How do I upload my resume if I'm already registered as a job seeker on your website?
  1. Go to http://www.militarystars.com/job_seekers_post_resume.


  2. Sign-in as an existing user with the email address and password you used when you first registered.


  3. After you log-in, click on the "Go" button next to "My Current Registration".


  4. On the upper right side of the page you will click the "Resume" button.


  5. Then, click on "Submit New Resume" and follow the rest of the instructions. If you don't have a current resume you can click on the "Build It Now" button and create one.
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How do I search and apply for jobs that I'm interested in if I'm already registered as a job seeker on your website?

  1. Go to http://www.militarystars.com/job_seekers_search_jobs.


  2. Sign-in as an existing user with the email address and password you used when you first registered.


  3. After the Registration & Job Browsing page appears, type in the company name you want in the "Keyword Search" box and click "search" at the bottom of the page.


  4. After the Search Page appears, find the position you are interested in and click on it.


  5. Then, click on "Apply Now" and follow the rest of the instructions.
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How do I register to attend another event if I'm already registered as a job seeker on your website?

  1. Go to http://www.militarystars.com/job_seekers_register.


  2. Sign-in as an existing user with the email address and password you used when you first registered.


  3. After you log-in, click on the "Go" button next to "My Current Registration".


  4. Scroll down towards the end of the page to "MilitaryStars Career Expo" and select the event you want to attend.


  5. Then, click on the "Save" button at the bottom.
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• HOW YOU CAN PREPARE FOR THE CAREER EXPO •
| Why go to the event | Before you go | At the event |


WHY GO TO THE EVENT?

Meet employers face-to-face. Regardless of the extent to which technology makes it easier and faster to share information between jobseekers and employers, nothing replaces in-person contact for making an impression. Meeting candidates in person at an event gives employers another way of screening candidates besides just the resume you submit. Take advantage of the unique opportunities to meet employers face-to-face.

Make a good (or great) impression in person. This is especially important for military personnel because just sending a resume doesn't necessarily make you stand out from the crowd. Employers attending the event are looking for people with military backgrounds.

Learn more about military-friendly employers. You want to meet employers that understand the background and skill set that military members can offer their company. You can learn about the culture of an organization when you meet their people, and you can ask questions.

You know the employers have current job openings. Sometimes employment websites and job boards leave postings online for weeks and months after the position is all ready filled, and this is intentional: human resources departments want to have resumes on file for jobs that MAY come open in the future. Employers at a hiring event, on the other hand, have "real" job openings and many will schedule follow-up interviews with candidates immediately.

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BEFORE YOU GO TO THE EVENT . . .

Know which employers are attending. See our Career Expo Link two weeks before the schedule date of the event. You'll be able to click on links to the web site for each employer attending and you can search their job openings at our Job Search Link.

Do enough research to make "A" and "B" lists of employers to meet. Depending on the number of employers attending, you probably won't have time to speak with every employer and, equally, every employer may not be offering what you seek. You don't need to study employers' financial reports to prepare, but you do need to have some sense of what the organization does, and whether there is a fit between your skills and interests and the employer's needs. Also, if you're looking for more than one type of job - like technical sales or production management - you'll need to know which employers are looking for what so you can give each employer an appropriate resume.

Have plenty of copies of your resume ready. You might need to prepare more than one version. Always take plenty of paper resumes to the event (even if you submitted your resume in advance through our online job board, employers won't remember everyone who has submitted an online resume to them and you won't want them to feel embarrassed if they don't remember yours specifically). And if you're looking for more than one type of position, each being significantly different (like marketing or human resources), you'll need two different versions of your resume, each tailored to support the different objective. This does not mean that you need an individualized resume for each employer at a fair. More so, it means that when you speak to an employer and say that you are interested in a certain kind of job, you can't hand the employer a resume that has nothing to do with that kind of work.

Prepare a 20-30 second introduction to use with employers. You don't want to sound like a telephone solicitor reading a script; you do want to sound like you thought about why you're there. It might be something like, "Hello. I'm John Henderson, an Army Signal Corp Technician and I'm transitioning out of the military within the 30 days. I'm looking for a Technical Project Management position. I read on your web site that (name of company) has a position in your corporate office, and would really like to learn more about this position." Get the idea? Keep in mind that some employer representatives may take control of the conversation quickly and you may do more listening than speaking, but you do want to be prepared to be proactive rather than passive.

