Your Guide to How to Transition from Military to Civilian Work

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Your Guide to How to Transition from Military to Civilian Work

Self-knowledge is one of the most important qualities you need when transitioning from military to civilian work.

Do you have an understanding of who you are and what your strengths and weaknesses are? This will help you as you search for the right job.

In this article, we are going to go over some tips that will help the transition go smoothly.

Do you want to understand how to transition from military to civilian life better? Keep reading to find out.

Transition From Military to Civilian Job

We are going to cover a few things to think about when looking for a civilian job. Take a look!

Strengths

What are your strengths? Take time, sit down and think about what your skill set is. Think about what you did well in your military experience and before the military. These are the skills you performed well at.

Typical strengths one might see from working in the military are as follows: meeting deadlines, following directions, operating under pressure, staying highly disciplined, working well with others, and keeping a strong work ethic.

These are things you might not think anything of, but they are what make you unique. Do not take them lightly.

Think About Your Interests

No matter what your duties were in the military, sit down and write down a list of things you like to do. Highlight the ones you particularly enjoy and are good at.

Include work-related and military items as well as weekend activities and hobbies.

List 5 activities and interests that motivate and energize you.

This will give you direction when deciding what career path to pursue or if you want to further your education by gaining a trade.

Research Civilian Careers

Once you have a better understanding of what your interests and strengths are, take some time to match careers that align with them. One of the worst things you can do is to choose a job or career that is not fulfilling or satisfying to you.

Make sure it lines up with what you enjoy and are good at.

The more time you spend here trying to find something that matches what you are good at and what you like, the more successful you will be in the long run.

Don't rush into something.

Talk to employers and employees. Find out what jobs people enjoy and what companies are good to work for.

Do your research and don't rush into anything. You want to make sure you find a job that will be a good fit.

Do You Want to Go Back to School or College?

After your research, you may decide that the career that interests you the most requires more training or education. Do you have the ability to delay entering the workforce?

Can you go back for extra schooling or do you need to work right away?

Think about this before making a decision. You may find a college or degree program that suits your interests and needs. Find something that will enable you with a skill so when you graduate, you can enter the workforce.

Specific colleges set up internships and work placements for you. Think about choosing one of those programs because they set you up for success.

For veterans, there is a bill that helps with education. Honorably discharged vets can get some help. Look into this before signing up for school or deciding you cannot afford it.

Create a Resume of Your Accomplishments and Skills

Employers are going to want to see a complete history of your accomplishments and skills.

They want to see what you earned and what you are skilled at. Be detailed and explain what you did that resulted in a positive outcome whether that was safely transporting people or being a great leader.

Accomplishments are unique, and they show how you helped contribute to the company or organization's overall success. Focus on these when you are building your profile.

These aren't job duties or responsibilities but how you went above and beyond in your line of work.

This will make your profile pop out!

Research Employers

Knowing about a company and understanding their values and mission is essential when job hunting. You also want to understand their corporate culture, benefits, and hiring decisions. Make sure you do your research before applying.

Did you know that some companies are more vet-friendly than others? Research and find out if the company you are interested in working for is one of them.

Crossover

The great thing with civilian and military jobs are there is plenty of crossovers.

When you are looking to build your CV or resume, focus on the crossover skills you gained in your previous military job.

Your new boss or potential boss will be keen to see how the talents and skills you had will apply well to the new position you are seeking.

A fighter pilot could serve as a commercial airline pilot or anyone with experience as a communications specialist might be interested in working for a radio station or newspaper. An officer could be a leadership coach. The ideas are endless.

Match up the skill set you have from your military experience and don't settle.

Think outside the box.

Create a resume that highlights these things.

Final Thoughts

Some of what you have learned in the military will transfer to your new job and some will not. Be aware of this. There is a different communication style, and you need to understand that. Adjust your style accordingly to the job.

In this article, we went through some of the critical factors to consider when you transition from military to civilian jobs.

You want to make sure that you do your research before applying for a job. Make sure you know that the company or work culture is a good fit for you. Assess what your interests and skills are. Highlight them on your resume.

If returning to school is something that interests you, go for it! There may be financial aid for you. Research all your options and then make a decision.

If you want more help about next steps, read this article we wrote about jobs for veterans!