Tips for Making a Mid-Life Career Change

Tips for Making a Mid-Life Career ChangeTips for Making a Mid-Life Career ChangeThe challenging economy has prompted more workers to make a mid-life career change. Its not easy to switch careers or transition to a new industry later in life. If youre an older student or are considering a mid-life career change, finding work can be even more difficult than it is for younger students.? Making a Mid-Life Career Change A mid-life career change can pose unique hurdles to employment and you will need to stand out from the crowd of younger candidates. Below are seven strategies for making a mid-life career change and finding employment in your new career field. For more information on making a career change, review these tips to making a career change and this career change advice from workplace experts across the country. Ways You Can Stand Out Academics. One way to stand out as a job candidate is through exceptional academics. Earning top grades and a high-class rank can help put you in the running for some of the most desirable jobs, despite your age. If you are in law school, law review participation can open doors to interviews that you might not otherwise win. In any educational program, participation in extracurricular activities such as student government, the school newspaper, or other activities can help you develop new skills and gain useful experience. Leverage Your Skills. Your previous work experience has provided you with a diverse range of skills that will likely transfer to (or from) a legal position. Leverage the skills from previous jobs to land a new role in your current field or to switch fields altogether. Emphasize those skills and any relevant experience in your resume, networking discussions, and job interviews. For example, if you are an attorney seeking to transition to a writing career, you might emphasize your law review experience, legal writing awards, and writing-intensive clerkships. Target the Right Employers. If your mid-life career change involves switching industries, be sure to target the right employers. For example, small law firms and public interest venues tend to be more open to second career lawyers than large law firms.Network. Whether you are still in law school or have graduated, networking with classmates, peers, teacher, and colleagues can help you learn about opportunities. Depending on the magnitude of your career change, you do not need to start from scratch in your networking endeavors be sure to use the networking contacts you have cultivated in your decades-long previous career(s). Job shadowing in which you follow in the footsteps of an employee in your target job for a day can help you make new contacts and learn about your desired position. Be sure to leverage online social networking tools as well. Craft Your Resume Properly. Craft your resume in a way that leverages the skills and experiences gained in your previous job to land a new role. For example, if youre making the lea p from sales to law, you might emphasize your ability to cultivate new business, your extroverted personality, and your marketing skills.Gain Relevant Experience. Nothing can propel your job search forward faster than experience in your new field. Employers want workers who can hit the ground runningand these days, they are reluctant to spend training dollars. Internships, externships, and clerkships are valuable ways to gain experience while in school. If you are changing careers but not returning to school, consider volunteering for an organization or cause related to your career goals. Temporary and contract work are also options. Remain positive. Mid-life career changes often focus on the negatives (Im too old, There are no jobs, I cant compete with younger workers.) A positive attitude will reflect well on you and help you shine in interviews. Rather than focusing on the downfalls of age, highlight to potential employers the competitive advantages you offer over younger workers such as maturity, stability, commitment, and reliability. If you believe in yourself, employers will too.

Earn a Higher Salary in 2018 by Moving to This City

Earn a Higher Salary in 2018 by Moving to This CityEarn a Higher Salary in 2018 by Moving to This City If one of your New Years resolutions is to take home a bigger paycheck, you might want to head west. According to Glassdoors latest Local Pay Reports , San Francisco had the fastest year-over-year rise in median cousine pay of all major metropolitan areas studied.Amidst a year of sluggish wage growth, median base pay in San Francisco rose by 2.0 percent compared to 1.1 percent nationwide. Beyond that, San Francisco also has the highest median base pay of all the major metropolitan areas studied. At $68,078, the median base pay in San Francisco is nearly $17,000 more than the national average.And if youre in healthcare, you may see an even more dramatic rise in pay.Jobs in healthcare are bucking the national trend toward slow wage growth, said Dr. Andrew Chamberlain , Chief Economist at Glassdoor. The fastest pay growth in our December report was medical technolog ist with a scorching 6.2 percent year-over-year rise in median base pay. Similarly, emergency medical technician, certified nursing assistant, licensed practical nurse, pharmacist, and pharmacy technician all experienced year-over-year pay growth of 2.0 percent or above in December - well above the overall 1.1 percent pace nationally.And of course, San Francisco is home to many jobs and companies in tech - one of the three fields that dominated the highest paying jobs in December, along with healthcare and professional services, Chamberlain said.A word of caution - San Francisco does have a notoriously high cost of living. And although some (like yours truly) would argue that you get what you pay for in terms of incredible food, culture and natural beauty, its probably wise to make sure that an increase in salary would outweigh the increased expenses. But with many high-paying tech companies, fast-growing wages and nearly 73,000 open jobs , you might just strike proverbial gold. Want to learn more? Check out theLocal Pay Reports infull here .

