Complete The Skillbridge Steps Below So We Can Help You Get Hired Quickly
Step 1
Attend Both Zoom Calls
Learn our process for getting you hired, get your questions answered, and review your next steps. Please attend both calls
First — Attend Orientation Welcome Call
- Mondays: 12 PM EST / 11 AM CST / 10 AM MST / 9 AM PST / 8 AM AST / 7 AM HAST
- Tuesdays: 10 AM EST / 9 AM CST / 8 AM MST / 7 AM PST / 6 AM AST / 5 AM HAST
- Wednesdays: 8 PM EST / 7 PM CST / 6 PM MST / 5 PM PST / 4 PM AST / 3 PM HAST
- Thursdays: 5 PM EST / 4 PM CST / 3 PM MST / 3 PM PST / 2 PM AST / 1 PM HAST
- Fridays: 1 PM EST / 12 PM CST / 11 AM MST / 10 AM PST / 9 AM AST / 8 AM HAST
- Saturdays: 8 AM EST / 7 AM CST / 5 AM MST / 5 AM PST / 4 AM AST / 3 AM HAST
- Sundays: 9 PM EST / 8 PM CST / 7 PM MST / 6 PM PST / 5 PM AST / 4 PM HAST
Next — 1-on-1 Call with your dedicated Veteran Success Coordinator
After attending the Welcome Call, you’ll be assigned to a dedicated Veteran Success Coordinator.
He or she will be your POC and provide the personal attention to help you every step of the way.
Check your Email Inbox to learn your Veteran Success Coordinator’s name and then schedule a 30-minute Zoom call on their calendar.
If you haven’t received the email, email [email protected]
Contact info for all of our Veteran Success Coordinators is also featured on our Leadership Team page.
Step 2
Tailor Your Profile
We’ll help you clarify your career aspirations, refine your resume and LinkedIn profile to accurately reflect your goals, showcase relevant skills, and highlight transferable experiences.
Determine your ideal job
- If you’re unsure EXACTLY what you want to do, take as much time as you need to soul search. It will be time well spent!
- Selecting the wrong path is the #1 career pitfall Vets make. It results in numerous emotional and professional consequences that are best to avoid.
- Click here to revisit the Orientation Welcome Call slides to get clarity on the career path best for you. Password is 7EAGLE.
- It’s crucial that you focus like a laser on your ideal job for the initial 3-5 years.
- Hiring Managers prefer candidates who are dialed in to what they want and you’ll have an easier time getting hired if you have this clarity.
- Remember – you served our country and now you deserve a rewarding and lucrative post-military career that aligns with YOUR passions and professional goals.
- Use LinkedIn to connect to other Vets and civilians in careers that interest you. During the informational interviews, ask for advice and mentorship; don’t immediately ask for a job!
- Think beyond the familiar brand names. Increase your odds dramatically by considering small companies too!
Playlist
Revise your resume
- Revise your resume in seconds with ChatGPT or Meta.ai for free so you make a great first impression!
- If you haven’t written a resume yet, go to Best Military Resume to use their complimentary service.
- Remember, a tailored resume is crucial for landing your desired SkillBridge position, especially if you’re making a career pivot.
- For instance, if you're an Intel Analyst in the Army and now want a SkillBridge position as a civilian Dog Trainer, ensure your resume's Summary section highlights this career change, so the hiring manager is not confused.
Optimize your Linkedin profile
- Unlock a free one-year Premium plan, exclusive to military candidates. With Premium, you'll enjoy extended 'Connect' messages and advanced search features.
- Watch the accompanying video and follow our expert tips below to craft a standout profile that showcases your strengths.
- Consistency is key! Ensure your Resume and LinkedIn profile align, featuring the same Job Title and Work Experience details. This will help avoid confusing hiring managers and present a strong, cohesive brand.
- Leverage LinkedIn's AI Builder tool for added support. Below are some of our suggestions on building an amazing LinkedIn Profile.
Headshot
- Load a smiling professional picture of yourself from the chest up (no tee-shirts, baseball caps, etc).
- The same shirt/top you’d wear to a job interview is best (or military dress uniform)
Banner
- Upload an attractive background image that relates to the civilian career you want.
- Ideas: a skyline of your SkillBridge home city or an image related to the civilian industry or job title you’re seeking.
Contact Info
- Include your personal cell and email in this section so it’s easy for hiring managers to contact you.
Connections
- If you’re new to LinkedIn, strive for a minimum of 25 connections with your friends and family.
