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One of the things I get to do and love doing is help Veterans find success while transitioning from the military to civilian life. As most of you know, this transition is not easy. With the economy and current job market, finding a job is not easy but it is possible. Finding a job among the countless others bidding for the same position is a fine art. Sadly, there is a pretty big learning curve to it.
In this discussion, I am interested in seeing what tips and tricks others have used to help successfully transition into the civilian sector. What was one thing you did to set yourself apart from the others? Is there something you learned that you wish you would have known ahead of time?
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Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 11
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Finish the degree while you are in. Any degree.
Use your benefits, GI Bill, Veteran Retraining, disability... Use them, it makes a difference.
It is a different culture, use that cultural sensitivity training until you know the new left and right limits.
Service Values apply in the civilian world and take a little time to add humility to the list.
Use your benefits, GI Bill, Veteran Retraining, disability... Use them, it makes a difference.
It is a different culture, use that cultural sensitivity training until you know the new left and right limits.
Service Values apply in the civilian world and take a little time to add humility to the list.
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CPL Rick Stasny
I encourage any veteran to explore the use of their GI Bill to supplement their income by means of an apprenticeship. You can draw benifits for two years, while you gain experience when you have to start at ground zero. Also if you were in a hard to fill MOS you may qualify for a "kicker" that increases the amount you can draw each month. Not a bad supplement for filling out one piece of paper a month.
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One of the biggest items that helped me to transition was to pay off all
bills prior to exiting.
-A big problem I see with most Veterans is their RESUME. I have reviewed
resumes from O-6 on down and they write as if they are in the military, civilianize
it.
-Another area of concern is focus, I have heard many times when I ask this
question, What type of job do you want to do? "I don't
know............" Know what you want and scale it down to 15 seconds,
elevator speech.
-Don't underestimate the power of networking, 85% of jobs are found through
someone you know or meet.
-Go to a job fair not looking for a job. ??? WHAT? Type up some resumes visit different
industries at the job fair, ask them about their company. You are researching.
Then ask them if they have a moment to look at your resume and make some
suggestions. Let them write on the resume or you write what they tell you.
Thank Them and don’t try and justify or dispute them, say thank you. Go home
make the corrections and apply online.
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SGT Ben Keen
Yeah, I think we have a hard time writing our resumes in a format that makes sense to civilian employers. I helped a SPC in the spring with his resume. When I first looked at it, I was shocked yet amused to see that he listed "Winning hearts and minds of Iraqi people". Listing awards on your resume is also a topic I have debates with people on. Personally, I say leave them off but I can see the point of listing a few. However, if you are going to list them, you need to provide something saying what you did to earn them. Civilian employers first off don't understand what these medals are let alone what we did to earn them. So yes, if you earned a medal for doing something that boosts your skills in the workplace go for it but I don't see a reason to list things like Oversea Service Ribbons and the like.
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LTC (Join to see)
Excellent advice. I recently was on a hiring board for a federal agency, non-military. Because one candidate knew our organization has a healthy population of veterans, said candidate was very militaristic. She was not sensible about her approach to landing the position because of her resume presentation, as well as her interview presentation.
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SSG (Join to see)
SFC Rich Carey , I could not agree more with you pertaining to resumes. I would even go as far as saying that a vet needs to continuously review their resume to see if it supports the role for which the individual is applying. I am not saying to lie on a resume, I am saying if an individual has skills that apply directly to the role they should review their resume and ensure that the skills are highlighted. One thing to remember is that most HR departments utilize automated resume search tools, which use keywords to identify potential candidates.
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Do research your community and organizations that you would like to work.
Set realistic goals.
Be a self starter.
Keep the high expectations and fantasy island what ifs quiet.
Set limits and boundaries on what you like and dislike, be readable to others.
Attitude check. Keep a positive energy field.
Get up for Early Motivation on Mondays. Civilians are energized on Monday mornings so be cautious.
Do not go into a situation where you demonstrate a chip on your shoulder, just because you are a veteran. You are in their, civilian, work environment neck of the woods.
Be prepared to defend your skills, knowledge's and abilities and/or education.
Demonstrate a personal passion for those skills you bring to the table.
Be humble learn.
Maintain your health
Get used to your name. Joe Smith versus Sgt or Captain Smith.
Or let the civilians create a nick name for you.
Stay up on your current events.
Set realistic goals.
Be a self starter.
Keep the high expectations and fantasy island what ifs quiet.
Set limits and boundaries on what you like and dislike, be readable to others.
Attitude check. Keep a positive energy field.
Get up for Early Motivation on Mondays. Civilians are energized on Monday mornings so be cautious.
