Tips For Transitioning From A Military To Civilian Career

SrA Andrew McCarty — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 12:57:32 -0400

Every veteran has an opinion about military recruiters. A common narrative is that they tend to stretch the truth when making their sales pitch. I once saw a wall covered in letters from servicemembers to their recruiters; some of them were downright hilarious. One disgruntled recruit bemoaned the fact he was being forced to run during basic training. “You told me I’d have the option to ride a bicycle,” he wrote. I couldn’t help but laugh. I’m sure his drill instructors did, too.

Prospective recruits are often told that after military service they’ll never have trouble finding a job. The fact is, though, that isn’t a given. Perhaps it should be, but the reality is that many veterans struggle to find “their place” after they separate. Nearly half of those who do find work end up leaving their first civilian job within 12 months.

This tells me two things: First, transitioning into a civilian career isn’t as easy as we were told it would be. Second, veterans might not be thinking about their transition in the right way. Here are some tips for making the transition a more successful experience.

Military Occupation vs. Vocation

I’ve spoken with enough veterans to know that there’s a common misconception affecting a lot of us. The military assigned you a job when you enlisted. You spent weeks, months, or maybe years becoming proficient at that job; it’s what you know how to do. But that doesn’t mean it’s your calling.

Ask yourself what you enjoy doing. What are your strengths? Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy sleeping, and I think I’m right up there with the best, but that doesn’t mean I can make a career out of taking a nap. I do know I’m creative. I enjoy writing, innovating, coming up with new ideas and programs. When I’m searching for a job, I want to know if there’s going to be room for me to use these strengths. If there isn’t, I’m certain I won’t be happy there.

Know Before You Go

Every mission or deployment involves planning. I still research our destinations before my family and I go on vacation. If it’s outside the U.S., I’ll review the State Department and CIA location assessments. We’re trained to think things through before we do them. Why should your career transition be any different?

When you’ve narrowed your career interests to certain fields or industries, test your ideas. Are there areas of the country or world where those industries are thriving? Are you open to moving, or set on a particular location?

If you know where you plan to live, perform a job market assessment. Are there many positions available in that area? What is the standard pay rate? What education and experience are required for job candidates? If you don’t have those credentials, how do you go about obtaining them? Do you need a degree, or would a certain certificate or license suffice? If additional education is required, do you have veteran education benefits that can help cover the cost?

When researching schools, be sure to speak with the individual who processes benefits, such as the GI Bill or VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment. How knowledgeable is that person, and can he or she recommend alternative funding methods if your benefits won’t cover the full cost of the program?

Finally, be realistic about the salary you’re looking for. If you expect a six-figure income, you’ll need to make a strong case to the hiring manager regarding how you plan to bring in at least six-figures worth of revenue into the company. They’ll also be looking to see if you have the education and experience that warrants that salary.

Networks Make Your Dreams Work

You’ve probably been told that networking is important. It is, and not something you only do while on the job hunt. Never stop networking. Your network is a safety net, as well as a launch pad. Businesses close. Companies go bankrupt. Positions get eliminated. These are terrible experiences to go through when you, and possibly your family, depend on that income. Worse still, these things can happen without any warning. If a situation like that occurs, you’ll want a strong network that can help you land on your feet.

Networking is also a way to “pay it forward.” I have connections in industries I’d never plan to enter. Through them, I’m occasionally able to help a veteran find employment. Through my network in the veteran community, I’m sometimes able to help companies find the veteran talent they’re looking for. Networking isn’t always about you and your next opportunity. Sometimes it’s about helping someone else find theirs. You scratch their backs, and perhaps one day they’ll scratch yours.

If you are looking for a new career opportunity and you’ve identified an organization you’d like to work for, see if you can identify veteran employees who already work there. I’ve found that veterans like helping other veterans. They might not be able to get you a job, but they can offer valuable insight. They may even be able to mention your name to the hiring manager. Also, research whether or not the company has a veteran hiring initiative. If that’s a pathway they’ve created, by all means use it.

Resumé or May Not

Invest time and effort into your resumé; this isn’t the place to cut corners. You can’t assume you’ll have a chance to expand on things during an interview, because if your resumé is weak, you may never get invited to one.

There are a number of online skills translators for servicemembers. Some are good; some are bad. Have a civilian who isn’t familiar with the military review your resumé. Are they confused by any of the language you used? Respect the honest feedback you receive and make the necessary changes.

Life After the Job Offer

Congratulations! You did it. You landed a job. Now what?

How is the veteran culture in the organization? Is there one? Does the company have a veteran employee resource group (ERG)? If not, consider starting one. This could be a way for you to continue serving others. And don’t let the door close behind you. Offer to help your human resources department evaluate other veteran candidates. Make yourself accessible to the next veteran who’s interested in working there.

There’s no perfect set of instructions for making a seamless transition from military to civilian life. Luckily, there is also no shortage of organizations and efforts dedicated to helping veterans through the process. From free workshops to veteran-specific networking events, I urge you to avail yourself of the opportunities in your community. The more engaged you are in the process and the stronger your network, the easier it will be to land on your feet and hit the ground running. Good luck!

