UnitedHealth Group is Honoring Veterans By Helping Them Transition to Civilian Life. What advice would you give to transitioning military?

My advice would be to start early, connect w people who have succeeded at transitioning before you, and stay connected with the mil community when you leave because you will miss it sooner or later.

Your military experience is useful, but not the 'magic bullet' many people have told you it will be in the civilian world. Just as promotions required schooling, certifications and recommendations - so will getting that job your looking for. Prepare to present yourself in at least as sharp a manner as you did for those promotion boards and that DA photo. Remember that all the acronyms you used to express yourself 'inside', have no place here chuck them, speak English, be prepared to explain why you are the best candidate for the job. Do your research about the company your interviewing with - show them the same respect you expect. Be professional, but friendly. Keep you answers short and absolutely truthful. No gorilla handshakes, firm but not crushing, make eye contact. Listen twice as much as you talk. Ask for someone to follow up with and do so.

I would offer the following advice to transitioning Military members:

1. GET YOUR COLLEGE DEGREE !!

2. Make sure your VA paperwork is finished, and (at least) turned in before you ETS.

3. Know (realistically) what you want to do for employment.

4. Don't count on the job that was promised to you back home. Have a contingency plan.

5. Especially junior enlisted, and junior NCOs: It's not always as easy as they make it sound to get that perfect job with your Army resume. Don't think that because you have two to three years of leadership experience, in the Military, that it is necessarily going to equate in the civilian world.

6. Have as much much money saved up as possible. The job market right now is not the very best, and many companies are not going to hire you just because you were in the Military.

7. Don't believe that four years (or more, in many cases) in a Military combat specialty, along with two years of college, is going to get you into a management job on the civilian side. Your ACE evaluation is great for college credit, it's not so great as a bullet on your resume.

8. Always be prepared for an interview. Have a suit, and wear it.

9. Try to stay upbeat and positive. It can be depressing if you don't get a job right away. Never let an employer see that side of you. Going to an interview unhappy will either NOT get you a job, or give a potential employer a "hook" to offer you less money than you may actually be worth.

10. Use whatever assistance is available to you. It's not a sin to accept the aid of a group that is there to help YOU.