Transition: What do you wish you had known or done earlier?

2014-09-23T15:24:15-04:00

There are already a few good threads on this, but each are few months old, and most give advice either too specific (headhunting firms and programs) or too general (use transition assistance). Here's some of what I've learned so far (and I still have a long way to go-still being on the fence and all)

As I've considered a transition I've learned the following points would have been helpful to know earlier:
1. Figure out what you want to do: A.) Buy the book "What Color is your Parachute?" By Richard N Bowles

http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/

B.) Review this listing of various employments careers and industries.

http://www.mynextmove.org/vets/

2. Get educated, use the post 9-11 GI bill benefit:

A.) particularly at a not-for profit school.

http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2014/09/22-veterans-labor-market-rothwell?utm_campaign=Brookings+Brief&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=14228200&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_C0nAN8sLv7uSyBQPA1a30Qx8ncqF2Uu2MrkkBR83OIIoDR3CPm8Z-XhP61_etWeeOezvE--ln0Y3TgbLbu7zHW5IWe7WKzayWOZ-rnr8Uatuv8SQ&_hsmi=14228200

B.) Potentially in STEM

http://www.brookings.edu/research/interactives/2014/job-vacancies-and-stem-skills#/M39580

C.) Or Possibly go for an MBA if you already have an undergrad degree
http://blog.militarytobusiness.com/2014/07/4-reasons-i-brought-my-military-uniform.html

D.) Think about the Return on your Investment (ROI)
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/03/which-college-and-which-major-will-make-you-richest/359628/

3. Go to TAPS (or service equivalent) class, twice. Once when you're thinking about separating, again when you're sure.

4. Network: Use Linked in and RallyPoint, add connections, talk about things you're interested in and care about, read articles, help friends. They will help you too. Work the network to find the hirer in the jobs you want.

Good Hunting.
-RIP

Picture borrowed from CPT Benjamin Faw from the linked article on Mil to Business Blog as best visualization of the concept. (let me know if you'd rather I take it down)
Links and proprietary info solely recommendations for veterans to consider.

Dick Bolles.com

I’m Dick Bolles. This is my site, and it’s designed to be a complement and supplement to my book, What Color Is Your Parachute: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters & Career-Changers, revised and rewritten each year, each new edition appearing in bookstores in mid-August. That would be the 2015 edition currently.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 27 at 2014 2:17 AM

2014-09-27T02:17:49-04:00

They medically retired me against my will, kicking and screaming. No ACAP, 90 days to hit the bricks and that included surgeries, excess leave (I still lost 20+ days), and mandatory medical appointments left and right. I was NOT set up for success.

Response by Elizabeth Malkin made Oct 24 at 2014 2:24 PM

2014-10-24T14:24:20-04:00

Capt Richard I P. , this is a great question! I work very closely with RP's partner civilian companies and educational organisations and one big piece of advice is START EARLY! As SFC Mark Merino mentioned, if you don't, or aren't able, to plan several months before you are transitioning out it is very difficult to flow right into a civilian job, especially ones in the location and industry that you would like.

Think about where you would like to be living and what you would like to be doing and then do some research and see what companies or roles might fit those requirements. Then login to RP and search for the job title or the company and see what other RP members are working in those capacities and use your RP network! Reach out to them and ask for advice and thoughts, how did they get there? Do they like what they are doing? What was the interview process like? Can they get you in touch with someone in their HR department, or better yet, can they refer you? RP has over 400,000 members many of whom have come from where you are to where you would like to go to so they are an excellent, welcoming, free and trustworthy source. Don't forget to check out the RP recruiters that are on the site as well. Many of our recruiters are veterans so understand the transition process well, and the civilian recruiters are on RP because they WANT to hire strong transitioning and veteran talent so reaching out to let them know that you are interested is a great step.

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Dec 8 at 2014 5:08 PM

2014-12-08T17:08:41-05:00

I wish i would of planned better Built my resume, Looked for jobs, talked with my civilian friends in the professional sector on the do's and don'ts, there are many more that i cant think of because it has been a couple years but i know it was a struggle because i was not as educated on civilian life as i should of been.