Know the dress code. Our event is Business Casual. Business casual is clean, crisp, neat, and should look appropriate even for a chance meeting with a CEO. It should not look like cocktail or party or picnic attire. Avoid tight or baggy clothing; business casual is classic rather than trendy. Khaki pants, neatly pressed, and a pressed long-sleeved, buttoned solid shirt are safe for both men and women. Wear a leather belt and leather shoes. Athletic shoes are inappropriate. Carefully inspect new clothes for tags, and all clothes for dangling threads, etc. You are not expected to be able to afford the same clothing as a corporate CEO. However, do invest in quality that will look appropriate.

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WHILE YOU ARE AT THE EVENT . . .

Watch your manners and mannerisms. Remember all those things your parents and military instructors drilled into you when you were a child and in basic training. Stand up straight, don't hang your mouth open, don't fidget, do speak up and speak clearly, don't chew gum or smell like smoke. Have a good handshake and make good eye contact.

Carry a simple portfolio to keep your resumes organized and ready. Be ready to hand employers the appropriate resume. Be prepared for employers to give you literature and give-away items (pens, cups, t-shirts, etc.) - this is typical at events (sometimes they give you a bag to carry the give-aways). Bottom line is that you want to look like an organized person because that's an asset in an employee.

Have an open mind. You may have 12 employers on your target list to speak with. If you have extra time, or have to wait to speak with an employer, take advantage of the opportunity to chat with other employers who aren't busy. You might learn something to your advantage to your surprise. At the least, you'll be practicing initiating a conversation in a less formal business environment - and this is an essential skill in any work environment.

Communicate with employers. This is your opportunity to be evaluated on more than just your resume. In many aspects of the job search, your resume and cover letter are all employers see to determine whether to interview you. At an event, you have an opportunity to stand out in person in a way that you might not on your resume. Interpersonal skills, communication skills and business social skills are critical. Many employers evaluate these skills heavily, because they want to hire people who can make a good impression on their clients.

Handshakes are critical. Upon meeting, an employer you should wait a few beats for them to extend a hand. If they do not extend a hand, then you should. Offer a hand while looking in other person in the eye, with a smiling, and while speaking an introduction. Upon conclusion of the meeting, the same protocol should be followed along with an appropriate thank you. If you are meeting with multiple individuals, shake everyone's hand and learn their names by repeating them as you shake.

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• INTERVIEW PREPARATION •
| General Rules | Questions to Expect | Questions to Ask | What Not To Do |
| Ten Interview Mistakes | 34 Common Mistakes | Successful Phone Interviews |


GENERAL RULES:

  1. Dress professionally, conservative.


  2. Check Nails.


  3. Polish Shoes.


  4. Tone down colognes and perfumes.


  5. Calm yourself before the interview; arrive 10 minutes early.


  6. Greet with confidence: Enthusiasm, together with a self-confident smile, will go a long way toward establishing the best first impression. Give a firm handshake. Make eye contact.


  7. Do your homework! Little things can set you apart from other candidates. Research the company you will be interviewing with. Visit the company web site and read up on the company history, structure, products and services.


  8. It's All in the Attitude: Managers want to work with people who are interested in working at their companies and in their departments - people who have a positive and upbeat attitude and who ask good questions.
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QUESTIONS TO EXPECT:

Keep responses to the point. Be a good listener and be interested. Stay on track, and be direct and concise with each answer. Then stop. Most interviewers have a number of pre-set questions they wish to cover in a limited amount of time. Don't over-explain.

  1. Tell me about yourself. Hit the highlights, be concise, avoid extreme details and tangents.


  2. Strengths and weaknesses. Be sure to tell how you are correcting the weakness if possible.


  3. Why are you looking? "As a matter of fact, (recruiter's name) called me." OR give a reason w/o "dogging" the company with which you're currently employed or your previous military experience.


