Resume help?

[hoopercj]

Hello all,

I am a surface ET1 with 11.5 years in, and plan to go on terminal leave early next year. My goal is to get a job, somewhere in the south / southeast in training. What my biggest concern is at the moment is how to best translate my navy career (2 ships, RO/SRO, training guy, PPWS, A-School Instructor) to these jobs. I have a rough resume already written, but I would most definately want to create several versions for ops / maintenance / training if possible.  If there is anyone out there who can possibly assist me (either by helping me edit, or perhaps providing good examples) the help would be most appreciated.

Thanks.

[Higgs]

Early next year? PM me in six months.

[OldHP]

I am a surface ET1 with 11.5 years in, and plan to go on terminal leave early next year. My goal is to get a job, somewhere in the south / southeast in training. What my biggest concern is at the moment is how to best translate my navy career (2 ships, RO/SRO, training guy, PPWS, A-School Instructor) to these jobs. I have a rough resume already written, but I would most definately want to create several versions for ops / maintenance / training if possible.  If there is anyone out there who can possibly assist me (either by helping me edit, or perhaps providing good examples) the help would be most appreciated.  

I guess my first question would be, with over 12 - why?  At this point the remaining 7+ is a piece of cake!  

But, there are a number of real good resume sites out there and there are some good finishers here.  They don't advertize here but, you might try www.arightresume.com

Good luck and Thank You for your service!

[peteshonkwiler]

The Wall Street Journal radio broadcast this morning had a story re: resumes aren't effective and in the future will cease to exist.  I believe this article will also be on the WSJ blog for reference.  I don't know if it is in the print version or not.  It may be that you will not have to have even one version, especially if you're not getting out until 2013.

[HydroDave63]

The Wall Street Journal radio broadcast this morning had a story re: resumes aren't effective and in the future will cease to exist.  I believe this article will also be on the WSJ blog for reference.  I don't know if it is in the print version or not.  It may be that you will not have to have even one version, especially if you're not getting out until 2013.

Did the broadcast say what would be used? Some sort of Intelius background check, the old-school "Curriculum Vitae" that the rest of the world uses, or ??

[peteshonkwiler]

Did the broadcast say what would be used? Some sort of Intelius background check, the old-school "Curriculum Vitae" that the rest of the world uses, or ??

It was basically a reaction to some of the flack going around the last week or so about resume oblivion.  Check http://www.npr.org/2012/02/08/146585368/keeping-your-resume-out-of-online-oblivion
for an update on that controversy.  However, they were basically saying that HR types are getting overrun with resumes.  So, they are basically looking at alternative methods to hire people for the positions.  It was early this morning, when it aired, and I was showering/shaving/etc during the time frame so I don't have a real good recall of everything discussed.  You would probably do better to search the WSJ blogs for the article itself, or maybe it is also in today's print version.

[surf50]

Here's a link to the print version.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204624204577178941034941330.html

[hoopercj]

Thanks everyone for the quick responses to my inquiry. A few replies...

Early next year? PM me in six months.

I realize it's early to begin applying for positions yet, but I don't think my resume will change over-much throughout the next year and thus it is one thing i can get ahead of the curve on if i get it polished up now and make any minor changes that may be necessary later. In other words, i'm getting out straight after my instructor tour here at a-school, so my employment history and qualifications aren't likely to change by more than 1 entry or so (when i hopefully qualify master training specialist).

I guess my first question would be, with over 12 - why?  At this point the remaining 7+ is a piece of cake!  

Primarily my reasoning for getting out is that I now have a family and I don't want to go on another deployment. Considering I would have 1 or 2 more sea rotations if I stayed in and that translates to 3 or 4 (or at the rate things are going in today's navy, even more) deployments in the 7ish years I would have left until being eligable for retirement. If my options are to spend give or take 2 out of 7 years away from my family for a retirement check each month or to be able to see my daughter grow up, I'll take the time with my family in a heartbeat.

I also feel that I've gotten most everything i can out of the nuclear navy professionally. I've done the maintenance, stood the watch, been an LPO, and trained the students. I know that making chief and being an LCPO would bring its own set of experiences, but based on what i've seen on here and looking at openings there's little (if any) difference between the job I would qualify for now vise the job i would qualify for 8 years from now even if i'm being optimistic about navy advancement. About the only things I could argue for staying in is that it would give me time to finish a masters degree if i wanted to, and i would get that check each month once it was over. Quite frankly, it's not enough to make me want to stay in.

Also, thanks for the link, i'll be looking into that.

The Wall Street Journal radio broadcast this morning had a story re: resumes aren't effective and in the future will cease to exist.  I believe this article will also be on the WSJ blog for reference.  I don't know if it is in the print version or not.  It may be that you will not have to have even one version, especially if you're not getting out until 2013.

Be that as it may, I think the saying is "better safe than sorry". Even if the standard begins to shift away from resumes the likelihood that the transition will be the norm before i get out is slim in my opinion. but then again maybe things move more quickly than I realize on the outside. Either way i'd rather be prepared with a resume and not need it than need one and not have it.

