If you are a veteran seeking a military friendly employer or preparing to transition into a new career, consider Wiser for your new home. Wiser employs veterans nationwide and is committed to hiring and assisting our military-experienced candidates and employees.
Many of Wiser’s most dynamic staff members have transitioned from the military. Wiser is looking for veterans who are resourceful, innovative, responsible, team players and builders.

We also actively support and encourage all Wiser employees who are military veterans to continue their service in the Reserves or National Guard.

Members of the Wiser team routinely visit military bases located near our offices including Ft. Belvoir, Ft. Meyer, Norfolk Naval Base, Quantico Marine Base, Ft. Mead and Scott Air Force Base. If you are in the area, please consider joining us.

We have joined forces with the Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces and encourage you to visit their website for additional resources relating to veterans in the work force.

Additional Resources for Transitioning Personnel:
Employee Partnership Website
Department of Veteran Affairs
DoD Career Decision Toolkit
Military.com Skills Translator
Military OnceSource

Since 2002, Wiser has participated in the National Industrial Security Program (NISP) and has complied with all Defense Security Service (DSS) standards set forth in the NISP Operating Manual (NISPOM).

If you currently hold a security clearance through the military or an employer, it may be transferable. Candidates with existing clearances will be encouraged to speak to our Recruiters and Security personnel for further discussion.

If you do not hold a security clearance and it is a job requirement, you will be required to go through a background check before being granted a clearance. Should you be required to apply for a clearance, you can expect to complete a Personnel Security Questionnaire.

The following information will be requested in the questionnaire:

• All locations you have lived and a reference to verify each location
• Education
• Names and locations of your parents, your siblings, and your spouse
• Complete employment and military history (when applicable)
• Foreign travel and purpose of stated travel
• Criminal record
• Personal financial history

In addition to the questionnaire, the process will include verification of U.S. Citizenship and fingerprinting.

The adjudication process for security clearances can vary based on the level of clearance requested. Due to the fact that some investigations can be very lengthy, some positions may require an existing active clearance as a basic qualification for consideration.

The Resume

Your resume is the first impression the employer will receive of your skills and abilities. It is important that you do everything you can to put your best foot forward in this initial introduction.

• Include a thoughtful objective that indicates your specific career goal.
• Tailor your resume to the position for which you are applying.
• Use a professional e-mail address.
• Absolutely, positively no grammatical or spelling errors are allowed.
• Explain gaps in your resume.
• Be specific and try to quantify your skills and abilities where applicable.
• Explain perceived job hopping.
• Do not include hobbies or personal information on your resume.
• Use bullet points.
• You don’t have to list all of your experience, focus on relevant job experience.
• Utilize the same tense throughout your resume.
• Check out job ads on posting boards to ensure you are current on the verbiage you are choosing to highlight your skills and qualifications.
• Limit page length to two pages at the maximum.

The Preparation

When meeting company representatives for the first time, that are a lot of things you can’t control. However, a little preparation can go a long way in making a positive first impression

• Always be prepared, research the company.
• Visit the website and do some background work to understand the business.
• Do a dry run to the interview to ensure you have ample time to get there.
• Arrive no more than 10 minutes early.
• Dress professionally, select appropriate attire that is clean, pressed and neat.
• Go light on the perfume/cologne and jewelry.
• Prior to the meeting, practice interviewing with a friend.

In Person Interview (One on One)

This type of interview is the most traditional form of interviewing. It will typically take place at the office location with a member of the Human Resources team or the hiring manager. The following suggestions may help you be better prepared for your next interview:

• Be presentable.
• Be on time, there is no excuse for being late.
• Smile and maintain good eye contact. Exhibit confidence and enthusiasm.
• Bring a notepad and pen to take notes during the interview.
• Be honest in your responses; don’t give canned answers that sound like you are reciting something you read in an article.
• Focus on achievements relative to the position.
• Maintain eye contact and engaged body language.
• Make sure your cell phone is turned off.
• Bring extra copies of your resume.
• Be specific and concise with your answers.
• Be prepared to ask questions.
• Get business cards from the interview and use them to follow up with your interviewer(s).

Phone Interview

It can be more difficult to convey your message to the interviewer without the non verbal cues used when face to face with an interviewer. The following suggestions may help you be better prepared for your next phone interview:

• Prepare a neat, organized area, preferable a table or desk, which contains your resume, a list of previous accomplishments and specific skills and abilities that relate to the job for which you are interviewing.
• Speak clearly and professionally, avoid filler works such as ‘um’.
• Keep a pen and paper handy to take notes.
• Keep a glass of water nearby.
• Do not interrupt the interviewer.
• Do not take the phone interview at your current job.
• Be prepared to ask questions.
  

Make a list: List everyone you know who might have a job lead for you—friends of the family, people you went to school or church with, clubs you belong to, etc. Your friends who have recently left the military are likely to be a step ahead in the job-hunting process and may know who's hiring. Your colleagues may even have leads on job openings that would suit you perfectly.