I see many firms, especially in financial services, have open positions for Enterprise Risk Management (ERM). Question for the group: how do you recommend converting an extensive intelligence background with international experience into ERM? Thanks for offering to help!
Answers
Robert, you might find it useful to contact veterans currently in risk and compliance roles in your target industry to get the viewpoint you need. Simply doing people search on LinkedIn by current company (your target) and past companies filtering for the armed services will yield plenty of vets who will know exactly how to shape your resume for that role. They may even be in the position to connect you with recruiters and hiring managers.
More importantly, the findings from a 20 minute coffee chat can help you ascertain whether the company or industry is a good fit for your post-military career. The top risk and compliance consultancies include Deloitte, KPMG, EY, BearingPoint, and Alvarez & Marshal - I mention vets in risk consulting since they may be able to provide some context and rudder steers based on their multiple client engagements to help you hone in on the right targets.
I’d suggest that you network at the target company or industry. Use LinkedIn to find people already working there and reach out to them. Ask them the process they used to get hired and ask them to help you navigate the hiring process and if they are willing, ask them to submit you as a referral. These activities require much more time on your part but in my opinion would greatly increase your chances for success. Good luck!
I think you'll find that employers with these roles will be eager to talk to you, given your background. A couple of points: a resume's 'job' is to get you in front of a person. Look for key words in a posting to which you want to apply: words that are in the 'required' or 'desired' sections of the posting--and incorporate them in your application and resume. I.e., if a posting says "Q" is required, use that term to convey your related expertise. Customize your resume for every position to which you apply. It is hard work to apply for a job; no resume fits all job postings. Most of the military resumes I've seen include incredible amounts of specifics and details; a lot of that should not be in a private sector resume. Maybe include the name of one or two of the most unique, most likely to translate pieces of equipment or applications re which you have expertise. Most resumes should fit on one page. They should not answer every question. They should cause the recruiter/screener to think 'this guy could maybe do this job' AND 'I'd like to learn more about this applicant.' Expertise that is years old and that everyone has--that do not distinguish you from other applicants--have no value in a resume and just take up valuable space that should be used to create interest in YOU. Happy to take a look at your resume if that would be helpful. (I've been in HR in large orgs for 30+ years.)
You did not mention your formal education. Overseeing Risk Management is often the task assigned to folks with an MBA or more especially people with a Law background. If you have a undergraduate degree, think about Law School.
If you were with Wells Fargo Bank in Risk Management and had a JD you could have saved that other-wise fine Bank, from the horror filled situation their officers put it in.
Question: How serious are you? If very serious, contact me for some suggestions.
Francis J. Tepedino
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