If you are lucky, the interviewer will have prior military experience, or at least a close friend or family member with a military background. In these cases, you may have an advantage before you even walk in the door. Should they lack some type of connection, however, then their view of the military will likely consist of what they've seen on television and in the movies, which do not always do the military services justice. This can lead to problematic misconceptions.

Perhaps the most common stereotype of military professionals is that they are rigid, simply programmed to follow orders. Though structure is important in any organization, military or civilian, those who have never experienced it often believe that the military takes structure to an extreme, which may translate into a concern that you lack initiative and innovation. If the interviewer is looking at you a little funny, it may be because she is picturing you squaring the corners of the cubicles as you march around the office — not an appealing image.

To avoid giving the impression of inflexibility, begin with your physical comportment: be aware of your posture during the interview. You have been through some tough training and instructed to fall back on it during times of stress; the proper way to stand at attention was probably the first lesson that got drilled into you at boot camp, but this position is not going to help you in a job interview. While you certainly don't want to slouch or appear sloppy, strive for a look of relaxed confidence. And whatever you do, don't keep your eyes front — eye contact is extremely important in establishing rapport with the interview (in other words, making her like you).

Then come the questions. To prepare, you should not only compose answers to the most commonly asked questions, but also think of anecdotes that would demonstrate traits such as initiative, creativity, and personability — characteristics that the stereotypes suggest are lacking in the military. If at all possible, try to work these anecdotes into your answers to the most common questions, so that you can be sure that you will have a chance to tell them.

Throughout the interview, remember that presentation is key. Military-style jargon and acronyms should be avoided almost entirely. This may be difficult for you, as you may have become fluent in "militarese" to the point where it is essentially your native language, but the importance of this point cannot be overstated. For a civilian interviewer, there is nothing more frustrating (or more likely to send a candidate to the reject pile) than being unable to understand him.

For example:

Interviewer: Tell me about your most recent position.
Candidate 1: I was a TC in the OPCEN for Airsta Sacto.

This candidate has given virtually no comprehensible information, wasting a valuable opportunity to present her qualifications. On the other hand:

Candidate 2: I was a telecommunications specialist working in the Operations Center for Air Station Sacramento, where my primary responsibility was handling all voice communications with aircraft during flight missions to maintain contact and operational control. Moreover, I prepared and sent message traffic to a variety of other units, in addition to receiving and routing incoming messages. The message system was developed long before email, and is not as user-friendly. To reduce the amount of message traffic and encourage the use of email for routine matters, I initiated a project to develop guidelines that would assist members in selecting the proper system to use.

This candidate has given the interviewer a clear picture of her major responsibilities, providing anecdotal evidence of her initiative and forward thinking.

To prepare for your interview, find a friend or family member with virtually no knowledge of the military; have him ask you about your experiences, interrupting you whenever he doesn't understand you. Repeat the exercise until you can consistently get through your answers uninterrupted.