Guest post from Emma at Smile As It Happens

A few weeks ago (I know, I'm awful), I was contacted by Emma at Smile As It Happens about doing a guest post about the transition from the military to civilian world. Obviously, this is something that is close to me as we're starting that process. I love what she has to say about the subject and hope you will too!

Enjoy!

Transitioning From Military to Civilian Life

Among the many difficulties faced by military members and their spouses upon their return to civilian life one of the most important - for obvious financial reasons - is finding a new job after your years in the military or as a military spouse. Now that you are looking for a new job, it is highly likely that you have come to accept many job-hunting myths as simple truths, and as such this article has been written to help to dispel some of those myths so that you can feel more confident as you go out and find a new job.

Myth #1: The job resources for military families are all geared towards active military members and veterans.

Truth: It is true that there are an abundance of programs intended to assist active-duty service members and veterans, however that does not mean that there are not any that are geared towards military spouses and non-veterans. One of many sources that is available for military spouses to get help with writing resumes and cover letters, become "career-ready", and even help with searching for jobs is The Military Spouse Employment Partnership.

Myth #2: Applying to jobs is hard and time-consuming.

Truth: Contrary to popular belief, applying for jobs nowadays is in fact easier than it has ever been. The good news is that nowadays, it is easier than ever to apply for jobs because nearly all companies now allow - and in some cases require - applicants to apply online. Some have even started to partner with services like JIBE, a mobile recruiting company that allows you to apply directly from your smart phone, thus saving you the time and effort required to go door to door.

Myth #3: There are no companies that are specifically looking to hire veterans.

Truth: It is true that most companies are not looking to hire only veterans, however there are countless companies that do put forth a legitimate effort to provide jobs to veterans. A simple web search will show that there are many organizations and websites whose sole purpose is to find jobs for veterans, and some even allow veterans to apply for veterans to apply for jobs online without even needing to create an account, one such website is VeteranJobListings.com.

Myth #4: If you're unemployed the only thing you should be focused on is searching for a job.

Truth: While it is of course important that you put effort into finding a job when you are unemployed, that does not make it the only thing you should be focused on. If you spend all of your time after leaving the military solely looking for a new job you will rapidly lose your motivation while gaining stress, neither of which are things you want to occur during this difficult transition. Instead you should spend some of your time doing charity work, or if applicable going to school or earning certifications related to your desired job field.

Emma is a mid 20-something year old with a passion for life, love, fitness, and helping others. She loves to be active and get involved in as many sport and community activities as possible. Emma is currently studying to become a Career & Life Coach, and loves to network with people from around the world! Check out Emma’s blog at http://smileasithappens.blogspot.com/!