About Andy McCarty

Andy McCarty is director of Northeastern's Center for the Advancement of Veterans and Servicemembers (CAVS). McCarty is a post-9/11 era veteran of the United States Air Force, with deployments to Egypt and Qatar. He is also a graduate of Northeastern’s College of Professional Studies.

Response by Megan Hnizdo, MBA made Apr 3 at 2018 2:29 PM

Megan Hnizdo, MBA — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 14:29:19 -0400

Great post, thanks for sharing!

Response by PO1 Derek Agnew made Apr 4 at 2018 5:44 PM

PO1 Derek Agnew — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 17:44:40 -0400

Great post. Starting this journey now!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2018 5:47 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 17:47:01 -0400

I had a disgruntled recruiter when I joined the Army. Seriously disgruntled - I think specifically about having been made a recruiter. Anyway, I couldn't blame anything on him - he tried to talk me out of it the whole time. I pretty much recruited myself.

Response by SFC Joseph McCausland made Apr 8 at 2018 11:23 AM

SFC Joseph McCausland — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 11:23:00 -0400

Thank You Andy, excellent article... all great points.
What I tell all my Vets is "be proud of your service, you were part of the 1% of us who saw Service to our Country as a higher calling and whether or not your military skill set matches that of the civilian world's, regardless, you were taught and lived things that will make you a success in whatever you choose to do".

Response by Maj Walter Kilar made Apr 25 at 2018 8:11 AM

Maj Walter Kilar — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 08:11:39 -0400

Also keep in mind that each one of us will have a different transition based on circumstances, and that no amount of advice and no transition seminar can cover all of these situations.

"Leave your rank at the door" sounds like great advice in most situations, but in some cases that rank is the only reason you were hired. Some companies look for that retired master sergeant to be the middle manager to translate between baby boomers and millennials. Some look for that retired colonel to get them connected into inner circles. Other companies do not want veterans to associate former rank at all.

"University degrees mean everything" definitely applies when the civilian job description is for a law firm, engineering firm, or a hospital, but it might mean less in customer service. In some jobs certifications are more important than degrees. In some jobs a master's degree is required, and in some a bachelor's degree plus certifications is better than a master's degree.

Be willing to rethink your relocation plans. If you are transitioning away from the defense industry, you might find it hard to find a job near a military base. If you plan on returning to the place you called home 20 years ago, keep in mind that things have changed. Also keep in mind that military members are not the only ones who move around every 2-4 years, and you might land a job or series of jobs that leads to your relocation every few years.

"Keep jargon off of your resume" is generally good advice, but I would say it is more correct to tailor the jargon to the specific job you are applying for. Some defense contractor positions actually want specific jargon to make it through their resume filters. If you are applying for a position outside defense sector, take out the military jargon, but consider keeping relevant jargon. For example, if you worked in cyber security and were a the battalion S6, you would remove references to battalion and S6, but you would use industry appropriate jargon such as CISSP, POAM, and COOP--and in this specific example you might not have to spell it out if there is no room on the resume.

In summary, your transition will depend on the situation, and you will need to shape all the advice you get from friends and seminars around your unique needs.

Response by SrA J Martin Jones made May 8 at 2018 7:52 PM

SrA J Martin Jones — Tue, 08 May 2018 19:52:20 -0400

When enlisting, really study your MOS or AFSC. I wanted to become a chef, so my AFSC was 62330 Apprentice Services Specialist. I was a cook. They tried to talk me out of it during BMT, but it was my dream job at the time.
After separating from the USAF, I went into the fast food industry. I never followed up on the "chef training". I ended up managing restaurants and/or training the trainers. Did it for 20 years. Cancer had me on the sidelines for about 3 years, but I was able to kick Cancer's ass. I finished my Associate of Applied Science degree, with an emphasis on Paralegal Law, from my hospital bed in 2008. Due to poor health, I was declared disabled, in 2011. Spent $25,000 on a degree I'm not able to put to use.
So, before you even enlist, seriously contemplate what your dream civilian job would be, then find the military equivalent and forge ahead.

Response by SrA Derrek Cherry made Jul 18 at 2018 5:58 PM

SrA Derrek Cherry — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 17:58:27 -0400

I have run into alot of fellow veterans that are still having trouble transitioning. Most of the time I run into civilians jobs that want to go around regulations and safety measures to get their work done! When I refuse they are puzzled! I felt a great sense of purpose in the military. Now a veteran on the other side one day just drags onto the next. I'm also a ENTJ personality type and I think other veterans like me have a harder time with it. I also have run into veterans that have gotten a good break and have been offered great positions in great companies. I do hope someday that I can find a job as a civilian working for the military, maybe then I can find that purpose that I lost!

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Aug 6 at 2018 1:00 PM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 13:00:52 -0400

NETWORKING is the KEY to your Success, You are never done with military as long as you have friends serving you must NETWORK will past and present and future and on top of it resume skills are a must and don't tell military stories on your INTERVIEW and most all make you know the proper dress for the job you are interviewing for you maybe be over qualified.