does it make sense to own these things? Do you have someone to watch over your possessions while you’re overseas? What can you take with you?

• Who will pay your bills and collect your mail? You may need to have things forwarded to you, which the post office does for up to a year if you fill out the forwarding form. However, it is also important to have someone such as a spouse, sibling, or parent be in charge of your finances from the United States end of things.

• Do you have a will? This is very important. Although writing a will may seem a bit morbid, your job is dangerous. If you don’t have a will, there could potential be a messy legal battle among loved ones if you should die. If you plan to deploy again and again, a will is necessary.

Taking care of these things doesn’t mean that deploying still doesn’t get a bit old. It’s hard to be away from friends and family. It’s also difficult to live in another country, where you may not know the language or be appreciated. After you’ve taken care of the above things, here are a few more points to consider to keep the military transition from home to overseas as fresh and exciting as possible:

• Pack well. Don’t forget to include pictures of your loved ones and keepsakes. This might seem mushy and silly while you’re packing, but these items can be very comforting if you feel homesick.

• Advertise that you’re deploying again so that your friends and family make time to say goodbye

• Give out your address to local organizations and loved ones. Getting mail can be very exciting, and sometimes places like elementary schools and churches will send care packages full of goodies!

• Buy a camera. During your stay overseas, take lots of pictures that you can send to loved ones back home. It will be kind of like they’re with you on the journey!

To deploy or not to deploy, that is the question. Only you can make that choice, but if you decide that the money and adventure is worth deploying again, use the above tips to keep deployment from feeling stale!