Page 64 - AAPT March 2019

Transition

TRANSITION

SI MP LI FI ED

What do I help, you will be able to see beyond Your written application should
‘pigeon-holing’ yourself into only similar include more than what’s on your
OFFER? roles you had in your military career. Duty Statement and the list of things
So we encourage you to take the time
you have been responsible for. If this
to explore career options and seek
and get help now! It should include
guidance on aligning your transferable describes your written application – stop
SKILLS? skills to other industries and jobs. When your demilitarised transferable skills
you do this, it opens up many more (targeted toward the industry/job you
EXPERTISE? opportunities and greatly increases wish to attract) and your workplace
your ability to see beyond the uniform achievements. Achievements tell an
STRENGTHS? more clearly. employer about you from a cultural
Consider a new career direction well perspective - for example, your work
before you leave Defence. Remember ethic, initiative, team work, management
A Defence career offers many that what you decide to do is not final performance, customer service and
strengths, skills and achievements or absolute. In today’s job market, desire to improve your professional
that are relevant and transferable the average time spent with any one skill sets.
to a civilian workplace. After your employer is now approximately five The most effective written application
initial training, you will have accrued years and the younger generations are is one that quickly highlights to the
skills such as adaptability, attention to changing jobs every two years. This employer how your skills match the
detail, cooperation, cultural sensitivity, means long-term careers are becoming skills required for their job. This is the
professional ethics, reliability, situational less likely. Statistics show that young area where most job search frustration
awareness, stress management and job seekers who leave school today occurs. So, spend time getting this
teamwork (to name a few). will change careers (not just jobs) nine area right and you’ll have much greater
After managing a team, you will times before they retire. Therefore, success. The same principle also
have also accumulated skills such as whatever decision you make today, applies to the best way of promoting
coaching, facilitating group discussions, won’t necessarily lock you in until yourself at the job interview. Talk
managing a team to meet deadlines, retirement. specifically to the points the employer
mentoring, personnel management, Your written application is typically is looking to use to grade applicants
team building and supervisory/ the “first impression” employers see of and you’ll be doing the best you can to
management skills, etc. you. First impressions have a massive secure that job.
However, while you’re still serving it impact on your success or failure during We recommend that at everything
is typical to think that your military role this process. A written application step of finding new employment,
equates only to further military work. includes: remove or replace military terms with
I know I certainly did after a 20 year CV/Resume | Cover Letter | Selection every-day language. This will be
Army career. So don’t beat yourself Criteria/Suitability Statement | Linked-In challenging if you’ve never thought
up if you’re thinking like that. With a profile | Social Media presence of doing this before. But you can
broader understanding and a little

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