  4. How much money do you want? Do not give an amount!! You say, "I am currently making $(your current salary); however, what is most important to me is the opportunity to excel and the values and success of the company I work for. Based on what you have shared with me so far, I am really interested in this opportunity. If you are interested in me, I would like to entertain your strongest offer."


  5. Why did you leave a specific job?


  6. What is your five-year plan?


  7. What do you know about this company? - DO YOUR HOMEWORK!


  8. Any job-specific questions?


  9. Problem/resolution scenario: Tell me about a time when you encountered an issue and how you resolved it.


  10. What are you proudest of in terms of your accomplishments at you present position or former position?


  11. What was your schedule of goals to accomplish at your present position for the next year, for next two or three years? What would you have liked to accomplish in your present position that you did not accomplish, in whole or in part? What prevented you from accomplishing these things?


  12. What do you think will be the toughest aspects of the job if you were to accept the position? What will be the most enjoyable aspects and the least enjoyable?


  13. What do you think your greatest contribution will be or what aspects of the job or the company do you think you would be able to make your greatest contribution to?


  14. From whom and/or what have you learned the most in your career and why?


  15. How do your spouse and children feel about the change of position and/or the relocation of your home?


  16. If you were promoted to the next higher position in the company, how would you select your successor and what would you be looking for?


  17. If you are selected for this position, how would you deal with the situation of individuals in the company who were competitors for the job for which you are being interviewed and who may feel that they are better qualified? (Some of them may be your subordinates.)


  18. What philosophy and techniques do you use in motivating subordinates and energizing them and, when necessary, in disciplining them? Do you vary your approach for subordinates who are outstanding, good, satisfactory, mediocre? If so, how?


  19. What criteria would you use in measuring your own performance over the next year and the following years; like your performance measured by; use in measuring your superior's performance and your relationship to him or her?


  20. What criteria would you use in evaluating your subordinates performance? How would you conduct an evaluation process?


  21. Academically, what were your best subjects? Your worst?
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QUESTIONS THE CANDIDATE SHOULD ASK:

Make sure you get any questions you may have about the position, responsibilities, or company answered during the interview so that you can fully assess the opportunity. Asking informed, open-ended questions shows your interest in the company and the position.

  1. Where do you see the company going?


  2. What is your vision for your team/or this department?


  3. What is my supervisors management style?


  4. Based on my background and experience, do you have any reason to believe that I could not handle this position?


  5. Where do we go from here? OR What's the next step?
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WHAT NOT TO DO DURING THE INTERVIEW:

  1. Don't Ask the Wrong Questions: Don't ask about vacation or sick time. Don't ask about benefits. This information will be provided to you later and is not appropriate during the first interview. Asking these questions gives the impression that those issues are the most important to you. Don't ask specific questions as to how quickly you will advance out of this position. Such questions can lead the interviewer to feel you are seeking this position only as a brief "stepping stone". A better question would be "What is the career track someone might expect beginning in this position?"


  2. Avoid Negative Comments: If you have any negative feelings or concerns, discuss them with your recruiter after the interview. Keep an open mind during the interview, and wait until after the visit to make a decision about the opportunity. Do not make negative comments about your present or former employers. This is a major "turn-off".


  3. Under no circumstances should you forget to obtain a business card from the interviewer and subsequently write and email or mail a follow-up "thanks for taking the time to meet with me" letter. If you don't do this after the interview, how will the company representative remember you in the midst of the hundred plus candidates they've interviewed? Following up is key.
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TEN INTERVIEW MISTAKES THAT CAN COST YOU THE JOB

  1. THE INTERVIEWEE IS UNPREPARED. Do your homework. Visit the library and read the annual reports, brochures and news articles to understand the company and its products and services.


  2. THE INTERVIEWEE TALKS TOO MUCH. Most responses should be kept to one to three sentences. If the interviewer probes for more information, respond accordingly but keep it brief, and directed. Control the interview by listening and asking direct questions.


  3. THE INTERVIEWEE DOESN'T ASK QUESTIONS. A good rule of thumb is to interview the interviewer. Your questions should convey interest and initiative.


