By Dan Toon
CONFLICT AREA MANAGEMENT
“PREVENTING BAD THINGS FROM HAPPENING TO GOOD PEOPLE”
OPS@CONFLICTAREAMANAGEMENT.COM
DUNS Number: 797878209
CAGE Code: 4R8R9
The job search and application process can be a challenging, long and tedious one, consisting of many phases of recruitment, civil and criminal background checks, physical and psychological testing, and meeting each specific companies standards as a prerequisite of employment.
An individual contemplating how to start in the security, defense and protective services field, must ensure they are taking the proper actions before they apply for and begin the process of obtaining any position
These steps include having a clean civil and criminal record, having specialized training that is standard in the industry, being physically fit, and ability to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.
Once a prospective applicant has received the training, credentials and qualifications in their specialty, the search for employment begins.
Hundreds of private companies exist around the world supporting contracts awarded them by their respective nations and the international community.
Most companies are using computer based applications, requiring numerous hours of time to submit personal and professional information to company recruitment databases (for larger multinational companies) that utilize computer aided search programs to begin to match up prospective applicants to their needs.
Once this information is sorted, a recruiter begins their process of screening each applicant. This includes verification of past background, employment history and thorough review of the candidates resume or CV.
Each position opening can generate many applicants to sort. Since the CV is the first document the recruiter receives from the applicant, a professionally formatted CV begins to stand out from hundreds of poorly written CVs that come across a recruiters desk.
A CV / resume should be tailored to the specific position advertised by a company. This may require an individual to possess a number of resumes representing the different specialties of the applicant.
The debate over cover letters continues, a cover letter enables an applicant to go into depth regarding their career aspirations and goals. A brief strengths summary at the beginning of the CV is recommended as a means to gain the attention of the reader, in this case, a recruiter or project manager that is conducting the review. Applicants should write a cover letter if it gives the option. Listing their qualifications and how they meet/exceed them due to past training and experience.
After a cover letter or summary, a chronological list of employment experience, with the most recent position first, and depending on employment history, previous positions held.
Employment summaries should include company name, position title, dates, and responsibilities summary as concisely as possible. Many potential applicants do not take the time to clearly explain to the employer what their skills and qualifications are. An applicant may feel they do not need to list these skill sets on the application. Many recruiters have not worked in the defense or protection services field. Make sure that each job description on the CV explains in detail how it pertains to the job being applied to.
Once previous experiences have been listed, an applicant may choose to list any other education, training, awards, qualifications and certifications received or held. This should also be in a chronological format with most recent listed first.
Separate from the CV should be an up-to-date list of professional references with name, job title, current address and / or contact information. Some companies request references with the initial application, while others may wait until initiating a background investigation.
Many applicants become disappointed after going through the process of submitting their information to a company for a position, they never receive acknowledgment or updates on the status of their application. Most apply to a few positions and are discouraged when not immediately contacted by the company. With so many companies in the industry, an applicant during their initial employment search and application phase, should submit their information to each company that has current advertised positions and on-going recruitment efforts. Each company may offer multiple positions within a specific field, applicants should apply to each position that fits their skills and qualifications.
Even with a strong, marketable resume, this process may have to be completed a number of times before a company recruiter contacts the applicant.
Every email, reply, and phone call from a company should be documented, to gradually build a personal database of recruiters, human resource professionals, program and project managers, with as much detail as possible keeping the information current.
When able to obtain a company recruiters contact information, phone number or email address, then contact can be made from time to time as to the status of the applicants processing. Applicants should be as helpful as possible to the contact, this will keep ones name and information on the mind of the recruiter, who may have hundreds of names and personal information from other potential job seekers, circulating around them at any given time.
If at this time there are still no potential leads or resources generated from the application process, electronic applications that have been submitted to companies should be updated and resubmitted every six to eight weeks. This may require entering every piece of information again, phrased properly to be resorted to the top of the recruiters list.
Applicants should never expect immediate contact from companies, sometimes the process of screening can take up to a year from initial submission. A job search can never rest on its laurels, even when gainfully employed, the best time to look for work is when one already has a job.
Networking through personal and professional contacts who may be able to assist or advise, seeking to keep diverse skill sets, training and qualifications, a strong marketable CV or resume, being friendly, helpful, and respectful to every company contact made will allow the job seeker to achieve success .
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