Top 5 questions the military community has about transition & job seeking

2020-04-28T09:02:35-04:00

It’s not news to anyone that transitioning out of the military is one of the most stressful times we face as veterans. It’s a time you’re taking care of our family, translating skills, trying to stop using acronyms, and generally feeling like you’re always playing from behind. One day I went from an Air Force career that I absolutely loved and had me on TDY to Kauai and Florida four months out of the year, to taking a TAP class filled with Airmen like myself who were in the final phase of transition. In 2012, when I landed with RallyPoint on my third transition, I started to see a trend of other veterans going through similar challenges and asking questions about what they should do. Of the 6M discussions on RallyPoint, here are some of the top questions that focus on transition and job seeking:

What are people with my MOS doing in the civilian world?

At this point, we’ve all seen our share of MOS translator tools. Imagine being a Chinook pilot or EOD tech and using one of those tools. It’s likely you aren’t going to find your civilian equivalent. RallyPoint members have consistently crowdsourced information within MOS groups to ask, “what is everyone doing out there in the civilian world?” The answer is – a TON. Just look at the people inside each of these groups. Many are Presidents, CEOs, and successful business leaders working in a wide range of industries. While there isn’t a silver bullet to tell you what you should be doing, there is some very helpful networking going on with members. When these folks do nail down a company and role that they're interested in, you can bet they’d like to see other veterans like them thriving in their career.

Is this company really “Veteran Friendly”?

One of my favorite RallyPoint discussions: “If a company states they are ‘Veteran Friendly’, what is your initial reaction?” One of the top responses – IT’S A TRAP (accompanied by the Star Wars meme). There is a lot to discuss here, but generally veterans are skeptical when an employer is aiming to hire 15,000 veterans without describing why it’s important to their business or sharing what roles most of these vets will be performing. We know we bring a lot of value to an organization and hope the employer can understand some of the unique skill sets we hold. For example, a Sea Bee, an Artillery Officer, and an Avionics Technician bring a wide range of skills to the table. There are some employers who really get the nuances of these roles and thousands of others. Primarily because they allow veterans to run their military outreach and help develop handbooks and guides for recruiters to better understand the range of skills vets bring with them. It’s ultimately on us as veterans to effectively communicate our experience, but we always remember the employers who have done that little bit of homework to know not to call a Marine a Soldier.

If you could do your transition all over again, what would you do differently?

There is some great advice living in these discussions. Right up near the top of the list you’ll hear many of us talking about wishing we spent more time researching civilian careers and sticking to a plan earlier in our transition. Many of us never sit down with that blank sheet of paper and start writing down careers we think we might enjoy. It’s so foreign to not have a set of orders coming from personnel command telling you where you’re going and what you’re going to be doing. You’ll also hear us talking about wishing we put the time aside to get the degree or certifications we needed for that job we are shooting for. This requires some serious advanced planning and yet another regret many of us have.

How do you know when it’s time to leave the military?

The military has a way of building a routine and safety net that is incredibly hard to let go of.
We don’t spend a lot of time worrying about the health of the economy, a 401K, rent/mortgage, providing healthcare for our family, or negotiating a salary. Beyond serving a mission greater than yourself and working alongside some amazing people, these benefits are a great way to keep you in. The RallyPoint community has provided thousands of answers as to why they left. Many, like those in the civilian world, reach a point in their career when their job no longer brings them the same excitement they once had. We’ve all had that one commander or boss who pushed us to the edge of making that decision sooner. Whatever the reason might be, we need to decide what’s best for us and not the military which is an incredibly new concept.

What is a “protected veteran”?

When I finally got to the phase of getting hired, I was asked to qualify myself as a ‘protected veteran’ during the on-boarding process. You can see the definition flow chart created by the DOL here. (https://rly.pt/ProtectedVeteran) This was not given to me in my first hiring package, so I remember thinking that it must be for something that I’m not qualified for, so I drove on without checking the box. I’ve shared a few laughs with other vets who had their own interpretation of this as well.

If you’re a servicemember, veteran, or someone who has gone through your own transition, let’s hear your advice on these top questions.

If you’re an employer looking to engage & hire more veterans, feel free to email our RallyPoint team here: [login to see]

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Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Apr 28 at 2020 9:08 AM

2020-04-28T09:08:59-04:00

What is a protected veteran? I have not even heard that term

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Apr 28 at 2020 9:44 AM

2020-04-28T09:44:32-04:00

Thank you for sharing this information sir

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Apr 28 at 2020 11:47 AM

2020-04-28T11:47:35-04:00

First you MUST Max out your Rally Point Verified Veteran Membershio and participate with helping others that are seek answers to questions that you may provide appropriate answers!!