How to Make Yourself More Valuable to Your Employer

How to Make Yourself More Valuable to Your EmployerHow to Make Yourself More Valuable to Your EmployerIt is a fact of professional life that someone must choose you to be successful. Usually, this someone is your immediate babo, and it pays to do everything in your power to make yourself valuable to this important individual. Success, Power, and Politics in the Workplace Before diving into a number of ideas on making yourself even more valuable to your boss, lets explore the issue of someone needing to choose you to be successful. More than a few people have suggested that this thinking discounts the importance of individual determination and hard work. A polite pushback is that nothing replaces or minimizes the need for these behaviors- they are essential for success. However, for your efforts to pay off in an organizational setting, your hard work must be recognized and appreciated by some person or some group able to choose you to do more. Yes, power and politics play a role i n your success, no matter how hard you work. Senior managers select individuals for aufsteigen or advancement based on how much they trust him/her to make good decisions to lead initiatives or manage teams. This trust is cultivated through experience working together and ample evidence that the individual under consideration for advancement displays consistently good judgment when it comes working with others, solving problems, setting priorities and creating results that help the organization. Since many advancement opportunities are stretch assignments for us- larger in scale and broader in scope than our prior experiences- this factor of trust is critical. The individual extending the new opportunity to us is trusting that we will grow safely and quickly into the role. Given the importance of trust and the power your boss has to select you for more, it is essential for you to help make his/her decision an easy one when it comes to considering you for new opportunities. Strive to Understand and Support His Goals Nothing says I care and I am committed more than striving to understand and support your bosss priorities and goals. Not every boss is forthcoming with their own professional goals and personal aspirations, so you may have to dig just a bit. Use the rationale that you want to ensure your goals align with her goals. Ask clarifying questions. Communicate at the Right Volume Every manager has slightly different communication preferences. Some appreciate detailed, regular updates. Others are more interested in noteworthy exceptions. Pay attention to the cues, including interest or boredom and adjust accordingly. And it never hurts to ask How often and what detail do you prefer that I communicate with you? Be Careful With the Water Cooler Conversations The magnetic attraction of gossip is potentially toxic to your career. Steer clear of most of these group gatherings and their negative banter. Nonetheless, it pays to keep your ears and eyes op en looking for the nuggets of truth often present in workplace gossip. If you learn that people are confused over the firms direction or latest strategy, this is important information for your boss. Filter out the he said/she said gossip, but dont discount the talk that highlights organizational shortcomings and opportunities. Save Her From Unwelcome Surprises No one loves a negative surprise, least of all, your boss. If you see or sense something going wrong, run, dont walk to share this information. Your advance warning will enable her to help mitigate the problem or at least plan how she will share it with her boss and others in the organization. Always Go in With a Plan The most destructive words to your credibility with the boss are, What do you think I should do? Purge that phrase from your lexicon and remember to always enter the bosss office with a plan- preferably two options with one preferred. Be prepared to support your recommendation. Build Bridges Across the Organization Whether yourecognize it or not, you are an ambassador for your boss, reflecting on his or her reputation and ability to select and develop good people. Act accordingly. Armed with context for your bosss priorities, attempt to build allies and represent those interests in the spirit of strengthening the organization. Also, work hard to understand the priorities of other leaders and groups and ensure that your boss has this intelligence to apply to her own efforts. Show off Your Work Without Being Obnoxious Smspecies professionals master the fine art of showcasing their successful results without crossing the line to obnoxiousness. Modesty is not your ally when it comes to building credibility for advancement. Make certain to share the spotlight with those who helped bring about your good results. Develop a Reputation for Developing Others Nothing reflects better on a bosss selection of you for a promotion than your proven ability to also develop great talent. The Bottom-Line for Now Ignoring the realities of power and politics in your organization is nave. Recognize the power your boss has in choosing you to be successful and act accordingly.

