Tips on Getting Hired...Opinion #2501

[Beth Agnew]

There's concrete method in that. First, it's a way to get to know you. 
The interviewer can ask about that experience and, like personal 
interests, because it's probably unrelated to the job under discussion 
you will be more natural and authentic when talking about it. This lets 
the interviewer see who you really are. They can see a different facet 
of you than "techwriter for software docs". Also, managers who are on 
the ball know that we develop our experiences in various ways. Someone 
who can get along in cramped quarters on a sub, with the stress that 
entails, can probably handle a bad day in the cube farm. Military 
training gives you discipline, teamwork, leadership, and tolerance 
skills. You know how to be flexible, adaptable, and patient. You're 
probably well-organized and tidy.

It's difficult to interview for soft skills such as those. If job 
experience can point to them, all the better.

Greg Holmes wrote:
> But it does stick out in my mind how often that part of my resume 
> piqued an interviewer's curiosity.