Transition Insight

Having a job search checklist ensures you have the right equipment and tools to compete. Without having everything you need, you potentially waste a lot of time. While gathering this checklist of items in this order is not required, it is *highly* recommended you do them all.

Job Search Checklist — Things You Need For Your Job Search

1. Portfolio of work and evaluations
2. Professional email address and email signature
3. Professional greeting on main voicemail
4. 20+ Accomplishment stories
5. 10 or more ideal job titles
6. Request 3-5 people to serve as references
7. Targeted, strategically focused resume for each of those job titles and/or ideal job postings
8. 50+ companies that could potentially hire you for what you want to do
9. Craft answers to the dreaded interview questions
10. 10-30-60 second answer to  tell me about yourself  (here's how to create yours)
11. LinkedIn profile (here's how to make your profile awesome)
12. Listing of 100+ people you know
13. Cover letter and thank you letter templates (Use AI to generate rough drafts)
14. Networking email templates (Use AI to generate rough drafts)
15. Begin practicing common interview questions
16. Folders/system to retain job postings, resume, and cover letters by company (version control)
17. Spreadsheet to track jobs applied for and followup (Try Teal Job Tracker)
18. Spreadsheet/system to track networking contacts and follow up
19. Time blocking system (here's what a structured week can look like)
20. Positive mindset, anything is possible!

20 is the most important. Take care of yourself emotionally and physically. Don't allow  negative self talk . Surround yourself with positive reinforcement. Prepare for the long haul and try to enjoy this exploration of the new world!

2025 Job Search Check List

Here's a pdf to download.

The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on the part of VA. Veterans should verify the information with the organization offering.

Together We Served (TWS), a military and Veteran online community website with 2.5 million members, has launched a new free service called 'Veteran Buddy Link' to assist Veterans who, due to their location or circumstances, may find themselves in a state of loneliness and would welcome the friendship and support of other Veterans, particularly those residing in their neighborhood.

Veterans are justifiably proud of their service and often this portrayal of pride may mask possible underlying anxieties and other issues associated with loneliness. Those who have served share a unique bond that remains with them throughout their lives. Veterans are naturally drawn to and thrive in the company of other Veterans because the unique culture of military service and the commitment to service and sacrifice is common to all.

This is the reason TWS's Veteran Buddy Link service was specially designed to enable all Veterans, especially those who may feel isolated or alone, to seek the camaraderie of other Veterans in the comfort and security of TWS's online environment which has often been acknowledged as reminiscent of a military base.

To seek a Buddy connection, all a Veteran needs to do is first register at the TWS Veteran Buddy Link portal page.

REGISTER

Registration is straightforward and includes a brief summary of a Veteran's military service, their zip code of residence, and an invitation to respond to: "If you would like to be connected with other Veterans for friendship or support, including those in your neighborhood, tell us a little bit more about yourself and how a Veteran Buddy connection would be welcome."

When a Veteran completes registration, an email is then automatically sent to all Together We Served members, residing in the same zip code, indicating that a Veteran in their neighborhood would welcome connecting with other local Veterans and, if interested, to log in to view their Buddy Link post and make contact.

As a natural extension to Buddy Check Week, Veteran Buddy Link provides a year-round opportunity for any Veteran who has internet access to make meaningful connections with other Veterans, for social and welfare-related purposes, which could greatly improve the quality of their lives.

Heading into a new year means getting your job search on the right track. Whether you are unemployed or employed and looking, you'll want to use these pieces of job search advice.

Job Search In 2025

Looking for a new job in 2025 will be different than it was a year or more ago.

I can't predict exactly what the job market will look like for you. There are just too many variables. But what I do know, is that there are at least two major elements impacting every job search right now:

• The economy
• Artificial Intelligence

When jobs are scarcer and more people are using AI to mass-apply to jobs, talent acquisition/recruiters become overwhelmed with too many applications.

This means your materials must be targeted, unique and thorough. It also means you'll want to do more than just throw your resume into the Applicant Tracking System (or easy apply).

You will apply online AND you will strategically network with people who are in your industry.

Below are the expert tips from many of the colleagues I trust and respect. Thank you to all of you for taking time to contribute.

These pieces of advice offer you a way to a better job search. Be sure to follow these job search allies on LinkedIn and/or subscribe to their newsletters!