Jobs and Social Media--From the Other Side of the Desk

Jobs and Social Media--From the Other Side of the DeskJobs and Social MediaFrom the Other Side of the DeskWhen youre searching for a job, its easy to develop tunnel vision. In the flurry of jobseekers Twitter accounts, RSS feeds, and email alerts, it can be useful to take a step back and remember that on the other side of all your efforts are people puzzling over how to reach the best possible recruits. Sometimes, their recruitment strategies arent so different from the ones youre using to find a great position.Looking at the search from the other side of the desk (or the screen) may help you get a better feel for the companies youre hoping to join- including their strengths, cultures, and challenges. And understanding the mindset of employers can help you communicate your value as a potential employee and problem-solver.Social Media Recruiting Brave New World In a recent study we conducted of 500 professional service firms, we found that 55% of companies use the Internet to recruit new employees.Social media recruiting is an easy, inexpensive, and increasingly common way for companies and job seekers to connect- and its becoming more and more effective. In fact, according to a Jobvite 2012 survey, 1 in 6 job seekers say they found their current job through social media. Maintaining a professional social media presence shows employers that you understand contemporary communication channels, and puts you in a space where more and more companies are turning for recruits.But what about those companies that dont use the Internet to recruit- or at least not yet? Well, our study found that 66% of firms plan to increase their ansprechbar marketing budgets this year. Those budgets include recruitment companies recognize that the future is online, and theyre moving toward it. Job seekers do well to stay ahead of the curve.And heres the beauty of professional networking with social media these days, you can send a signal that reaches beyond the digital domain. By using p latforms like LinkedIn to extend your professional network, you can communicate your expertise (and availability) to a wide range of professional contacts. Even if a contacts company isnt hiring, they may know someone a former colleague, say who is. That contact of a contact might not have been actively recruiting online, but that doesnt mean you cant reach them with online tools.Company Content A Glimpse InsideThese days, many savvy companies regularly produce content that educates their audience and helps both buyers and potential recruits understand the company- who they are, what they know, and what they do. Think company blogs, videos, and ebooks - often filled with valuable industry-related educational content. This is called content marketing, and companies social media recruiting frequently coincide with their content marketing efforts.As a jobseeker, you want to understand potential employers as well as you can. So make use of their content. What exactly does Company A do ? What sort of clients do they serve? Firms websites and social media feeds may provide valuable insight. Social media can offer subtle glimpses into the working culture of a firm. If you see occasional photos from corporate events and parties, these might tell you something about day to day life at the company. nachrichtensendung bulletins- awards won by the company, major contracts landed, the development of an exciting new product- may help you understand the companys focus and direction.Thinking Like a MarketerCompanies are using content marketing to communicate a lot of things, including their unique identity and their place in their particular industry. But one of the most important things theyre trying to do is demonstrate their expertise. Keep these goals in mind as youre marketing yourself. How can you demonstrate your unique expertise and show how it aligns with a companys needs?Social media is a fantastic opportunity to engage in industry conversations. Platforms like Twi tter and LinkedIn Groups give you the opportunity to communicate directly with professionals in your field. If you take the time to ask thoughtful questions and offer informed opinions to your social media channels on a regular fundament, you will start to appear on the radar for your industry. Then, when you do post a job advertisement, you will already have made a professional connection- and this could be the basis for an ongoing relationship.Lee W. Frederiksen, Ph.D., is Managing Partner at Hinge, a marketing firm that specializes in branding and marketing for professional services. Hinge is a leader in rebranding firms to help them grow faster and maximize value. Lee can be reached at LFrederiksenhingemarketing.com or 703-391-8870. Read More Weird Interview Questions That Google, Dell, and Amazon Ask Vaults 2014 Consulting Rankings are Here Is Business Outlook Improving?