Response by Lucas Buck made Apr 28 at 2020 12:39 PM

2020-04-28T12:39:51-04:00

Remember to not just "apply and pray" as well, as you transition. Find a job you think you'd like, research that company and who the hiring manager is, and be proactive. If you go out of your way to show how interested you are in a certain civilian career... the civilian recruiter will take notice and give you a chance. Then it's up to you to crush that interview!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 28 at 2020 2:18 PM

2020-04-28T14:18:09-04:00

- Definitely research prospective companies.
- Create a resume that translates into the business world. Take the resumes to job fairs.
- There are companies like GE and USAA who hire lots of veterans.
- Many veterans are hired into operations of a company, what it takes to run a business. Military leaders are blessed with the knowledge of OPORDs. That is a fantastic tool to conceptualize operations and organizing a team for intended purposes. TLPs is an effective way to communicate and plan.
- I have witnessed NCOs getting hired for skills like HAZMAT, Movement NCO, EO, and Risk Management.
- I encourage people to start a diary to record their achievements for the purpose of translating them to the endeavor of civilian employment. This also is helpful in the NCOER and OR process.

Response by SrA Nate Gustafson made Apr 28 at 2020 3:30 PM

2020-04-28T15:30:13-04:00

I would recommend to research what veterans assistance is out there and use it! It may seem like you have to go it alone but if you look and listen you can find someone to help. I know I didn’t, thought my skills would speak for themselves. I didn’t do bad, but it would have been easier if I would have asked.

Response by TSgt Manuel Perez made Apr 29 at 2020 8:14 AM

2020-04-29T08:14:01-04:00

If the military training and MOS/ AFSC/Or other military job descriptions and you seek a licenses, certified translate to civil jobs, FAA certified for Pilots and Mechanics.. thier a shortage now, and STEM personal are in high demand .

Response by Cathy Miclat made Apr 30 at 2020 4:51 AM

2020-04-30T04:51:34-04:00

Thanks for posting this, Brandon! I work with Vets2PM and we help transitioning military and veterans earn meaningful, lucrative post-service careers. I am Director of Career Services and I speak with Veterans every day (spoke with an Army COL yesterday) about their resume, LinkedIn profile, and in general, preparing for their job search.
Each of your topics is spot on, of course, and I'd like to add a little about each.
The correlation between MOS and what that translates to in jobs in the CivDiv - Yes, your MOS ensures you have depth in a specific area, however veterans have breadth of experience. Matching MOS to jobs in the CivDiv is usually disappointing. I suggest doing a Venn Diagram of sorts, understanding your expertise, and how it translates to what you want to do (what would you do for free...and what careers get you closest to that), coupled with your geographic preferences, and let's face it, what pay you require to get started. Take those results and begin your research at least a year in advance and start networking and conducting research that will lead you to what you want to do moving forward, and with which companies.
Veteran Friendly companies - I've done some consulting on this topic, and you are on point - Veteran Friendly means nothing if there are not a) programs in place to support it all the way down the organization and b) true support for veterans after they are hired. Questions to ask or information to seek: Does the company have a Veteran Resource Group? Does the company provide a mentor or formal onboarding program for Veterans? Does the company include a Veteran in job interviews? Does the company have a Veteran on the TA staff who manages Veteran resumes when they are submitted? I could go on and on here, and veteran hiring program or not, I believe Veteran Underemployment is a direct correlation to companies not understanding the resume when a veteran applies, and therefore they pass over highly qualified candidates...it's one of the reasons I'm a professional resume writer who specializes in transitioning military - to - civilian resumes.
Planning your transition LONG before the TAP class is key. Before a year out (of you have the luxury of knowing when you are transitioning / retiring), and always, really, you should be doing the Venn Diagram of what you look like post-transition. Get your resume in order, get your LinkedIn profile in order, begin to network and build that network thoughtfully - people who will be your peers, subordinates, and senior leaders in the industry you are interested in, and with the companies you are interested in, and in the geographic area you are targeting.
Advanced planning is key; one day you will transition. Period. Plan for it now because the military provides amazing resources to do this at little / no cost - and that is rare in the CivDiv. Take advantage of it. We train for the PMP and other certifications, and they are covered under most COOL programs, as are tons of certifications. Take advantage of that while you can. Credentials are hard to get under the GI Bill, so use the COOL funding while you can. Otherwise you are left with two choices post-transition: taking a free program that doesn't give you much latitude and proper time to plan for testing; or you are going to pay for a quality program. Nothing wrong in investing in yourself, as millions of people do, however, if you can get it for free...do that!
Thanks for your great article and I appreciate the opportunity to participate in the discussion!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2020 9:28 PM

2020-04-30T21:28:42-04:00

I'm a Reservist with a couple mobilizations completed so I've experienced the transition between military and civilian life a few times and can only speak to the first question.

