Communication skills are essential

writing emails north carolinaYou may have noticed over your time in military service that communication in the military can be quite different than communication in the civilian world. If you haven’t noticed and are separating from service, you’re about to find that out.

Learning how to communicate in the civilian business world is essential to your successful transition to a new career. Part of that transition is training. NC-TEC’s Certified Employee Training Program helps you prepare for a career in propane, which offers a wide range of work opportunities wherever you live after separation.

Military vs. civilian emails

Most people in the civilian world probably think an email is an email. But things are done differently when communicating via email in the military. Some differences you may have noticed include:

  • adding recipients’ email addresses in order of rank
  • lots of cc’ing
  • liberal use of acronyms and jargon

The most important things to remember when composing emails in civilian work are the purpose and the audience. These are even more important when emailing during your job search.

Civilian job-hunting email tips

Court the employer. Your emails are your first contact with a potential employer. Make a good impression. Show that you’re interested in the company. Go to the company’s website and learn about it, its history, and recent news. Google them as well to find out more. You can what you learn in your email to show why you are interested in them and the position.

Sell yourself. Just about everyone applying for the job is going to mention that they’re hard-working, motivated, a team player, etc. Stand out from the competition by showing, not telling. You have many transferable skills from your military experience, including the ability to work as a team, solve problems, and be task-oriented. Cite examples of work you did in the military that fits the role. However …

Avoid jargon. This is especially important when discussing your military work. Most civilians don’t know what these acronyms or terms mean. For more on this, read our post about translating your military skills for a civilian resume.

Keep some military email practices

There are some things you have learned when using email in military communications that will serve you well in all forms of professional emails, not only job-hunting ones.

Remember FOCUS. Make sure your email contains the following:

Focus on the issue without digressing

Organize the email content so that the information is straightforward and easy to understand

Clear language that conveys precisely what you need to say with no room for misunderstanding

Understandable messaging to ensure your audience has the information they need

Support information with details needed to make your message clear

NC-TEC can help you prepare for a rewarding civilian career in propane. Contact us today to learn more about our training programs.