Un-Answered Problems With Resume Leadership Exposed

Un-Answered Problems With Resume Leadership Exposed Just take a look at the work description, in case you have this, and customize your resume accordingly. As the recruiters check whats up-front and center, its important to put the most significant info in an executive summary. Put your very best foot forward in your summary and support your skills with experience, and youre going to be on your way to a job that you love. Always study the work description carefully and note the particular skills required. There are 3 predominant types of resume templates. Choose whether you will use the format of contemporary resumes or that of a standard expert profile. You will see the format composed of different resume sections. The 2 sections also utilize different bullet point styles. The peak of your executive resumes very first page is deemed prime real estate. As a C-level executive, an on-line website offers you an opportunity to be noticed and offer your audience an opportunit y to understand, like and trust you. Developing a great resume can feel like an intimidating job, but it doesnt need to be. In your resume, be certain to bring a title to it. For a lucky few, you might not have even had to interview whatsoever, landing positions and promotions by your network alone. You want a resume sooner or later in the hiring process for a standard, recognized job search currency. To put it simply, utilizing a Blank Resume To Print speeds up the practice of producing a winning resume and ensures that it is going to stick out in the application procedure. Infographic resumes seem nice, but you also have to be concerned about applicant tracking system computer software. When people are seeking a position in an organization, there are specific skills that the employers will be searching for on the resume. The next five skills have come up in nearly every leadership discussion Ive had. Each form of job demands particular abilities, qualifications and expe rtise. Submitting a resume to reveal youre a valuable education leader is important to securing interviews. Leadership has to be in your DNA. Effective leaders are able to communicate and collaborate with individuals from all possible levels. The important thing here is moderation. Your resume often is going to be the very first opportunity youve got to leave a great impression with a possible employer. Even when youre a great worker, but you may be not able to present the principal points in your resume correctly, you might miss the chance. Everything in your resume must align with what theyll be searching for in candidates. If you select the classic chronological style, youll use your previous jobs and your history of accomplishments to demonstrate your upcoming potential. Resume Leadership Explained In addition, you can learn more on the subject of executive careers and hunt for executive management jobs on Monster. Our completely free executive resume will be handy to you. You only need to make sure you position your resume so it is aimed toward the advertising executive job title. Begin the executive summary with your private branding or leadership statement. The Fight Against Resume Leadership Each form of resume has its advantages and disadvantages. Your resume design needs to be clean, easy-to-read and ought to draw attention to key info. Most jobs require that you have a fundamental comprehension of computer programs including Excel and Microsoft Office, and skills in world wide web navigation, social networking sites and email systems. Resume Leadership and Resume Leadership - The Perfect Combination Amid an out of satiate move you want to go to observe a property which youre truly inspired by. Obviously, there are dozens and dozens of unique fonts to pick from, but not all them are befitting to use on a resume, so picking one is extremely important to be in a position to land work. A realtor can aid your turn in a wide selecti on of various ways. While he can help you locate the ideal home in your value range amid your out of state move they are additionally useful for different reasons. The Number One Question You Must Ask for Resume Leadership Strong leadership is all about much more than simply telling everyone what to do. The very first important point to remember when writing an effective resume is to be aware of the purpose of it. Effective leaders can get stuff accomplished in a timely fashion and make sure their employees are receiving the work-life balance they will need to remain energized. Presumably, Donald had no clue what was going to transpire.

