Transition to Business HUMAN RESOURCES

By Paul Falcone www.PaulFalconeHR.com

Recruitment, Hiring, and Interviewing in the Private Sector: Some Tips and Guideposts

It’s always a good idea to revisit basic job search assumptions from time to time to ensure that you’re on top of your game as you transition from the military to the private sector. Keep these tips and strategies in mind when preparing to launch your job search.

But HR management jobs in casino hotels are projected to grow by 41 percent, while positions in apparel manufacturing are expected to decline by 37 percent over the next decade. You can find these and other industry trends on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook website at www.bls.gov/ooh

• Resumes versus Job Applications

Resumes and job applications are two very different things. Read that: even though you have a resume, you will be required to complete an employment application at most organizations. Why? Because resumes can be “fudged”—written by others on your behalf with mistakes resulting—while employment applications are in your own handwriting with your signature attached. That’s important to employers because courts have held that resumes with misleading or inaccurate information can’t really be held against job applicants, whereas falsified employment applications can justify immediate termination—even if you’re three months into your new job and enjoying it tremendously. Confirmation of falsified information on an employment application (e.g., stating that you have a bachelor’s degree when you’re in fact one credit short) will force most employers to terminate a new hire, even if their performance has been exemplary. Honesty wins in the job search game, so avoid exaggerating or bending the truth.

• Salary History Bans

• Industry is King

Historically, the question was always, “What are you going to do when you graduate from school or transition from the military?” or “Which companies are you hoping to work for?” A more relevant question in today’s market might be, “What industries are you pursuing as you prepare to transition out of the military?” Why? Because industries can be incredibly hot or amazingly cold, and it’s important that you know what’s happening out there. For example, job growth for human resource managers will likely average seven percent over the next decade, which is higher than the five percent average for overall job growth between 2021 and 2031.

Salary history bans have been enacted in a number of states, counties, and cities that prohibit employers from asking candidates about their salary history or current salary. The purpose of these bans is to “blind the compensation scales,” reduce the impact of historical discrimination (i.e., where females only earn 83 cents to the male dollar), and close the gap between male and female salaries for doing comparable work in the same field. Even where salary bans are in place, however, employers are permitted to ask about your “salary expectations.” This way, they at least have a ballpark understanding of what a candidate’s salary expectations are.