Do not go into a situation where you demonstrate a chip on your shoulder, just because you are a veteran. You are in their, civilian, work environment neck of the woods.
Be prepared to defend your skills, knowledge's and abilities and/or education.
Demonstrate a personal passion for those skills you bring to the table.
Be humble learn.
Maintain your health
Get used to your name. Joe Smith versus Sgt or Captain Smith.
Or let the civilians create a nick name for you.
Stay up on your current events.
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SP5 Rod Cross
Waste Management, Inc offers a wealth of employment opportunites for qualified personnel tranisitioning from the military. Candidates interested in seeking employment should visit our website at http://www.wmcareers.com. They may also contact Rod Cross at [login to see] .
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http://www.aptac-us.org/
http://www.navoba.com/resources-for-veteran-owned-businesses/
2nd best 2 resources I can share
The 1st: Pray, Plan, Do, Act Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5
http://www.navoba.com/resources-for-veteran-owned-businesses/
2nd best 2 resources I can share
The 1st: Pray, Plan, Do, Act Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5
Help for Government Contracting - APTAC - Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers...
Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) provide expert Government Contracting help at little or no charge, through training, one-on-one counseling,
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It's a great to have an idea of what career field you wish to pursue upon exiting the service. The best thing that you can bring to an employer is knowledge of the job that interests you, and of the company to which you are applying. It shows that prospective employer that you are thoughtful, engaged, prepared, resourceful, and eager to work.
Research the various opportunities that are available and find out which ones are a match for your particular set of skills and expertise.
Make sure that your resume is "civilian sector friendly". Your TAP should be able to assist there.
Get in some interview practice when possible. You can have an awesome resume and blow it during the interview phase. You want to get comfortable in that type of environment and with answering "behavioral interview" questions, so practice, practice, practice.
Use social media to network and make connections, I.e Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. It will help you a lot.
Use other resources such as the DVOP and LVER at your local Work Force Centers. It is their job to help Vets find employment. USE THEM!!!
Hope that this helps.
Rod Cross
Recruiter
Waste Management
[login to see]
Research the various opportunities that are available and find out which ones are a match for your particular set of skills and expertise.
Make sure that your resume is "civilian sector friendly". Your TAP should be able to assist there.
Get in some interview practice when possible. You can have an awesome resume and blow it during the interview phase. You want to get comfortable in that type of environment and with answering "behavioral interview" questions, so practice, practice, practice.
Use social media to network and make connections, I.e Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. It will help you a lot.
Use other resources such as the DVOP and LVER at your local Work Force Centers. It is their job to help Vets find employment. USE THEM!!!
Hope that this helps.
Rod Cross
Recruiter
Waste Management
[login to see]
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This is a good thread Sgt. I know from my work on here there are many Veterans all over the CONUS looking for work and/or trying to transition. I'm looking forward to seeing the responses to this question.
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I think the best thing anyone can do for themselves in our current world is to get an education! Employers don't care what your degree is in, as long as you have one! Now don't get me wrong, don't try and be a nurse when you have a graphic design degree! But getting a secondary education makes you more valuable and companies will find a position to hire you into!
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Bro I was infantry when i was in, got out did security for a year, school for massage therapy that didnt pan out..though it was fun in school..lol..left florida went to oklahoma study carpentry and electrical which worked for about 6 months or so, moved to georgia where i am currently staying went to school for heavy equipment operator which didnt fall through due to lack of experience by what everyone was telling me, then i was blessed to link up wth a retired Col. who showed me an opportunity that i wish i had started while i was in because my life would have been on a diffrent path if i had...oh did i mention that i also truck drive as well...but the one thing that i wish i had done differently was focus more on learning how to make my money work for me instead of me working for it so that my future could be solid..meaning my financial future..but its never to late and i am doing that now
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Waste Management, Inc offers a wealth of employment opportunites for qualified personnel tranisitioning from the military. Candidates interested in seeking employment should visit our website at http://www.wmcareers.com. They may also contact Rod Cross at [login to see] .
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There are a lot of avenues available to searching for a job. I was fortunate, in that I had a friend who knew someone whose job was looking for a specialized person to be filled. It was counseling youth in detention facilities. They were age 13 to 18. Falling into the job was easy, and training was supplied for several requirements of the job.
Also, before you transition, get assistance if necessary, in completing a resume that suits your talent(s). They also have online resume building sites. You can take your time and make sure you have sufficient information for you talents, identified.
Also, before you transition, get assistance if necessary, in completing a resume that suits your talent(s). They also have online resume building sites. You can take your time and make sure you have sufficient information for you talents, identified.
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