Will A Second Job Put Your Career at Risk or in Overdrive

Will A Second Job Put Your Career at Risk or in Overdrive According to a recent study by the American Psychological Association,reported on Aol.com, 48 percent of women and 43 percent of men feel they are under paid, which is no surprise given the fact we are at the back end of the recession during which many employees have seen pay freezes or below inflation pay rises. In fact, according to Worldatwork the global average 2.2 percent pay hike that the world saw in 2009 in the dark depths of the recession was an unprecedented low. So with substantial pay rises out of the question, many economically squeezed workers are looking at alternative sources of income such as a second job with studies showing that around 5 percent of the workforce may be moonlighting (or performing second jobs). But, there has in the past been a negative association with moonlighting with it being seen as a little illicit and being born out of economic desperation. But, it doesnt always have to be this way, as if done well, moonlighting can not only boost your income but be a stepping stone to a better life and career. And so how can you moonlight in an effective and career enhancing way?Call me boring, but to start with you need to check your employee handbook and make sure you comply with any company procedures around taking a second job so you dont put your main job at risk. If your employer has reservations on you taking a second job you could use this as an opportunity to open negotiations for a pay rise, promotion or additional hours within your current place of work.You should be aware that you will most likely experience a 50 percent decline in productivity after you have worked 40 hours in a week and there will be a general decline in productivity after you have overworked for four weeks in succession. Youll also be at greater risk of burnout. This burnout risk can be reduced if your second job is materially different to your main job. Lets say you work at a desk with figures all day, then your second job might involve you working outside doing something more manual. Working in a different field is a good political play too, as there is much less chance of a conflict of interest occurring with your current employer.So, there is no doubt that doing a second job can boost your income and help you reach your financial goals in the short term, but its not a sustainable long-term strategy to work 50-60 hours a week, as you are likely to burnout and damage your health. This is why I believe that there should be a wider plan to your moonlighting, e.g. you are doing it for a few years to achieve a known goal, which should be that you dont have to hold down a second job. This means that you could be acquiring experience or training in a new job area where you can eventually earn more money you are getting more money to fund an entrepreneurial business venture to buy a home, etc .The point is that working a second job is really only a temporary strategy and should not be considered a long-term approach. It should ideally be a tactical tool to enable you to reach a short/medium term goal or to get into a position where you dont need to work in a second job.

Sample Letter to Send for Employment Loss

Sample Letter to Send for Employment LossSample Letter to Send for Employment LossLooking for a sample sympathy letter that you might send or email to a colleague who has lost her job?Your goal with a sympathy letter is to let the individual know that you care about her and want to help. How you offer to help will depend on your relationship with the person and your own contacts and experience. You can offer to help in a number of ways depending on the skills you bring to the table. Share Job Openings If you are aware of an opening that might fit the talents, skills, and experience of the person, refer her to the job opening or the employer with the opening. Share Contacts If you know your colleagues work well enough to admire it, you can offer the name, number, and email of contacts who might have jobs available. Share contacts only if you believe the individual is qualified and a good employee. Serve As a Reference If you are familiar with the persons work, you can offe r to serve as a business reference. If you are not familiar with her work but are familiar with her values, character, and strengths, you can offer to serve as a personal reference. Introduce Your Colleague to Your Network When an individual loses their job, whether they were fired or laid off, they often discover that their main network is comprised of people in that specific industry who are doing the same or a similar job. Especially if your colleague is looking for a career or location change, introducing her to your network of contacts is a kindness. Offer to Review Her Resume and Cover Letter If job application materials are a strength of yours, offer to review hers the first few times she applies for a position. A second pair of eyes is helpful in preventing errors at a time when her applications need to be on-target and error-free. Provide References in Social Media Employers are increasingly using social media as a tool in employee selection. Positive references help a potential employee stand out from the crowd of applicants. Professional colleagues are keeping in touch on sites such as LinkedIn where your colleague can also participate and network in groups that relate to her career field. (If shes not on LinkedIn or social media, take her to lunch and talk about why social media is important.) Offer to Get Together to Talk About Her Job Search Sometimes a colleague just needs a sympathetic friend, but she may also find it helpful to talk about her job search. Job searching ideas from the experience of friends and colleagues can help an unemployed person find a job faster. Refer Your Colleague to Helpful Sites Online If you have a favorite job site such as Indeed or SimplyHired, refer your friend. You can also send her to helpful sites angeschlossen such as this HR site and The Wall Street Journal Careers site. With these thoughts in mind, here is a sample sympathy letter for job loss. DateDear Rashida,I was so so sorry to hear t hat you lost your job. I know that you enjoyed it and felt as if you were contributing and having a positive impact on children. Layoffs are never expected or desirable.I want you to know that I am here for you. Lets have lunch this week so we can talk about how I can aid your job search. For sure, I can serve as a reference. Your work at the family center was outstanding and I have missed you as a colleague.Id be happy to take a look at your resume and be a second pair of eyes as you apply for various jobs. We can talk about other ways that I can help you when we get together. If nothing else, I can recommend you in social media and share my favorite job search sites.Once we talk and I know what you are looking for in your next job, we can landsee if there is anything else that I can do to help. In the meantime, Ill keep my eyes open for openings similar to the job that you had.Let me know a good day this week for lunch and we can get together. You are not in this job search mode a lone.Warmly,Sarah