Job Search Tips for 2025

Kevin D Turner, TNT Brand Strategist LLC

In an increasingly digitally processed world, it is beneficial to fit database (dB) best practices by embracing Market Value Filters (MVF).

Think about LinkedIn as a dB (digital filing cabinet) with a B+ files in it, we realize that there needs to be standardization in the way we label files so that they can be retrieved when needed.

That file pulling standard on [in] is the Market Value Filters (MVF). They appear in many places within our profile from Location, Industry, Titles, Location type, Employment type Company... even to our Degrees. [in] never tells us about them, will let us overwrite them (making us [in]visable) but they leave us some clues, during our profile edits, in areas that produce a Drop-down box of choices when we are typing during our profile edits.

65% of [in]'s $17B Annual Rev comes from M2M (Selling Members access to other Members through Recruiter and Sales Navigator which basically makes us the product). If you are running a business and your two main customers are 65% of the Rev, you give them what they want. If we want to be that perfect product, that [in] promotes, we must fit the system and when we do, we go from 1 in a B to #1 in a B for what we do.

Hope that Helps and for the Visually Wired here's your GIFt: youtu.be/oPR08l7zQvQ
#KeepRockingLinkedIn!
Kevin

Erin Kennedy, Professional Resume Services, Inc.

My #1 piece of advice is to never stop networking.

No matter where you're at in your job search, you should keep cultivating and developing your network.

Even once you've found employment, remember that these are the same people that will have your back when you're in the job search again.

Alex Freund, Interview Prep Coach

In 2025, the job market is evolving faster than ever, with AI, hybrid work, and shifting skill demands at the forefront. My #1 advice? Master the art of storytelling in interviews.

Employers don't just want to know what you've done—they want to know how you think, solve problems, fit into their culture, and be able to work collaboratively. Prepare SARB (Situation, Action, Result, Benefit) stories that highlight your adaptability, initiative, and value. Practice answering behavioral questions with real-life examples that demonstrate and validate the skills listed in the job description. For recent graduates, focus on transferable skills from internships, academic projects, and volunteer work.

Additionally, practice your delivery. In a world of virtual interviews, your tone, energy, and confidence must shine through the screen. Leverage mock interviews and video simulations to refine your presentation and seek feedback to improve.

Finally, remember that interviews are conversations, not interrogations. Engage with the interviewer by asking thoughtful questions that show your interest in their company's mission and culture. The key to success is practicing with someone who can provide you instant and honest feedback.

Alison Doyle and Jen Hubley Luckwaldt, Co-Founders and Co-Editors, The Job Hopper

Be kind.

When you're mired in a job search, it's hard to think of anything else but your mission to get a new job. But making time to help others with their career can help you in so many ways. It'll make you feel good, which will be a welcome change if your self-esteem has taken an understandable hit during your job search. You'll build a reputation as someone who thinks of others, making a good impression on hiring teams and job seekers alike. And you'll invest in the future, ensuring that your contacts who need help now will want to help you when they can.

It only takes a couple of minutes, and people really do remember those who helped them out—and they'll reciprocate.

Virginia Franco, Virginia Franco Resumes

While I'm cautiously optimistic that 2025 will be a stronger year for job search than 2024 (one of the tougher ones I'd seen in years), I don't anticipate it's going to be the heyday that we experienced in 2022 and 2023.

To land in this competitive market you need strong targeted career marketing collateral (resume and LinkedIn) and you need a strong job search strategy focused on reverse engineering:

1. where do you want to work?
2. who do you know that works there?
3. who do you need to know who works there?
4. who do you know that might know others?

Keep the curiosity and conversations flowing to uncover opportunities. Learn more about hitting the ground running for your job search.

Adrienne Tom, Career Impressions

Ensure your job search activities involve the creation of a great resume AND LinkedIn profile. Job seekers often put a lot of effort into their resumes but overlook the value and benefits of a fully complete and optimized LinkedIn profile. Yet, many recruiters rely heavily on LinkedIn for candidate sourcing and initial screening and may read LinkedIn profiles more than they read resumes.

If your profile is incomplete or only includes basic information, you may be passed over for opportunities. Unlike a resume, a LinkedIn profile works for you 24/7 and is much easier for hiring personnel to access — so take time to fully populate your profile! See how recruiters use your profile.

