President Barack Obama has pledged to withdraw most troops from Iraq by August 2010. Upon their return, veterans may find they’ve left one battle for another: finding employment in one of the bleakest job markets in U.S. history. \\This handbook provides a career transition framework for service members and their families. Readers are given exit strategies for gracefully leaving the military; charts, checklists, and worksheets for planning each transition aspect; resume and cover letter samples and strategies; and interviewing and salary negotiation tips. The author also shares advice for surviving the first month on the new job and beyond. \\This enhanced edition includes a chapter on how to land a federal job, tips for online networking; a directory of online transition tools; and information on employment and retraining options for disabled veterans. \\An essential roadmap for transitioning service members and their families, this eye-opening guide addresses the entire transition process and includes the family perspective with it.

Includes index.

Introduction -- 1. Act II, starring you -- Getting there from here -- The current economic environment -- Great expectations -- It's not just about you -- Culture shock 101 -- Show time -- 2. Your transition mission -- Establishing a realistic timeline -- Your first visit to the transition office -- The preseparation counseling checklist -- Effects of a career change -- Available assistance -- Health care and insurance -- Finances -- Reserve affiliation -- Disabled veterans -- Leaving the service : important points to remember -- At your final out-processing -- Year one as a civilian -- 3. VA benefits and other opportunities -- Your veterans benefits -- Education and training benefits -- Life insurance benefits -- Home loan benefits -- Disability compensation and pension benefits -- Vocational rehabilitation and employment (VR&E) benefits -- Re-employment benefits -- Unemployment compensation -- Medical benefits -- Dental benefits -- Family and survivor benefits -- Other benefits -- Other opportunities -- 4. Job search basics you need to know -- Job search myths and realities -- Getting your priorities straight -- Effective job search strategies -- 5. Writing effective resumes -- Designing your resume is as easy as 1-2-3-4-5 -- Resume writing tips worth reviewing -- 6. Creating effective job search letters -- The cover letter and its parts -- Thank-you notes -- Networking letters -- The letter resume -- Other types of job search correspondence -- Cross your T's ; dot your I's -- 7. Winning interview skills -- Understanding the interview process -- Tips, techniques, and tricks of the trade -- Before the interview -- The day of the interview -- After the interview -- 8. Negotiating job offers -- Evaluating the offer -- Making the decision : using your gut -- 9. On-the-job survival skills -- The basic facts -- Essential strategies for success -- Parting thoughts -- Appendix. Career transition resources -- Index.