How Important Is Continuous Training to Your Employees

How Important Is Continuous Training to Your Employees How Important Is Continuous Training to Your Employees Managers have a lot to concern themselves with on a daily basis the bottom line, employee engagement, and of course, customer satisfaction. Amid all that busy day-to-day activity, one critical area might be falling by the wayside continuous training and employee development.A dedicated training program can impact everything from recruitment and retention to performance. Unfortunately, not all companies dedicate sufficient time and resources to employee development. Some employers feel that developmentis simply too expensive, while others are concerned that mora time spent developing employees is less time employees spending doing their actual jobs.These are valid concerns, but below, well show that continuous trainingis anessential element of performance managementthat can provide a great return on investment while improving overall productivity.Continuous Training Attracts Great EmployeesIf youre looking to recruit the best and brightest, a focus on continual training is a great place to start. According to one study, 39.3 percent of respondentsname growth as a top consideration when evaluating a new job prospect. This stat is further supported by Gallups assertion that, increasingly, millennials viewindividual jobs as development opportunities.A defined and well-considered development program plays a large part in building a companys namen and reputation, which can spread and attract employees who are eager to learn, grow, and flourish withthe business.Continuous Training Can Improve Employee LoyaltyContinuous training can helplower voluntary turnover rates. When you actively invest in your employees and their futures, employees will feel more loyal and more inclined to remain with the company. Regular training doesnt only make employees feel more valued, but also more competent and confident in their roles. This, too, can make employees less likely to jump ship for your competitors.Continuous Training Highlights Areas for ImprovementTo help youremployees become all they can be, you need an accurate and up-to-date picture of what their strengths and weaknesses are. Continuous training allows managers to evaluate employees more accurately, which in turn helps them foster improvements in areas where employees could benefit most. This means all employees willreachhigher levels of performance. Common mistakes resulting from a lack of skills or knowledge will occur less often, and your company will benefit from a stronger workforce.Continuous Training Can Improve Standards of PerformanceWhen an employee receives regular training, they are simply better able to do their job. They are more skilled, more aware of workplace processes, more confident, and more knowledgeable of their industry - all of which push them to perform better both now and in the future. Continuous training also keeps employees informed of new industry trends an d developments, which will help position your company as a leader in its field.Continuous Training Promotes Employee SatisfactionLast but certainly not least, continuous training has been strongly linked to employee satisfaction. Employees who are given development opportunities feel supported, valued, and appreciated. As human beings, very few of us are happy to stand still we are driven to progress and grow. If we are denied this opportunity, it isnt long before we become bored and disillusioned with our careers, regardless of how well-paid we might be.- When considering a continuous training and development program, HR executives and managers alike should keep in mind the needs of the organization, focusing on skills that are most likely to have a direct impact on employees job performance. Succession planning should also be considered. If a top executive needs to step aside, you will want to have a previously trained and already prepared employee ready to fill the space left beh ind.It is also wise to incorporate personal development objectives into your workplace culture. Personal development objectives are measurable, attainable objectives that help employees reach certain milestones in their development, such as gaining a particular skill or increasing their knowledge of a certain area. Employees should be encouraged to take ownership of their objectives, which should be regularly revisited and reviewed.By taking the above considerations into account, you will slowly but surely develop a company culture that values, supports, and encourages training and advancement.Stuart Hearn is CEO ofClear Review.