Alan Stein, Founder and CEO, Kadima Careers

The job market goes up. The job market goes down. Your approach should not change one bit.

Identify your goals.

Play to your strengths.

Build relationships.

Prepare for very beatable interviews.

Negotiate for what you're worth.

Mark Dyson, The Job Scam Report

The rise of Deepfake videos poses significant challenges for hiring and onboarding, leading companies to slow the hiring process to verify candidates. With the increase in employment scams, fake resumes and avatars are becoming prevalent, complicating virtual interviews. To combat this, additional training is needed for employees to identify potentially fake candidates.

In 2024, scammers targeted students with fake job postings, raising concerns that companies could face similar threats, with links to rogue sites potentially compromising company security. This highlights the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals to monitor new hires for ethical conduct. The first half of 2024, job scams quadrupled from 2023. The battle will only intensify.

Additionally, companies are likely to increase their reliance on contract workers to address temporary staffing needs, which may alter traditional employment patterns. They should consider allowing applicants to apply as contract workers.

Moreover, companies need to improve transparency regarding applicant data usage, ensuring job seekers have options for personal information handling.

Finally, it's crucial for organizations to actively combat fake recruiting efforts by utilizing multiple communication channels to inform the public and encourage employees to report scams.

Sharlyn Lauby, Author, HR Bartender

Know your must-haves and nice-to-haves. I see a lot of people change jobs only to have regrets because the "new" job isn't necessarily better than the "old" one.

Once you have that list of what would make you happy, then prioritize it into the must-haves and nice-to-haves. This will be helpful when you're negotiating a new offer and keep you focused on those must-haves.

You can always revisit and change this list. That's perfectly normal. The world around us changes all the time. But taking the time to identify what you're really looking for in an opportunity could help you focus on the right job offers and prevent regrets later.

Gina Riley, Gina Riley Consulting

Going into 2025, being qualified for the job won't be enough. Minimum qualifications are just table stakes to land that initial conversation. Your Unique Value Proposition (UVP) is what actually helps you win the job.

By developing your UVP, you'll not only have a solid foundation for explaining your strengths, leadership style, and career story, but also the ability to weave together the threads that distinguish you. Think of your "Tell me about yourself" response as a highlight reel rather than a scripted pitch. Aim for under five minutes, and ensure every detail flows from your UVP. Show not just what you've accomplished, but why it matters and where you're headed next. Highlight the outcomes you've driven, the results you've achieved, and the signature approach you bring to complex challenges.

In 2025's competitive market, getting noticed isn't about meeting the baseline—it's about showing employers exactly what they'll gain by choosing you. Let your UVP define your marketing messages so that you resonate with your target audience and go from qualified to candidate of choice.

(Excerpt from "Qualified Isn't Enough," scheduled for publication with Advantage Forbes Books in September 2025)

Jan Tegze, Author of Job Search Guide

I would recommend people to focus on 3 areas:

Working Well with AI Tools

Just like learning to use a smartphone or computer, you'll want to get good at working with AI tools. This means knowing how to give AI clear instructions (we call these "prompts") and checking its work to make sure it's accurate. For example, if you're writing a report, you might use AI to help organize your ideas or check your grammar, but you'll add your own knowledge and creativity to make it better.

Mixing Different Skills Together

In 2025 companies want people who can mix technical skills (like using computers and software) with people skills (like explaining complex ideas simply or working well in teams). For example, if you're good at data analysis, you should also be able to explain what the numbers mean to people who aren't experts. Or if you work in customer service, knowing how to use AI chat tools while still keeping a friendly, human touch is super valuable. It's about being well-rounded and able to handle different types of tasks.

Building Connections with Others

You can do this online through sites like LinkedIn or in person at meetups and events. The key is to actually talk to people and help each other out — don't just collect contacts like Pokemon cards! Share what you know, ask questions, and learn from others' experiences. When you hear about job openings, these connections can tell you what it's really like to work there. Plus, many great jobs are filled through personal recommendations.

Remember, you don't need to be perfect at everything! Start by getting good at one thing, then gradually add more skills. The most important part is being willing to learn and adapt as jobs change. Learn more about how AI will transform your job.

