“Great quality that focuses on Candidates and not their own bottom-line”
-USN LT Jeff G, recently placed Alliance Candidate
WHAT WERE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR TRANSITION?
Although I was extremely excited for making the transition to corporate America, I did hold several reservations. One of my primary concerns was ensuring I found a company that was the right “fit”. Although this term may sound cliché, it was very important. Unfortunately, one of the biggest problems was that I really didn’t know what that fit was. I knew I wanted a career were my talents and experience would be effectively utilized. Second, I wanted to work in an organization that valued positive leadership, and allow my leadership skills to be implemented with my new team.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO USE A JMO RECRUITING FIRM?
I initially decided to utilize a firm because I sought assistance in writing a resume that presented my military background into practical civilian skill sets. Unfortunately, I initially did not utilize Alliance, and a competing agency shaped my resume into a cookie cutter format that failed to highlight my individual contributions and skills. This other firm provided zero interview preparation which I quickly discovered was paramount to obtain the career my family and I sought.
As for applying to companies on my own, I found that I failed to have the network necessary for transition. Whether applying for companies directly or via social media, I was either under or over-qualified. If I did happen to secure an interview, I lacked the training necessary to explain to a potential future employer why I would be an effective employee although I lacked many of the hard skills listed on their job description.
WHY DID THE OTHER JMO FIRM FAIL TO FIND YOUR NEW CAREER?
Besides the lack of training, the primary reason I felt I failed to secure a new career with other firms was because they did not provide the leadership focused roles I sought. I absolutely loved being a leader in the military, and I feel that soft skill is an attribute that must be highlighted to potential employers.
Second, just like the other firm failed to customize my resume or provide interview training, they also failed to hear my interest. Instead, they attempted to force me into interviews and later positions that I simply held little to no interest. Again, fit is extremely important, and my family and I were not going to be forced into a role we did not feel was in our best long-term interest. Finding the right career is far more important than simply getting a job. Unfortunately, this is a fact that not all JMO firms hold. In the end, Alliance cared more about finding me and my family the best next step than their own bottom-line.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO TRUST ALLIANCE?
Since the very start of Alliance’s selection process, I knew my experience with their firm would be very different. Alliance’s incredibly high standards for its candidates provided me the confidence that any company they worked with knows they were interviewing the very best JMOs on the market. Honestly, the process proved somewhat intimidating, but I now know it was actually the start of their training program. After selection, the custom tailored resume and multiple mock interviews provided me the skills necessary to select the ideal opportunity for my family and I. Alliance made the entire process as smooth as possible, and even invited my spouse to attend the hiring conference. I am now a developing leader at an organization that is the perfect fit. Oddly enough, my career is in an industry, location, and market-size I never would have even considered if not for the training, insight, and guidance provided by the entire Alliance team.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO FUTURE TRANSITIONING JMOs?
Start your process early, and start it with the team my family and I trusted and ultimately succeeded with, Alliance Careers.