Thanks again for the responses guys, and if anyone's able to help further feel free to contact me either in this thread or via PM.

[Already Gone]

The resume as we know it is far different from the resume that was used 50 years ago.  In those days, you took it to a printer to have it professionally printed.  Because of the difficulty and expense of that, it was a multi-submission document, intended to cover all bases.
These days, you can open Microsoft Word and tailor a resume to a particular job in minutes.  (If you don't, you're stupid.)

This too will become as obsolete as taking it to a printer to be produced on expensive paper with an offset printing machine has become obsolete.  Many submissions are done online with the option of attaching your resume as a separate file, but that attachment is just a little part of the total submission.  Eventually, (actually, even now) the online interface will prompt you to make entries in direct response to the hiring company's requirements that make the resume itself redundant.  As years pass, the attachment of a separate file will be eliminated and the resume will be no more.

However, just as having networked computers, laptops, e-tablets, e-readers, smartphones ... etc. has not accomplished the elimination of paper from business as yet, the electronic submission of job applications will not do away with resumes as quickly as some may predict.  Even if 95% of all businesses eventually do all their hiring without viewing resumes, there will still remain 5% who will need to see one.  Even if that is something that they require for no reason other than that they are just used to having it that way, they will still require them.  You don't want to rule out 5% of the job market, and as of now, that breakdown is closer to 95/5 going the other way.  Anybody planning to get a new job in the next 10 - 15 years will do well to keep a resume on file and up-to-date.

[Zog]

I see resumes being replaced by an eHarmony type system, find your perfect match.

[Higgs]

Thanks everyone for the quick responses to my inquiry. A few replies...
I realize it's early to begin applying for positions yet, but I don't think my resume will change over-much throughout the next year and thus it is one thing i can get ahead of the curve on if i get it polished up now and make any minor changes that may be necessary later. In other words, i'm getting out straight after my instructor tour here at a-school, so my employment history and qualifications aren't likely to change by more than 1 entry or so (when i hopefully qualify master training specialist).

Primarily my reasoning for getting out is that I now have a family and I don't want to go on another deployment. Considering I would have 1 or 2 more sea rotations if I stayed in and that translates to 3 or 4 (or at the rate things are going in today's navy, even more) deployments in the 7ish years I would have left until being eligable for retirement. If my options are to spend give or take 2 out of 7 years away from my family for a retirement check each month or to be able to see my daughter grow up, I'll take the time with my family in a heartbeat.

I also feel that I've gotten most everything i can out of the nuclear navy professionally. I've done the maintenance, stood the watch, been an LPO, and trained the students. I know that making chief and being an LCPO would bring its own set of experiences, but based on what i've seen on here and looking at openings there's little (if any) difference between the job I would qualify for now vise the job i would qualify for 8 years from now even if i'm being optimistic about navy advancement. About the only things I could argue for staying in is that it would give me time to finish a masters degree if i wanted to, and i would get that check each month once it was over. Quite frankly, it's not enough to make me want to stay in.

Also, thanks for the link, i'll be looking into that.
Be that as it may, I think the saying is "better safe than sorry". Even if the standard begins to shift away from resumes the likelihood that the transition will be the norm before i get out is slim in my opinion. but then again maybe things move more quickly than I realize on the outside. Either way i'd rather be prepared with a resume and not need it than need one and not have it.

Thanks again for the responses guys, and if anyone's able to help further feel free to contact me either in this thread or via PM.

My point was that I was being selfish and not willing to put effort in on it until you were closer to getting out. However, I'll take a look at it now if you want, PM me and I will give you my email address.

Justin

[OldHP]

Early next year? PM me in six months. 

My point was that I was being selfish and not willing to put effort in on it until you were closer to getting out. However, I'll take a look at it now if you want, PM me and I will give you my email address.  Justin 

  Now the second post sounds more like the Higgs responce to a serious request for resume help.   

It must be that archaic shift schedule.   

[Higgs]

  Now the second post sounds more like the Higgs responce to a serious request for resume help.   

It must be that archaic shift schedule.   

Haha yeah, I am on backshift for simulator training so my willingness to screen resumes over a year out was low.

[OldHP]

I understand that schedule - back shift and day shift were generally easy - mid shift a killer (particularly the short turnaround)!  But, seriously try to educate them on the health and safety benefits of a six or seven 12's schedule once you get back into the plant.

Even worse, it sounds like the instructors are on the same shift schedule.  Just !

[Neutron_Herder]

The only thing I'll add to the OPs reasoning is that getting out and going commercial does mean you'll sleep at home at night (or day), but that's about it when you're on shift...

Take a 12 hour shift, add in turnover time of about 30 minutes, getting into and out of the site (5 to 30 minutes each way depending on what's going on), and the commute each way and you're easily looking at being out of the house at least 14 hours a day...

I wouldn't EVER go back, but I got a lot more time off when I was in the Navy. It sucks for that 6 months that you're on deployment, but the schedule I mentioned above is every day...