Meg Guiseppi, Founder/CEO, Executive Career Brand

Here's my evergreen advice for job search, for 2025 and beyond: Before writing your resume or doing anything else, get straight on what kind of work you want to do and which companies or organizations will be a mutual good-fit.

You may be resistant to targeting select employers because you don't want to limit your search. You think you should remain open to any and all job opportunities.

Here's one of the problems with this approach:

When you're writing your resume, LinkedIn profile, etc. you won't know who you're writing for and what specific experience, expertise, strengths, qualities and qualifications they will want candidates to have for specific roles they need to fill.

After doing the targeting work, dig into researching your target companies and industry to determine what things you offer (accomplishments, skills, personal strengths, etc.) that your target employers need right now.

Targeting is also important for due diligence. You need to assess target employers just like they'll be assessing you, to be sure you're a good fit for each other.

Understand that your resume, LinkedIn profile and other job search materials are personal marketing communications. Marketing campaigns begin with knowing your target audience and addressing specific pain points of theirs. Then you can promote yourself as a potential problem solver for specific things impacting them right now.

It may seem counter-intuitive to narrow your search to specific employers, but the more you do, the more precisely you'll be able to pinpoint the unique value you offer.

And the more your personal marketing materials and networking efforts will position you as the best hiring choice for the companies and organizations you want to work for.

Sarah Johnston, CEO, Briefcase Coach

The old marketing adage "different is better than better" rings true in 2025. Generative AI and the "easy-apply" button have made it effortless for candidates to submit job applications. The problem? Everyone now looks exactly the same. I wish I could show you the stack of cover letters I received for a job I recently posted—nearly all of them said the exact same thing.

In a competitive market like this, the key to getting more callbacks is to stand out. Tailor your message—whether it's your resume, cover letter, or outreach—to resonate with your specific audience. Be targeted. Be different.

Maureen McCann, Executive Career Strategist, Promotion Career Solutions

SLOW DOWN.

I get it.

You want to reduce your time on the market and land something quickly

But you're a quality hire, and quality takes time.

Carving time out for your job search doesn't mean days and weeks out of your schedule.

• It could be a morning when you take a moment to collect and organize your thoughts.
• An hour where you map out the criteria for you to say "yes" to a job offer.
• A few minutes in the evening creating tailored messaging for the companies or positions you're targeting.

A few things to note before you begin your search:

1. As you advance in your career, senior roles become fewer. Be prepared to compete with world-class leaders. What got you to this stage of your career may not get you to the next level.
2. The market has changed since you last looked for work. You're going to have to adjust your approach to job search accordingly.
3. Relying on your reputation alone may not serve you as well as you hope. Prepare quality, demonstrative documents worthy of someone of your caliber.
4. Clarity. Don't move or position yourself until you know where you're going. When you see an opening that's a 65% match for what you think looks good — stop yourself. Decide right now before you find yourself in that position — what constitutes the best possible offer for you; then don't settle for anything less.
5. Since you can't have "all the jobs," your discernment must guide you. Otherwise, you'll pursue jobs never meant for you, wasting precious time, energy and resources.

See job search habits to break before 2025.

Dorothy Dalton, 3Plus International

Get on top of your AI up-skilling.

Research from the LinkedIn Microsoft 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report surveyed 31,000 people across 31 countries, examining hiring trends in Fortune 500 companies.

They found that:

• More than half (56%) of the managers suggest they would choose a candidate with relevant experience and some AI skills, over candidates who didn't. They find AI knowledge more useful than additional experience.
• 66% of Leaders would not hire someone without AI skills

This is good advice for everyone, but especially for women who are falling behind in upgrading their technology skills.

While 54% of men now use AI in their professional or personal lives, this falls to just 35% of women, according to a survey from FlexJobs.

Learn more about why women need to get into AI.

Jacob Share, Founder, JobMob

Be creative to stand out.

Using AI tools to improve your job search is more than a recent trend and is here to stay, but as your job search competitors also up their game, it becomes all the more important for you to think differently to be seen differently.

How can you get your resume to a hiring manager without following the usual application process?

What can you do to impress when recruiters google your name?

What will make your interviews more memorable, and your excitement for the job more palpable?

Learn more about the creative ways people got hired.

