Tips from Our Military Recruiting Team

George Bernloehr: The best and the brightest, regardless of branch and rank. I ask myself “Does the candidate have drive, passion, and a willingness to learn and grow? Do they show the potential to make a positive contribution to the outstanding team at Booz Allen?” 

Victoria Pich: Besides specific functional or technical expertise, we’re looking for solid communication skills, leadership, adaptability to change, and ability to work in a matrixed environment under minimal supervision.

Debbie Cote: We’re looking for candidates with strong work ethics and integrity. We want people who not only have knowledge but are also a fit for Booz Allen’s culture. 

George Bernloehr: Leadership, learning agility, drive, a continuation of wanting to make a contribution to something bigger than themselves, and teamwork. 

Rex Maghan: Teamwork, performance under pressure, being able to quickly prioritize and solve issues, and being goal oriented. Most importantly, they have lived the core values of their service branch.

Victoria Pich: Strong work ethic, passion to continue the mission, collaboration, knowledge transfer, the ability to take on new challenges, and strong interpersonal communications skills.

Debbie Cote: Honesty and integrity, determination, dedication, self-motivation, and being a team player. 

George Bernloehr: Seek mentorship from within the company. Even after you’ve become an expert, keep on learning and seek opportunities to mentor others and help them grow. 

Rex Maghan: Connect with other veterans in the firm, learn from their experiences, and apply what has made them successful. Your discipline, structure, aptitude, and drive will serve you well, but there is a learning curve, so be patient and ask a lot of questions.

Victoria Pich: Network, network, network! Continue to leverage all of your existing relationships and continue to build new ones. It’s people who will help you determine the next steps in your career.

Debbie Cote: Keep expectations realistic, attend networking events, and obtain certifications for the path that you want to pursue. 

George Bernloehr: Do the job during the interview. In other words, demonstrate you can do the job and that you have a high level of interest in the company and the potential career they are offering. 

Rex Maghan: I suggest researching the position in great detail. Be able to explain in 2 minutes or less how your recent experiences fit the position requirements. 

George Bernloehr: Most hiring managers prefer a reverse chronological resume that is concise. Great resumes list quantifiable, measurable bullets that show the impact the individual made in the role they held.

Rex Maghan: Transitioning military candidates have held long and illustrious careers with accomplishments in many different disciplines. Typically, your most recent skill sets are most relevant and should be accentuated on the resume.

Victoria Pich: Translate your resume from military to civilian terminology and do not use abbreviations. Ensure any active clearance is stated. Share your total years of military experience––even if it’s not relevant to the specific role you’re applying for––to illustrate your timeline in the military and your career path. Lastly, keep your resume length to three pages maximum.

Debbie Cote: Don’t try to hard to civilianize your resume; companies who hire veterans often speak your language. During interviews, keep your answers concise. This is one of the most important pieces of feedback when candidates don’t get selected for a position.    

Rex Maghan: Review the companies that are attending and research those that interest you. Try to understand their business and open position requirements as they relate to your qualifications. Be prepared to discuss positions that interest you and how your most recent experience aligns with the basic qualifications for that role.

Victoria Pich: Have your 20-second elevator pitch ready for when you arrive at a career fair. Let the recruiter know what type of position you’re looking for, locations of interest, and any clearance you may have. Come prepared with knowledge about the company and what roles you are interested in. The more information you have, the easier the conversation will be. And don’t forget to ask about next steps.

Debbie Cote: Come prepared with knowledge about the company you’re interested in, as well as its culture, to make sure you would be a strong fit. Be able to discuss what type of positions you’re interested in and how your previous experience will align to that role. Make sure you have an updated resume with you to share with team. Be able to discuss location preferences and have a list of questions that you would like answered, too.    

Rex Maghan: The culture is much like the military. Booz Allen is goal oriented. I feel supported by my leadership and even though we are a large company, it’s very much an entrepreneurial environment. This company fosters growth and inspires me to do my best.   

Victoria Pich: I love talking with transitioning military members and veterans about the next step in their career, which can be scary after many years in the military. I help them identify opportunities and field questions about transitioning, resume writing, interview skills, and more. I love that I can help in some small way and give back to those who have put their lives on the lines for our freedom and safety. Secondly, I love the people here—amazing, talented, smart, and collaborative workers—there’s no other place like it!

Debbie Cote: The people—it’s great to come to work everyday surrounded by world-class superstars.