United States Military Enlistment Standards

United States Military Enlistment StandardsUnited States Military Enlistment StandardsEnlisting in the United States military is very different than applying for any other job. Not everyone will qualify, and there are strict rules which would never apply to civilian employment.Congress and the courts have held that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ensures all individuals are treated equally before the law with respect to civilian employment, does not apply to the military profession. The military doesnt accept just anyone who wants to join. To enlist, you must be qualifiedunder current federal laws and regulations or have an appropriate waiver. There are age, citizenship, physical, education, height/weight, criminal record, medical, and drug history standards that can exclude you from joining the military. Statistically, this past decade, a majority of recruits fail to meet the height/weight standards of the military as the number one reason why people cannot immediat ely sign up for service. Here is a look at some of the basic qualifications to enlist in the military. Minimum Age Requirement Across the armed forces, the minimum age allowed for enlistment is 17 (with parental consent) and 18 (without parental consent). The maximum age for enlistment for someone who has never served in the military before varies by branch for the Army, its 35, for the Navy, its 34, for the Air Force its 39, and for the Marines, its 28. These often can be waived if the recruit has the education, skills, experience that the military needs to fill its ranks. Often these are professional jobs (legal, medical, dental, religious). The rules for reserves and those with prior military service vary. Military tafelgeschirr Citizenship Requirement To enlist in any branch of the U.S. military, you must either be a U.S. citizen, or a legal permanent residentwith a green card physically living in the United States.For enlistment purposes, citizens of the United States include citizens of Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Marianas Islands, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as well as the 50 states. ?Credit and Finances If you have unpaid loans which are significantly overdue or have a history of bad credit, this could affect your security clearance eligibility, which in turn could make many military jobs unavailable to you. And some recruits will have to show that theyre able to meet their current financial obligations upon enlistment. Having credit/debt issues can make you susceptible to bribery from foreign agents is the main reason for making credit issues afactor in recruitment. Serving as a Single Parent For the most part, single parents cannot enlist in the active military unless they relinquish custody of their child, or receive a waiver.The Navy requires a waiver for any applicant with more than one dependent, including a spouse. Marines require a w aiver for applicants with any dependent under 18, and the Air Force will conduct a financial eligibility determination for applicants with any dependents. The Army requires a waiver when an applicant has two or more dependents in addition to a spouse. Applicants Married to Active Military Members As long as there are no children in the household, spouses of active military members are eligible to enlist. But applicants should understand that there is no guarantee that spouses will be stationed in the same place. But if there are children in the household, this will disqualify most military spouses from enlisting. The active duty services rarely waive this, while the reserve forces (Reserves and National Guard), often approve waivers, as long as the applicant can show a workable family care plan. Education Requirements for Military Service To enlist, you must be a high school graduate, have earned a GED (with additional college credits) or have met other high school equivale ncy requirements. Officers will need a four-year bachelors degree, with a strong academic record. Drug or Alcohol Use Dependency on illegal drugs is disqualifying, anyhistory of drug use is potentially disqualifying, and any history of dependency on alcohol is disqualifying. There are cases where waivers may be granted, but manysensitive military jobs will be closed to anyone who has any past association with illegal drug or alcohol use. Criminal History Although a criminal record is not an automatically disqualifying, there are some situations where the armed services will not grant waivers. If a person has a felony conviction as an adult, or a juvenile felony conviction that involved violence, chances of a waiver to enlist are slim. Likewise, for offenses involving the sale of illegal drugs, and most sex offenses are disqualifying. Anyone convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor is barred from carrying a firearm, which would disqualify the person from serving in the mi litary. Height and Weight Standards For most of the military, male applicants need to be between 60 inches and 80 inches tall. For female applicants, the range is between 58 inches and 80 inches. The Marines have separate standards Male applicants should be between 58 and 78 inches tall, and female applicants between 58 and 72 inches tall. The services have body fat standards, which are only partly based on weight. During an initial screening, applicants are measured on a body fat chart. Those who weigh more than the limits on the chart are measured to ensure they fall within the services body-fat standards. Often physically fit and muscular/low body fat recruits can be over the height/weight standards but meet the body fat requirements. Medical Conditions There are some medical conditions which will disqualify applicants from enlisting in the military. In general, you wont be eligible to enlist if you have a medical condition that falls into one of these categories. Applica nts must be free of contagious diseases that would likely endanger the health of other personnel.Applicants must be free of medical conditions or physical defects that would require excessive time lost from duty for necessary treatment or hospitalization.Applicants must be medically capable of satisfactorily completing required training, and medically adaptable to the military environment without geographical area limitations.Applicants need to be medically capable of performing duties without the aggravation of existing physical defects or medical conditions. If you have a specific medical condition and are not sure whether it disqualifies you from enlisting, or have questions about any of the other requirements to join the armed services, seek guidance from your recruiting officer. A military medical professional will answer your questions at MEPS. Service in the military is a competitive job environment. The U.S. military is not a profession of last resorts for those with no othe r option.