Random Recruiter, The random recruiter

Finding a mentor isn't just a smart career move—it's a game-changer. Most people try to figure it all out on their own, spending years grinding through trial and error, hoping they'll stumble onto the right answers. A mentor saves you from that. They reduce the learning curve and give you a roadmap that might've taken you decades to draw on your own.

Here's the reality: mentors have already walked the path you're on. They've made the mistakes, learned the lessons, and earned the scars. When you have someone like that in your corner, you don't have to learn everything through failure. Instead, you can borrow their experience and skip straight to progress. What might have taken you years to figure out on your own becomes clear in months or even weeks.

Inside your company, a mentor can be even more impactful. They teach you how to navigate the unwritten rules of workplace dynamics. They help you understand where the real power lies and how to build political equity. The truth is, your career growth isn't just about what you know—it's about who you know and how well you've positioned yourself. A mentor helps you gain influence and credibility by showing you how to play the game strategically.

So, find someone who's been where you want to go. Someone who's already overcome the challenges you're facing. Don't wait for a perfect moment or a formal program. Seek them out, ask good questions, and show them you're serious about growth.

The right mentor won't just accelerate your learning—they'll transform your entire career trajectory. Learning through failure might be noble, but learning through mentorship is smarter, faster, and far more effective. The question isn't whether you need a mentor—it's how soon you're going to find one.

Learn more about finding a mentor.

Loren Greiff, Founder, PortfolioRocket

AI is on everyone's lips and in everyone's budget so that aside here are my other key urgings for those in 2025:

1. Focus on Active Continual Learning.

   Learn it alls signal adaptability, and agility to new skills, tech, environments, market conditions and organization hiring changes

   ✕ Instead of certificates

   ✓ Feature impact: "Applied latest AI ethics training to develop new data governance framework, now used by 3000+ employees."

2. Bridge Building and Cross Generational Skills

   We now have five arguably six generations in the workforce

   Traditionalists (Silent Generation): Born 1925-1945

   Baby Boomers: Born 1946-1964

   Generation X: Born 1965-1980

   Millennials (Gen Y): Born 1981-1996

   Generation Z (Gen Z): Born 1997-2012

   Generation Alpha, which includes those born from around 2013 to the mid-2020s. Not officially in the workforce but included in the future of work.

   ✕ Rather than "extensive experience"

   ✓ Bridge generations "Mentored 30+ leaders while reverse-mentoring 9 Gen Zers"

3. Remember AI isn't coming to replace you, rather to reveal you.

   ✓ Master the five critical human skills (curiosity, courage, creativity, communication, compassion) that AI cannot replicate

   ✓ Excel in the emerging relationship economy by prioritizing human connection over technical expertise

Learn more about the impact of AI on your career.

Kenneth Lang, My Networking Central

Take care of yourselves during job search — give yourself permission to enjoy life and learn to say 'no' at times.

Larua Smith-Proulx, CEO, An Expert Resume

The one critical piece you need in the uber-competitive 2025 job market is to get VERY familiar with your personal brand, because it's essential for building a compelling LinkedIn profile, resume, employer outreach, and interview responses.

This is true even if you're supporting your search with AI tools, because these applications don't work side-by-side with you every day to uncover your strengths.

Defining your brand will also give you a major advantage during multiple rounds of interviews, when you'll need to think on your feet in front of different audiences to describe why you're the perfect candidate.

If you really struggle to think of these items, ask your network or peers what they value about working with you. You might be surprised!

Next, add important metrics to this list of personal strengths — describing the dollar figures, percentages, rankings, or other figures that clarify how much impact you produce for your employers.

Use cost savings, profit improvement, new sales or market opportunities, on-time delivery metrics, increases in customer retention or throughput, KPI achievements, and so on.

After coming up with all these details, create several brand statements that describe your unique contributions and qualities, such as:

• I build teams that streamline processes for business stakeholders, saving up to $4M with new efficiencies that expedite product deliveries by 30%.
• My leadership approach eases team stress, boosts employee retention more than 80%, and retains nearly 90% of our top performers.
• I've reworked our cybersecurity strategy to prevent the most severe threats on a global scale, enabling Fortune 500 companies to retain over 80% of their customer base when others are losing business.
• My problem-solving abilities have rectified multinational outages that threaten business stability, reducing occurrences up to 75% over previous years by using effective root cause analysis.