- The more quality connections you have, the more relevant you’ll appear.
Work Experience
- Load your complete resume featuring details of your military experience (avoid military jargon!).
- If you’re making a career pivot, relate some of your military experiences or skillsets to your new career.
- Get a free account on ChatGPT if you need help writing or improving your resume.
Step 3
Apply To Jobs
Apply to 20+ positions to give yourself a good opportunity to attract interest. Make sure your skills aligns with each position’s general requirements.
How to apply to companies ACTIVELY hiring
Search job boards to identify companies currently hiring for the position you want. Below is a list of job boards you can browse
How to apply to companies NOT advertising positions
- Be proactive and reach out to any company you’d like to work for.
- Companies are consistently on the lookout for exceptional talent, even when no job openings are publicly advertised.
- Maybe there’s a current employee about to get fired, quit, or retire? Maybe the company just won a big account? Maybe the boss will realize that you’re a strong candidate then the current person in the role and want to make a switch?
- Navigate to the “Careers” or “Jobs” page on the company’s web page.
- If you can’t find application instructions, go to the “Contact Us” page and apply via their contact form or a published email like “info@” or “support@”.
- If the prior strategies don’t work, search for a prospective hiring manager’s email address. It might be a CEO, VP, or hiring manager…each company is different so use your judgment. LinkedIn is the perfect place to find hiring authority’s names.
- It’s okay to contact more than one company POC to increase your chances of getting noticed.
Communication Tips & Strategies
ALWAYS personalize your messages to make a lasting impression when reaching out via email, website forms, or LinkedIn.
Write personalized messages so it’s clear to the recipient that you wrote it just for them. If they sense that you’re sending a bulk generic message, your application will go immediately in the trash.
Here are some of the best practices:
- Address the POC by name.
- Mention the company name and job title you want.
- Describe the company’s products, services, or mission.
- Reference the company’s location.
- Always use your personal email address to ensure you receive responses (i.e. @gmail, not @mil)
- Double-check your spelling and grammar before hitting “Send.”
- Write a personalized email “Subject” line that will get opened: Example: (POC’s FIRST NAME) – (COMPANY NAME) / (YOUR FULL NAME) i.e. Jim – Apollo Cyber / Sara Jones
Sample Email or Text
Tailor this message to fit your unique situation.
Before hitting “Send,” meticulously review your message to double-check all merges, grammar, and context to guarantee a polished and professional tone.
Remember the common pitfall of copying and pasting a previous message only to forget to update the recipient’s name or company. A careless mistake undermines your credibility and can cost you the job.
Hi (POC FIRST NAME),
As a transitioning (YOUR BRANCH) service member with a proven track record of leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving, I am confident that I would be a valuable asset to (COMPANY NAME) as a (JOB TITLE YOU WANT).
During my (# YEARS OF SERVICE) years of honorable service, I developed a strong foundation in (JOB RESPONSIBILITIES) and a passion for (INDUSTRY).
Now, I’m eager to leverage my skills and experience to drive success in the civilian sector.
(COMPANY)’s mission resonates deeply with me, and I’m excited about the opportunity to join a high-performing team that shares my values.
I can offer you (YOUR BEST STRENGTHS INCLUDING INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE, CERTIFICATIONS, COLLEGE DEGREES, ETC.) I’m confident that my dedication, grit, and work ethic can significantly benefit your company and make me a valuable team member.
What’s more, the military offers a unique opportunity for your company to “test-drive” me risk-free.
They’ll cover my salary for the first three months, allowing you to assess my fit and performance without any financial commitment (and saving you about $15,000).
I’d welcome the chance to discuss my application and how my skills align with your needs.
Can we schedule a call to explore this further or can you point me in the direction?
Thank you!
Sample LinkedIn message
Write a personalized “Connect” message. Never use the option of “Send Without a Note.”
Navigate to the company’s LinkedIn page and then click “People” to see their employee roster.
If it’s a small company with less than 25 employees, consider sending a message directly to the CEO.
For larger companies, target a VP, Director, or potential hiring Veteran Success Coordinator in your desired department.
It’s okay to send your message to multiple POCs within the same company too. Make sure to message any Veterans currently working at the company. They could go to bat for you.
Hi (POC FIRST ) – After (#) years in the (BRANCH) , I’m excited to launch my career as a (JOB TITLE). (COMPANY) is perfectly-aligned with my skills and passion. How can I apply for a spot? Military even covers initial 3 mos salary!
