Theresa--

First, thank you for your service to our country! Second, the short answer is no, I cannot help you find a job. What I can do is give you some ideas on how you can enhance your chances of finding it. Finding a great job is all about contacts--having them and making them. Here are seven of the best ways to make that happen: Inside Connections, The Internet, Recruitment Advertising, Alumni Associations, Networking, Professional Societies, and Placement Companies. For a detailed description of each, take a look at the attachment. This information also appeared in my Career Coach's Corner in the May 2006 issue of Civilian Job News.

--Tom Wolfe, Career Coach

Bernie--

Thanks for your questions--fairly common ones for people in your position.
For many positions the completed bachelors degree is a prerequisite for the job, especially those that are professional or managerial in nature, or can grow to that level. However, many of the field engineering or tech rep jobs do not require the completed degree prior to being hired.

To maximize your options (not to mention your starting salary and growth potential!) completing that degree prior to getting out of the Navy would be your best bet. Second best bet would be going to work for a company in a technician role while working on the completion of your degree in the evenings or on weekends.

I would be hard pressed to come up with any scenario in which you should not work toward the completion of that degree. Starting salaries and career earnings for college grads are, with rare exceptions, always higher than for those without!

--Tom Wolfe, Career Coach

Joe--

I agree with both sides of that age-old argument. If the stated objective is very specific, succinct, and focused on a particular position (e.g., "Secure a position as a Business Process Improvement Analyst in the commercial banking industry"), then by all means put it on the resume!

However, if it is a general, vague, non-specific attempt to make it "one size fits all," (e.g., "Join a growing company where there is room for advancement"), then it is doing nothing more that taking up space.

--Tom Wolfe, Career Coach

Stephanie--

You have hit on one of the most important factors in a job search, and, unlike many things, you have the power to control this one.

Here is the key: Your answer to the "when can you start?" question needs to make the interviewer smile! If instead it produces a frown, then you run the risk of being rejected if for no other reason than they do not want to wait that long.

Rule of thumb?  Every organization is a little bit different, but think in terms of double digits. Interviewing inside a 90 day window of available will in most cases keep them from frowning!

--Tom Wolfe, Career Coach

Jerome--

You are going to love this answer--ZERO!
Letters of reference have become passe.
Although most companies will check references before offering you a job, they do so with a series of questions via telephone calls. You should be ready to produce four to six references--half personal, half professional. Decide who you would like to use, ask them for permission, and be prepared to give your potential employer this information.

--Tom Wolfe, Career Coach