These details will help you tap into your value proposition and give you powerful, convincing statements to use throughout your LinkedIn Headline and About sections, resume summaries, achievement bullets, cover letters, and interviews, no matter if you're using AI or building your own career marketing materials.

Best of all, this information will provide the confidence boost needed to consistently shine in your search and distinguish yourself from the competition.

Learn how to build your executive brand!

David Fano, Founder & CEO at Teal

Success in your 2025 job search is about being intentional, leveraging technology, and presenting your best self to employers. Here's how to make your search strategic and impactful:

1. Get Clear on Your Goals

   Before diving into applications, reflect on what you want. Think about roles, industries, and companies that align with your skills, values, and career aspirations. A clear vision helps you target opportunities that truly resonate.

2. Polish Your Personal Brand

   Your resume, LinkedIn profile, and online presence are your digital first impression. Use tools to craft tailored, keyword-optimized resumes that showcase your achievements. On LinkedIn, make sure your profile reflects your unique value proposition, with a strong headline and clear career story.

3. Stay Organized with Technology

   Job searching can be overwhelming. Tools like a Job Tracker can help you manage applications, deadlines, and follow-ups in one place. Staying organized ensures you don't miss opportunities or important steps.

4. Leverage Your Network

   Don't job search in isolation. Reach out to your professional connections, share your goals, and express interest in companies they're associated with. Personal referrals often lead to faster responses.

5. Keep Up With Industry Trends

   Employers value candidates who stay informed. Invest time in learning about industry trends, emerging skills, and how your expertise aligns with where the market is headed in 2025.

6. Be Consistent and Resilient

   Rejections are part of the process. Commit to sending applications daily, customizing each one, and following up when appropriate. Consistency and persistence pay off.

By focusing on clarity, branding, organization, and resilience, you can navigate the 2025 job market with confidence and land opportunities that align with your goals.

Ed Han (posthumously)

My #LinkedIn #tip4day: respect how others choose to grow their networks.

I have a lot more connections than I ever wanted already. Therefore, I'm selective about whose invitations to connect I accept. And I rarely send one, unless they're someone I met or otherwise interacted with in a meaningful way.

Those are my minimum standards for connecting.

This is not to say that this is the only way. Indeed, there's no one right way to do this.

But it illustrates the point that people don't all accept every invitation that comes in. Indeed, very few people do.

Right now, I have 250+ invitations to connect awaiting a response. I can confidently say that I might never get to all of them.

It's not that a single invitation requires much effort. But 250 of anything will.

Follow people first before inviting them to connect. Comment on their stuff so they get to know you.

That's an invitation with a higher likelihood of prompt acceptance.

Thank you for coming to my #EDtalk

In Conclusion

Focus, clarity, human-ness, uniqueness and the ability to weave AI with critical thinking- these are reoccurring themes for a 2025 job search.

The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on the part of VA. Veterans should verify the information with the organization offering.

Scholarship America is the nation's leading administrator of private scholarships, awarding $5.7 billion to more than 3 million students since 1958. The organization administers a wide range of scholarships—and emergency grants—for students attending vocational school, two-year colleges, and four-year colleges and universities. These funds help close funding gaps and reduce the amount of debt students need to take on to complete their education.

Scholarship America proudly administers several programs specifically for Veterans. These scholarships allow the organization to support those who have volunteered to defend our country as they transition into the civilian workforce.

The Wells Fargo Veterans Scholarship Program

The Wells Fargo Veterans Scholarship Program awards $5,000 to honorably discharged Veterans, as well as spouses and widowed spouses of disabled Veterans, pursuing full-time graduate or undergraduate study. Apply by April 10, 2025. Wells Fargo also offers emergency grants to Veteran students facing short-term financial need.

The DLA Piper BRAVO (Building Relationships to Advance Veterans' Opportunities) Scholarship

The DLA Piper BRAVO Scholarship supports honorably discharged Veterans enrolling in an ABA-accredited law school with $6,000 in funding. Applications will open in fall 2025; click the Notify Me button to be alerted when the application opens.

Scholarship America is dedicated to eliminating financial barriers to educational success so that any student can pursue their dream. If you're a Veteran working toward a degree, there are scholarships to be found through Scholarship America.