I'm in one of those positions where my MOS directly corresponds to my civilian job. I love my career field and was happy to find that this worked out for me. I used to think that my military experience directly relating to my job description would be the biggest strength that I bring to my civilian position but I was so very wrong!

My civilian supervisors have asked me to participate on interview teams and on an admissions committee for our educational program associated with our department. My supervisors were supportive of my request to join the organization's Crisis Intervention Team, a group of individuals who are trusted to assist security while remaining calm and level-headed in situations with combative visitors. I've been asked to provide my opinion on various proposed changes in operations. Most recently, I was directly asked to staff our department's Incident Command that was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All of the skills that my supervisors saw in me were primarily developed through the military. It is so important for Veterans to know that a strong civilian employer will recognize the value of your experiences and skills as a whole, regardless of your specific job in the military. If there is a civilian career that interests you, do not dismiss the possibility because you think you aren't a competitive candidate based on a lack of experiences directly related to the career. Veterans should use the resources that are available to ensure the experience and skills are communicated to potential employers properly and with that, almost anything is possible!

Response by PO1 Jerome Newland made May 2 at 2020 1:07 AM

2020-05-02T01:07:38-04:00

My biggest problem transitioning was the day after, trying to figure out what to wear.

Response by CPL Alicia Catney made May 7 at 2020 9:04 AM

2020-05-07T09:04:44-04:00

I must say that today's Veterans compared to those who transitioned in the late '90s have more resources than I did. One big advantage is the use of Social media sites like LinkedIn and Rally Point. I was fortunate that I started attending Job fairs at Ft. Gordon and Ft. Bragg I heard about them from my Signal Officer who was taking a job with Northrop Grumman. I ended up landing a job as a Singars Radio Instructor at Ft. Bragg. I had developed a liking to computers my last year on active duty so I started taking courses that would make me likely to land a job outside of my MOS 31U. I went from being a Soldier on a Friday to showing up to my new civilian job on a Monday in Fayetteville North Carolina. I've been kicking butt ever since!! The biggest motivation for soldiers leaving for the civilian world now is motivation. Many have suffered PTSD and are struggling with depression and anxiety, but the hope is that most will be rated by the VA and that will hold them until they get themselves together and on their feet. I'm available to any transitioning 25U or 25 series who needs help with your resume, check me out on Linked In http://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-catney-9b273229

alicia-catney-9b273229

Response by CW2 Jalistair B made May 13 at 2020 1:59 AM

2020-05-13T01:59:27-04:00

Best thing to do when "transitioning" is to have your next career lined up before you leave. What I do now isn't remotely linked to what I did while in the military yet that position was secured about three months before ETSing. The best advice is not be like me and have so much leave saved up that you can't use it all before you ETS!

Response by PO1 Jerome Newland made May 13 at 2020 5:40 AM

2020-05-13T05:40:29-04:00

My PTSD created too many depressive cycles after discharge. I assumed that once I got out I would not have problems with it. So, on my discharge physical I did not mention I was being treated for it. But, the clinic knew and offered to help me with filing a claim through the VA. I declined because I was afraid my mental illness would make it difficult to find work. That was foolish. It made it difficult to keep work because of my mental illness. In 12 months I was fired from 17 different jobs. Some I couldn't get because I was over qualified. But most I couldn't keep. So, my advice revolves around that last physical exam. Whatever aches, pains, chemical exposures, traumas, incidents that scared you, nightmares, lack of sleep, prolonged sadness, loss of a comrade, any event in which you felt helpless /hopeless, that you still think about. Any medication including aspirin or tylenol for pain or headaches no matter how minor. You are not a wuss to document you. So if something happens down the road even decades later that can be traced back to your time in service, can help prevent a poor financial outcome when you might really need it. It may also qualify you and your dependents access to benefits you may not know about, or may be present in the future. When you get out file a copy of your DD-214 with your county clerk, a Veteran's Service Organisation of your choice, and make about 3 copies for yourself. Finally, make a will to cancel out or reinforce any wills made in service. So if something suddenly happens to you, nothing can interfere with the progressive distribution of your estate. Change beneficiaries on your insurance, do your change of address notifications with the Post Office. Register to vote. Good luck and God bless.