  4. THE INTERVIEWEE FAILS TO LISTEN. Carefully listen to every question and then respond. Often an interviewee is preparing a response before the question has been completed and therefore cannot answer completely or might miss the subtle intent of the question altogether.


  5. THE INTERVIEWEE DOESN'T LOOK AT THE NEEDS OF THE HIRING ORGANIZATION. It is important to match your qualifications with those sought by the employer. Search beyond the position itself and determine why the position is available and what needs to be accomplished.


  6. THE INTERVIEWEE PRESENTS A NEGATIVE IMPRESSION. Dress appropriately for the job. Conservative is always the best approach until you have landed the job and are secure in the position.


  7. THE INTERVIEWEE IS NOT OBSERVANT. Be alert. Pay careful attention to the objects and people in the office.


  8. THE INTERVIEWEE ARRIVES LATE. Always arrive 5 minutes early. Arriving late only increases stress and reflects negatively on how responsible you are.


  9. THE INTERVIEWEE FAILS TO WRITE A FOLLOW-UP LETTER. The follow-up note presents the opportunity to reemphasize the information discussed during the interview. It reminds the interviewer again of who you are and allows you to present those specifics that you feel are most likely to impact positively on getting you hired.
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34 COMMON MISTAKES MADE DURING INTERVIEWING

  1. Poor personal appearance.

  2. Lack of interest and enthusiasm; passive and indifferent.

  3. Over emphasis on money; interested only in best dollar offer.

  4. Condemnation of past employers.

  5. Failure to look at the interviewer when conversing.

  6. Limp, fishy handshake.

  7. Unwillingness to go where sent.

  8. Late to interview.

  9. Failure to express appreciation for interviewer's time.

  10. Asks no questions about job.

  11. Indefinite response to questions.

  12. Overbearing, over aggressive, conceited with superiority or "know it all complex".

  13. Inability to express self clearly: Poor voice diction, grammar.

  14. Lack of planning for career; no purpose and goals.

  15. Lack of confidence and poise; nervous ill at ease.

  16. Failure to participate in activities.

  17. Unwilling to start at the bottom - expects too much too soon.

  18. Makes excuses, evasive, hedges on unfavorable factors in record.

  19. Lack of tact.

  20. Lack of courtesy; ill-mannered.

  21. Lack of maturity.

  22. Lack of vitality.

  23. Indecision.

  24. Sloppy application or obvious omissions.

  25. Merely shopping around.

  26. Wants job for short time.

  27. No interest in company or industry.

  28. Low moral standards.

  29. Cynical.

  30. Lazy.

  31. Intolerant - strong prejudices.

  32. Narrow interests.

  33. Inability to take criticism.

  34. High pressure type.
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TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL PHONE INTERVIEWS

  1. Review the interview preparation document as you would in a face-to-face interview.


  2. Make sure you are in a quite place without distractions, where you can speak freely. If the interviewer calls at a bad time, it's better to reschedule for five or 10 minutes later (when you can find a place to talk) than trying to get through it.


  3. Always have a copy of your resume in front of you. Many times the interviewer will ask you questions in reference to work history or specific notations on your resume.


  4. Take 10-15 minutes to focus on the upcoming conversation before the interviewer calls. Take a few minutes to review your notes regarding the position and company before the call.


  5. There may be times when we may not know who of a team that you will speak with. This happens in larger companies that use a team approach in recruiting and hiring. Get the interviewer's name and title and ask how he or she fits into the organization.


  6. Use Power Phone Skills! Speak slowly and clearly and always think about your answers before responding. If sitting, sit upright, just as you would in an actual interview. Many people think that if you stand while talking on the phone you are more alert and are better able to project your enthusiasm for the position. Be careful not to go monotone-keep you voice lively.


  7. Make sure your answers are clear and concise. Get to the point; don't ramble. If you don't know the answer to a question, don't fake it-just say so.


  8. Have questions prepared. Ask the interviewer if you may ask a couple of questions. Additionally, always express interest in the position. At the conclusion of the interview, ask the interviewer what the next step will be.


  9. Write and mail your follow up letter the evening following the phone screen.
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