The shift schedules themselves are good, but if the plant is understaffed you can throw all that out the window.

I'm not trying to dissuade you from getting out, as an RO you're qualified for the OPS path... Just don't get out thinking you're going to be home all the time. Utilities want to make money, and you're going to earn every single dime they pay you!

[hoopercj]

I'm not trying to dissuade you from getting out, as an RO you're qualified for the OPS path... Just don't get out thinking you're going to be home all the time. Utilities want to make money, and you're going to earn every single dime they pay you!

No worries on that account, I'm under no illusions that i won't be spending more time at work than I do now. I do feel, however, that making up for that fact will be the significantly higher pay I will hopefully receive. This comes as a close second to seeing my family every day when I come home.

At this point, there's little to nothing that the navy could do to entice me to stay in. Which is why I'm so adamant about preparing properly to get out. Thanks again for the responses guys. Oh and Higgs, I won't bother you with my resume just yet but that doesn't mean I won't come knocking in a couple of months!

[Higgs]

No worries on that account, I'm under no illusions that i won't be spending more time at work than I do now. I do feel, however, that making up for that fact will be the significantly higher pay I will hopefully receive. This comes as a close second to seeing my family every day when I come home.

At this point, there's little to nothing that the navy could do to entice me to stay in. Which is why I'm so adamant about preparing properly to get out. Thanks again for the responses guys. Oh and Higgs, I won't bother you with my resume just yet but that doesn't mean I won't come knocking in a couple of months!

I can look at it now, but whenever.

Even though the days are long on a 12 hour shift schedule, you work less days.

Yes, there are tradeoffs and pluses and minuses to both sides... , but one thing you can't get around is that land based commercial nuclear power plants don't go to sea. And they don't fast cruise. That alone is worth a lot.

Justin

[RDTroja]

I can look at it now, but whenever.

Even though the days are long on a 12 hour shift schedule, you work less days.

Yes, there are tradeoffs and pluses and minuses to both sides... , but one thing you can't get around is that land based commercial nuclear power plants don't go to sea. And they don't fast cruise. That alone is worth a lot.

Justin

* except in Japan, on occasion.

[Higgs]

* except in Japan, on occasion.

LMFAO

[Starkist]

* except in Japan, on occasion.

hahaha

[a|F]

In regards to resume writing:

Make your bullets say what their bullets ask for.

Get on linkedin- see how your peers describe their jobs, carers, and accomplishments.  Most of the large companies recruiters are on there as well.

Get ahold of your peers' resumes, and specifically those who have successfully transitioned to the commercial side.

[hoopercj]

Get ahold of your peers' resumes, and specifically those who have successfully transitioned to the commercial side.

This is part of what I was looking for originally, the resumes of people who have transitioned so I might be able to see how they translated the essentially "standard" jobs that i have had into getting an interview. I think after a few versions of my resume I have a decent start, but I'm certain that it could use improvement.

[Already Gone]

I guess I have to repeat myself.

Unless you are applying for the exact same job, at the exact same site, at the exact same time, and interviewing with the exact same hiring manager, another person's resume is totally useless to you.

If you are applying to the exact same everything, then you don't want your resume to look like the other guy's either.

So, either way, you have no use for anyone else's resume.

You are talking about YOU.  Be original - but not quirky.  Be honest, because they will check.  Be brief, because they don't have time to read a page and a half of crap.  Be concise, meaning get the important info into the TOP HALF OF THE FIRST PAGE!!!  If they don't see what they need by then, they stop looking.

If you absolutely must include an objective, make the objective match the job exactly.  I.E., if you are applying for an NLO job at Plant Hatch, then your objective should read, "A position as a Non-Licensed Operator at Plant Hatch"  Also use the correct terminology, which requires about 20 seconds of research.  If they post the job as Auxiliary Operator, then NLO might not cause a match in their sorting software.
Leave out the doublespeak buzzword BS like " an opportunity to showcase my dynamic skills ... blah blah blah"  PUHLEEEZZE!  The more words and space you waste with the objective, the less you have to "get the important info into the TOP HALF OF THE FIRST PAGE!!!"

Achievements and accomplishments matter more than a laundry list of duties.  But a NAM means not a thing unless it was an actual Navy ACHIEVEMENT Medal (vice the End of Tour NAM that seems to have materialized of late - the guy who hires you might have done 20 years in the Navy without ever getting or seeing anyone get a NAM, he won't be impressed by one that was pinned to your transfer orders).  The medal means squat; the achievement means a lot.

Speak English!  Do not use a $2 word where a $.02 word will do.

Search this website thoroughly.  There is a lot of other great info that has gathered here over the years.
Start here:  http://www.nukeworker.com/forum/index.php/topic,4911.0.html

[Starkist]

I think he just wants formatting, not to copy the exact resume.... ?

[drayer54]

I used other peoples resume to get ideas for wording and descriptions. I didn't copy anything, however it did help.