Response by LTC Philip Marlowe made May 13 at 2020 10:22 PM

2020-05-13T22:22:31-04:00

I want to answer two of the above questions. Here you go:

What are people with my MOS doing in the civilian world?
Good question and one MOST transitioning service members have no clue about. Even with the internet, most transitioning service members are woefully uninformed and seriously lack understanding about opportunities exist in what they ‘term’ their “CHOSEN PROFESSION”. I spoke with a Nurse on an evacuation flight and he mentioned he was considering separating. When I asked him what his plan was, he said he wanted to go work in a hospital. I asked him if he’d ever heard of the “Flying Nurse” program under the US Department of Corrections and he gave me that 1000 yard stare. I asked him what he knew about nurses working in OCONUS opportunities – again another 1000 yard stare. When I was done asking questions, I simply advised this MAJOR to stay on active duty because he had ZERO idea about what was available to him as a ‘nurse’ in the medical profession – and this is the NORM not the exception.

How do you know when its time to leave the military.

Frankly, there is no good time to ‘leave’ the military. All too often people make that decision in a moment of anger or stress, making it a decision usually during an emotionally charged time. NO decisions should be made under this kind of duress. HOWEVER, I repeat my answer. NEVER. The author of this question indicated “whatever the reasons might be, we need to decide what’s best for us”. I agree, but how about this. If you decide ACTIVE DUTY is not for you, why is it then you feel compelled to throw away an investment of time you put in? Whether its 4 or 6 or 8 or 10 or more years, WHY would you throw away that investment? If you are thinking of leaving the service, is it you want OUT of the military all together OR is it that its time to transfer to the reserve component (USAR/NGB) so you can pursue education or another career path or whatever it is you wish to pursue but WITHOUT ending your military career AND ending the opportunity to continue to ‘invest’ in that additional funding stream you will most likely NEED when you’re say – 60+ years old? I recommend service members look at their time in the military as an INVESTMENT – something you simply don’t throw away because you want to change something. My career spanned 50 years enlisted AC/RC, commissioned AC/RC and when I retired (fully @ 60) I started collecting a retirement when I needed it and interestingly enough, it even set me up for a 2d retirement income.... Something to consider I’m sure.

Response by SPC Benjamin Uminn made May 15 at 2020 12:04 PM

2020-05-15T12:04:33-04:00

I've never regretted exiting the military, but I will always wonder of how much better it could have been any program, counseling, 15 min exit video. Hell, a pamphlet.
Exited while the Regiment was deployed. I'm sure this is a common situation that technology has improved. But for there was a flight back to a post manned by a skeleton crew of soldiers from a National Guard Unit there to babysit boilers. I received a print out itinerary scheduling gear turn in. Was a very non-military way to
separate from the military. Not that I needed help, but I started to recognize life as not alone, but on your own. Teamwork has never seemed the same.
Three things to understand after your home. 1. It constantly feels like you just gave everyone else a four year head start. 2. The edge you're bringing home isn't permanent, it can get dull. You can quickly become just another tool hanging in the shed , rusting. 3. The professionalism you learned daily is not taught on this side. Expect poor performance and protect yourself at all times.
The opportunity to collect unemployment benefits is available to you. Take it. I lost my benefits after the military liaison said he'd finish a few things that are done on our new online systems. My mistake though.
Did you know the Montgomery G.I. bill expires. I did not. Ten year shelf life. Know what else I didn't know. How to use it. Where does it come from. How much is coming. If I'm in class all day, how will I earn money to support myself.
Don't have the time to see the guidance counsellor because I got to
get employed!! Damn H.S. reunion is a few months away and I am down 4 laps, lost the unemployment boost and have nothing to show for the last 5 years.
Once you were cock sure of every thing. Now you second guess away opportunity. Nothing is certain. 5 years turns to 10 turns to 20.

.

Response by Maj Barbara Hassan made May 27 at 2020 4:02 PM

2020-05-27T16:02:23-04:00

I’ve found it difficult to adjust to the looser ethics and values of most civilians... I really get disgusted with all of the users and connivers... ‘would appreciate any helpful perspectives to make interactions more tolerable...

