Applying for a Staff Position

Reference CAPP 60-31 The Cadet Staff Handbook; Learn to Lead, Volume 2, Chapter 8, Effective Communication; CAPP 1-2 The CAP Guide to Effective Communication.

A large part becoming a leader and furnishing a successful cadet career is moving from being a student to being a leader. The best way to train in being an exceptional leader is by practicing! CAP has a plethora of staff oppurtunites, ranging from our local squadron, to staffing large wing level events, like Encampment and Cadet Programs Conference.

There are three parts to applying for any staff positions:

Selecting the Job You Want

Each section is broken down below and if you follow these steps, you will have an outstanding staff application.

Selecting the Job You Want

Any call for staff will usually consist of a list of available staff positions. Each oppurtunity will be a rich experince and give you valuable leadership and life lessons. THERE IS NO STAFF POSITION NOT WORTH DOING. Within military, and subsequently CAP, leadership there are 3 types of staff positions:

1. Line Cadre

Line cadre are the "front line" of the cadet staff experience. These staff members have direct interaction with students and are responsible for their training. They are first line supervisors. Examples of Line Cadre include: Cadet Flight Commanders and Cadet Flight Sergeants.

2. Support Staff

Support staff consist of every other staff position that aren't line. Duties can vary from Mess Staff to Curriculum and Plans. Support staff are highly valuable and necessary for any CAP squadron or training event. These duty positons are highly rewarding and are lots of fun.

3. Executive Staff

Executive Staff are the top members of any unit or organization. Examples of CAP Cadet Executive staff include Cadet Commanders, Cadet First Sergeants, Cadet Deputy Commanders, Cadet Group Superintendents, etc. Executive Staff Members are in charge of training other staff members, planning activites and schedules, enforcing good order and discipline amongst the staff, and so much more.

Regardless of what type of position you apply for, make sure you do research about what that type of job entails, and what are the necessary skills that go into that job. A great resource for research is the The Cadet Staff Handbook. Jobs will also usually list some minimum standards to apply for that job. Make sure you meet those standards before applying, because if you don't, your application could be rejected.

Résumé

Now you've selected what you want to apply for. lets get to building your resume.

A résumé briefly documents your work history and gives you the opportunity to show what makes you qualified for a job. That’s a lot for a short, one-page document to accomplish. Résumés require lots of editing and review. Let’s consider the major parts of the résumé:

Personal Information. Always list your name, address, phone number, and email address at the top of the résumé. However, it is not appropriate to list additional personal information like your age, height and weight, marital status, etc.

Objective. Some résumé experts suggest you identify your career aspirations and/or immediate objective. For young adults, these sections can help compensate for your relative lack of experience because it shows the hiring manager that you have clear goals and interests.

Education. As a student, list your highest level of education. Once you enter the adult workforce, list all college degrees and professional certifications. Again, young adults who need to compensate for their inexperience may want to amplify their educational credentials by including their grade point average and class rank.

Experience. Most hiring managers consider this section to be the meat of the résumé. There are two primary ways to complete the experience section. First is the career chronology method in which you list the various positions you’ve held and outline the major accomplishments of each. The career chronology method is the most common résumé style in the adult workforce. Second is the skills inventory method in which you focus on the work-related skills and abilities you’ve acquired. The skills inventory approach is rarely used by adults, but some experts suggest it to students who posess only a modest degree of career experience.

Awards, Honors & Extra-Curricular Activities. This is another section whose content and relative importance will vary depending on whether the applicant is a student or an adult with an established career. Students should list all awards and honors that are relative to the position being sought. For example, a student applying for a summer job at the airport should mention their CAP experience, but their experience on the chess team can be omitted.

References. It is customary to list two or three individuals who can speak to your professionalism, work-related skills, or employment history. However, before using someone as a reference, be sure to ask their permission and verify that indeed they’ll recommend you for the position.

An example résumé looks like so (image taken from Learn to Lead, Volume 2, Chapter 8):

Cover Letter

The cover letter is a brief one page letter to the hiring party stating why you are the best candidate for the job. THIS IS NOT A RESTATMENT OF YOUR RÉSUMÉ. Your résumé shows your experince and credentials, your cover letter talks about what you want to do for the team and how you are uniquely fitted for the job.

Cover letters for CAP Staff Positions should always be written in the CAP Business Letter Format. In less than 3 paragraphs you should outline why they should pick you and what you would do if you got the job. Reference CAPP 1-2 The CAP Guide to Effective Communication for the rules on writting a CAP business letter.

Under your name in the signature block, you should put "Applicant" for your job title.

PROOF READ every single document before submitting them to the hiring authority. Once you have sent it, you cannot get it back. Have friends, mentors, and family proofread everything. The more eyes that look over your documents, the better.

Attached bellow is a sample cover letter.

CA 007 Business Letter Template V3.dotx

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