Protégé Resources

Veteran Crisis Help

Should you or someone you know need immediate assistance with a crisis situation, the VA's Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

ACP Tools for Your Mentorship

Find a Career

Translate Your Skills

You can find career recommendations as well as employment opportunities by translating your military occupation code or taking career questionnaires:

Hero 2 Hired

Military to Civilian Position Translator

Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces

Military Job Boards

ACP AdvisorNet Job Openings: https://acp-advisornet.org

Hero 2 Hired: https://h2h.jobs

Milicruit: http://www.milicruit.com

TAOnline's Job Seeker Center: http://jobs.taonline.com/jobseekerx/

VetJobs: http://www.vetjobs.com/

Cover Letter and Résumé

Cover Letter

Cover letters provide an introduction for your résumé. You should avoid overwhelming a one-page résumé with a two-page letter or repeating the contents of the résumé in the letter. A short and succinct half-page letter, which highlights one or two points in your résumé, is enough. Tailor your letter to the position to which you are applying. Be sure to answer, ‘why do I want to work here?’ Remember, if you are not willing to put the time into writing a tailored cover letter, why should the employer put the time in to interview you?

Steps for Creating Your Cover Letter

A Cover Letter is a form of business communication, therefore, it should conform to the rules of good business correspondence.

Plan and organize what you will say by outlining the content of your letter.
Know your purpose and structure your letter accordingly.
Communicate your message in a logical and sequential manner.
State your purpose immediately in the first sentence and paragraph.
Use short paragraphs and sentences; avoid complex sentences.
Punctuate properly and use correct grammar and spelling.
Use simple and straightforward language; avoid jargon.
Communicate your message as directly and briefly as possible.
Indicate what follow-up actions you will take.
End by stating what your reader can expect next from you.

Please click here for a sample cover letter

Résumé

A résumé is a brief, informative summary of your abilities, education, and experience. It should highlight your strongest assets and skills, and differentiate you from other candidates seeking similar positions. Although a great résumé alone will not get you a job, this document is essential for obtaining an interview.

Tailor your résumé to the type of position you are seeking. This does not mean that all of your work history must relate directly, but your résumé should reflect the kind of skills the employer would value. Ideally, a résumé is a one-page document. Utilize your Mentor by having them review your résumé. Be open to constructive criticism and don’t be shy about asking family and friends to review your résumé.

Please click here for a Sample Résumé

Please click here for a Sample Résumé for Federal Jobs

Interview Tips

A successful interview is essential to ensuring a job offer. While a résumé and cover letter demonstrate a solid portrayal of your experience thus far, the interview is your chance to elaborate on the skills, strengths and qualifications that make you an excellent candidate for the position. The interview is a time to sell yourself as a good fit for the position, but you should also be using the opportunity to gauge whether the job is a good fit for you as well. To get comfortable at interviewing, consider having a mock interview session with your Mentor.

Click Here for More Interview Tips

Professional Development

Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement Speech

In this 15-minute clip, Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple, discusses the importance of intuition and passion in finding your right career path. ACP suggests watching this video when you need a moment of clarity or inspiration.