Response by SCPO John Schneider made Jun 4 at 2020 8:54 AM

2020-06-04T08:54:28-04:00

One point which has a bearing on this conversation is that many if not all veterans tend to be a bit unsettled when first working as a Civilian. It takes time to acclimatize to a very different environment when first leaving the Services. Just being aware of this will make life a bit easier for you on your new job.

Response by SSG Jason Cooley made Jul 7 at 2020 4:18 PM

2020-07-07T16:18:08-04:00

stay in embrace the suck .....get your twenty in and enjoy the benifts after your out and check into the education programs while your on active duty and knock out at least the first two years of college or get a degree

Response by SN Willaim Gale made Jul 7 at 2020 4:24 PM

2020-07-07T16:24:38-04:00

when I got out of the Navy in 1963 the places were paying $1.00 per hr so I went on unemployment for 5 months till I finally got a job at the Compton, Calif Post office

Response by PV2 Glen Lewis made Jul 7 at 2020 4:45 PM

2020-07-07T16:45:34-04:00

I've read a lot about Joan of Arc but I don't remember such a detailed description of her transition from heretic to saint. Thank you

Response by SGM Charles Twardzicki made Jul 8 at 2020 6:35 PM

2020-07-08T18:35:35-04:00

Biggest item is: what can you do for them! How can your military experience and skills make them more successful? They hire people that fit into the company and can make an improvement.

Response by SFC Philip Ogden made Jul 8 at 2020 6:36 PM

2020-07-08T18:36:49-04:00

They say they want military really don't want us. Waste of time with those companies

Response by MAJ Tom Harper made Jul 9 at 2020 7:31 PM

2020-07-09T19:31:10-04:00

If you get to the interview don't sell yourself short. If you were in the military you know how to show up on time, you can complete what you were instructed to do, you can give a class on something you knew nothing about a year ago. That last one is a biggie and I can barely drag it out of veterans when they are interviewing.

Response by SFC Louis Willhauck, MSM, JSCM, and ARCOM made Jul 19 at 2020 2:13 PM

2020-07-19T14:13:38-04:00

I guess it depends on what you are looking for. A few months before I retired (1989) I started working evenings part-time as a Receiving Clerk in a warehouse. After I retired I applied for a computer operator job at the same company (1990). A few months later (1991) I applied for a Data Analyst job and while doing that I picked up programming (also had some simple programming experience from the Army) and my job description expanded (1992) to include that as well. When Y2K (remember that?) started heating up I took a job in Arizona (1998) at twice what I was making. (The place I was working offered more ($10K increase) but not enough... and I got a little pissed that if they could offer me that to stay, why didn't they offer me that all along?) Anyway, I changed jobs one more time when the company I was working in Arizona got taken over by a band of corporate pirates. This new job (2000) was as IT Manager. In 2003 I decided it was enough and totally retired.

It seems one must do what feels right for them.

Response by SGT Benny Deshazer made Jul 21 at 2020 1:07 PM

2020-07-21T13:07:17-04:00

I'm a retired military spouse looking to renew my military ID card can you help?

Response by SFC Richard Baerlocher made Jul 25 at 2020 6:04 PM

2020-07-25T18:04:59-04:00

I retired in 1986 as a Food Service Instructor, and Logistics Specialist. I had 2 MOS's that I kept current because of their similarity. My wife, now ex, wanted to return to Oregon. I didn't really care where I retired as long as I was with my family, and could provide for them. I went to the Oregon Employment office to get a listing of jobs, and went to them and applied. One of the businesses told me the military doesn't show me much. Others said I was over qualified. I finally was hired by someone that had a maintenance contract with the McNary dam to provide daily maintenance at the visitors areas. Then I started college, and then started working for the Post Office. If you are in logistics, apply for logistics jobs prior to your retirement or separation. There are many companies looking for qualified logistics experts, and the military has the best.

Response by PFC Tim Bertsch made Feb 23 at 2022 7:38 PM

2022-02-23T19:38:35-05:00

before you get out of service go get your teeth work done ,and eye wear make sure you have copy of all your medical records if you were hurt when an where dates make sure you keep them in a safe place go over your records before you process out ,because when you get out uncle sam loses alot of records that is no 1 you do list dont wait

Response by PFC Steven Kleiner made Feb 24 at 2022 7:46 AM

2022-02-24T07:46:49-05:00

Transitioning out is incredibly hard. When I left the military I had no resources to help me. That is why I am a mentor with ACP and at the company I work for I am a veteran advocate.