Wade Robinson ⋅ Great Falls , VA Glen Associates, LLC ⋅ 36 years experience

Henry,
Let me offer some advice on successful career moves. In the past I have run large corporate recruiting teams and for several years I have consulted in career transition.

You can get in line with hundreds of other candidates for a position, or you can make a few moves that will greatly increase your chance of landing a position you find attractive.

The first thing you should do is research the marketplace, identify the medical/heath provider markets in your area. Google the hospitals in your area, go to the Chamber of Commerce for a list, visit the Economic Development Authority in your area, they can be a big help in getting lists of employers by industry. Don;t just look for posted openings, get proactive and reach out to firms you find attractive.

Find 10 or so target organizations that are geographically, culturally, and by reputation - places you would like to work. Go to their websites and get your resume submitted to their database. If you don't see an appropriate opening, apply for anything listed. There are several reasons why this is important For instance,recruiters go to their resume database to identify candidates before they post a position, if you have a resume in the database you you are ahead of the game.

The most productive move you can make is to identify a senior manager or board member in your target firms who is a veteran. Their profile will be available on most corporate websites. Write that person a hard-copy letter and attache a resume. Make sure you have their title and address correct. Indicate you are a veteran, have a resume in their database, you would appreciate their support in raising your visibility with HR, and to champion your candidacy within the organization.

I can't tell you how many clients I have worked with in the past on career transitions - where this had worked.

All the best
Wade Robinson