Hi (POC FIRST) – Thanks for connecting. I’m highly interested in exploring career opportunities at (COMPANY).
I would greatly appreciate any advice you might have on what I can do to stand out as a strong candidate. Your guidance would be to help me showcase my skills and demonstrate my value to the team.
Thank you in advance for pointing me in the right direction. I’m confident that my skills and passion would make me a great fit for (COMPANY), and I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the team’s success.
Sample Voice Mail
Hi (POC FIRST) – This is (YOUR FULL NAME). After (#) years in the (BRANCH) , I’m excited to launch my career as a (JOB TITLE). (COMPANY) is perfectly-aligned with my skills and passion. Can you suggest how I can apply for a spot? The military offers this amazing government funded program that covers my initial 3 mos salary! This way, you’ll save about $15,000 and be able to evaluate me in action without the risk. Thanks so much for pointing me in the right direction. You can text back or call (YOUR CELL – speak slowly).
Follow up with Email, LinkedIn, and Phone
If your initial message is ignored, and it’s been about four business days, send one casual follow up message like this.
Hi (POC FIRST) – I wanted to follow up on my initial email regarding applying for a position at (COMPANY). I’m still very interested in joining your team and would appreciate guidance on how to proceed with my application. Could you kindly provide instructions?
If this message is ignored too, find a different POC at the same company. Or just move on to another company.
There is no shortage of opportunities and it’s important to work where there is mutual excitement to have you on the team.
Phone POCs to really stand out
In a world where email is the communication method of choice, a simple phone call can be a game-changer.
By phoning your POCs, you’ll distinguish yourself from other applicants who all feel email is easier or less awkward, and dramatically increase your chances of getting noticed.
This strategy works extremely well because so few people take the time to make a more meaningful connection.
It’s a surefire way to bring your application to the top of the list!
Remember to smile as you speak – your enthusiasm and excitement will shine, making a lasting impression.
If you’re having trouble reaching your POC, connect with someone in a different department and request an introduction. Maybe there’s a veteran already on the team who will be eager to help you?
Printed Flyer
If you need a printout or PDF to share with a POC, Click Here
Step 4
Interview Prep
Confidence starts with preparation! Since landing a job interview is inevitable, let's get ahead of the game and learn effective interviewing strategies.
Start practicing now!
With just a few hours of practice, you’ll enhance your interviewing skills, dramatically boost your confidence, make a lasting impression, and most importantly, significantly increase your chances of getting an offer.
Watch these 15 short videos to help you (about 23 minutes total).
Playlist
Step 5
Complete This Form After Every Bite
It’s crucial to immediately notify your Veteran Success Coordinator after any company expresses interest in hiring you. This will alert us to coach you through the next steps.
Fill out form
Make sure you see a “Mission Complete” image after you hit submit to confirm your form was processed correctly
Step 6
What Happens After You Get Hired
Your Path to Success Starts Here! Let’s navigate every step of your SkillBridge journey with confidence and clarity for a smooth transition to your new role.
Learn More
Get familiar with every step of your SkillBridge journey, from receiving your Offer Letter to onboarding with your host company, to ensure a seamless transition to your new role.
Your dedicated 7 Eagle Veteran Success Coordinator will collaborate with you and your SkillBridge host company to secure the optimal offer.
We meticulously review salary range, location, and all essential details to ensure alignment before accepting the SkillBridge position.
With a strong potential for internship conversion to permanent W-2 employment, we need to ensure mutual understanding and set the stage for a successful outcome.
Once everyone is good to go, we’ll send you an Offer Letter form AFTER to complete.
Your host company will complete an Onboarding form to ensure they will abide by the DoD Skillbridge requirements (i.e. pay you overtime if you work you more than 40 hours/week, cannot send you outside of the country, must consider you for a permanent W2 employee position if you meet their performance requirements, etc).
Once 7 Eagle Group receives both forms, we email you an official SkillBridge Training Plan to present to your Commanding Officer.
Once the Commanding Officer approves your SkillBridge participation, you’ll send us the authorization letter.
You’re now ready to report for work on your SkillBridge Start Date.
Step 7
Tips To Convert Your Skillbridge To A Permanent Hire
Turn Your Internship Into a Career! Master the strategies to secure a full-time position and build a successful future with your host company.
Learn More
This valuable advice will help you shine and increase your chances of securing a full-time W-2 employee position with your host company upon transitioning to veteran status.
Please watch our video series. You’ll discover proven strategies and insider tips to impress your host company, build lasting connections, and position yourself for long-term success.
