Veterans: how to demonstrate the job skills employers seek most

Veteran's Day is not the only day to think about our service men and women who are making the transition from armed services to corporate America. If you are one of these many returning soldiers making the transition into the civilian workforce, what are the qualities employers are seeking?

According to recent research, OI Partners-Innovative Career Consulting, a global career coaching and leadership development firm in Denver, identified five top characteristics employers are looking for in new hires:
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Team-oriented: 71%
Customer-focused: 63%
Track record for achieving employer’s goals: 62%
Work smart: 60%
Work hard: 56%

Now, how can you demonstrate these highly sought-after skills? Shawna Williams, managing partner in the Denver office of OI Partners offers this advice:

1. Team-oriented: Draw on your experience with your unit, platoon, section or squad. Use specific examples of how you led and/or actively participated on this “team.” Talk about the impact of your contribution to the success of the group.

2. Customer-focused: Your ‘customer’ is the military, the government, and the American people. Cite specific examples of how you risked your personal safety for the “customer.” Discuss why you joined the armed forces and describe your commitment to the “customer.”

3. Track record for achieving employer’s goals: Write and talk about the challenges you faced, the actions you took, and the results of your specific actions. Highlight those positive results as your demonstrated track record for achieving business goals.

4. Work smart: Demonstrate tasks and/or activities that you completed efficiently based on your individual characteristics. For example, as a sergeant (hiring manager) were you able to put the right people in the “right jobs” to get tasks done more quickly, efficiently, or accurately?

5. Work hard: Focus on demonstrating your commitment or dedication to your organization/military/government. Tell the interviewer a story about how you worked hard to reach a goal.

Check out the website, My Next Move: for Veterans, a new online resource that allows veterans to enter their military occupation code and discover civilian occupations for which they may be well qualified: http://www.mynextmove.org/vets/

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About OI Partners: OI Partners–Innovative Career Consulting is the largest, privately owned career consulting and talent management companies. They help individuals to find new careers and employers to improve the performance of their employees and organizations through career transition, executive coaching, and leadership development services.

About Shawna Williams, M.S., CMP President, Business Leadership at OI Partners- Innovative Career Consulting: Shawna focuses on her passion to drive business excellence by staying abreast of cutting-edge research relating to organizational and career-related best practices. Working in partnership with clients, Shawna designs custom career transition and leadership development for individuals, teams, and corporations to address and attain sustainable, business results.