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14 G.I. JOBS | OCTOBER 2017 | GIJOBS.COM GETTING OUT AT QUANTICO Experienced TRP manager offers her best advice to transitioning military. PHOTO BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TRANSITION TAP PROFILE DEMETRIA THOMAS has spent the last 38 years work- ing in the military transition field, including the last 22 as transition readiness program manager at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. We thought we'd tap (pun intended) her vast knowl- edge and experience in help- ing Marines make a smooth transition back to civilian life. What common mistakes do veterans make during their transiঞon? Veterans tend to procrasti- nate, which prevents them from beginning their job search early. Also, they are not comfortable networking even though it is something they have done throughout their military career. What are the most common mistakes you see with cover leers? Service members fail to customize the letter to the job they are applying for, they often contain spelling errors, and they do not take the time to get the name of a person to address the letter to and instead use "Dear Sir or Madam. " Service members also tend to copy and paste portions of their resume into the cover letter. What are the most common interview mistakes? The most common interview mistakes we have seen are not researching the company, talking too much, discuss- ing inappropriate topics, not making eye contact, dressing inappropriately, not elaborat- ing on answers, failing to give examples of good work, using slang or military acronyms, and behaving too familiar/casual. What are your top recommendaঞons for transiঞoning members in preparaঞon for the civilian sector? Start early, do not apply blast to every single job, have a plan, begin preparing after first enlistment and take advantage of all free work- shops/classes/job fairs that are available to them. What are your best three pieces of advice for veterans transiঞoning out of the military? 1. Seek assistance first from a military installation's transition office. They have credibility and access to credible resources. Be wary of services and resources that charge you for transition services or information. 2. As much as you can, work toward your education and employment goals (if you know them) while you are on active duty. Having your degree or civilian employment credentials not only puts you ahead of the game, but it also gives a boost in confidence when seeking employment. 3. If you don't know what you want to do when you separate/retire, take advantage of the interest inventories offered by the transition office (free of charge), volunteer in areas that interest you to see if it's a good fit, and get a mentor or seek advice from a trusted friend or associate who has successfully gone through the transition process. Demetria P. Thomas Career Resource Center/Transition Readiness Program Manager Marine Corps Base Quantico Quantico, Va. Marine Corps Base Quantico