While there are many programs to help translate military skills, there are few that support veterans in learning to communicate that translation effectively. To address this issue, Veteran Career Services in the Office of Veterans and Military Affairs (OVMA) has produced a video series and is collaborating with the veteran-owned company Purepost to give military-connected students a new perspective on the hiring process. Given the difficulty of a job search in the virtual world of COVID, this series and website will help put military-connected students in the best position to showcase their unique skill set.
The video series, “Gathering Your Tools,” features employers, alumni and special guests discussing topics such as networking, self-branding, interviewing and more. These videos are available on OVMA’s YouTube Channel.
Syracuse University’s Veteran Career Services has also partnered with Purepost, a free service for student veterans that analyzes military experience and converts it to civilian skills. With free registration, the “Purepost Sherpa” will make a student-veteran’s military resume easily comprehendible to civilian employers. Students first create a personalized profile that will optimize their job search. Military occupations entered will generate “achievement statements” that can be used on a resume. These statements have been developed to help describe the many duties, leadership capabilities and technical skills embedded in a military job title.
Purepost is also connected to Syracuse University Career Services. Student veterans will get personalized recommendations from Career Services advisors on volunteer opportunities or other college activities that would be a good fit. The Purepost profile also matches a student veteran’s competencies to jobs and internships that companies are currently seeking. Interested student veterans can register here for a free webinar on Friday, Feb. 26, that will cover how to get started.
Jennifer Pluta, assistant director of Veteran Career Services in the OVMA, says the videos and the website will help military-connected students highlight their experience in a way that civilian recruiters, hiring managers and professionals will understand. “Military-connected students face multiple hiring disadvantages,” she says. “Service members are also often trained to perform within a team and need training and guidance in the art of self-promotion. ‘Gathering Your Tools’ and Purepost are resources that will help them bridge the gap and support their career pathways.”
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