Military to Civilian: Tips for Making the Transition
The transition from the military to civilian workforce can be an exciting new adventure, but it does come with some challenges. Aligning separation dates, maximizing the professional potential of your military skills, and making relocation decisions are not simple tasks.
Unless the separation date arrives on very short notice, most service men and women have ample time to prepare for adjustment. The first step is to avoid the temptation to delay creating a career plan of action. Making good use of time beforehand is half the battle and the key to a smooth transition. Deciding what type of work you would like to do and what you are qualified for both require stress-free consideration.
The good news is that you have many options. It might be a good time to go back to school to improve the skills you have or to explore a new career altogether. It is not uncommon to want to take time off as well. On the other hand, if you are ready to enter the civilian workforce directly, there are dozens of resources waiting to help you. Your Transition Assistance, Family Service, or Career Resources office is a good starting point. They can help you find a sense of direction and advise you on what to expect.
The second step is to have a resume that specifically addresses the value of your military skills in relation to the civilian workplace. Many resume writers are experts in this field. There’s even a new designation for those who specialize in building military-to-civilian resumes called the CMRW, or Certified Military Resume Writer.
These are just two suggestions to help you get started:
militaryresumewriters.com
military.com
There are also an impressive number of recruiting companies in the military-to-civilian transition career business. They can guide you through the interview process and advise you on how to handle difficult questions. Many of these are made up of veterans who have walked the same path and provide credible advice based on first-hand experience. It can be comforting to know when you don’t know what to expect.
Bradley-Morris, Cameron-Brooks, Lucas Group, and Orion International are some well-known names with good reputations. Some of the most popular military transition websites available are offered by governmental and non-governmental entities. You will find an incredible variety of services on some of these sites:
MilitaryJobZone.com
Military.LucasCareers.com
Online support transition
VetJobs.com
They are familiar with the wide range of support you may need and many amazing extended resources. There are links to internet blogs just to make friendly connections with other veterans who walk in your same shoes. You’ll also notice a number of career fairs, salary calculators, newsletters, hotlines, and even more job search tips.
Some of these websites emphasize the fact that many employers wait only for those candidates with military experience, in case you are wondering if there is a demand for their experience. Also, neither site overlooks the need for family support and serves to provide other encouraging news, so it is not entirely work-related information.
As you can probably see, there are a host of resources available to help you make a smooth transition. It’s important to find the right fit and determine which of those sources have what you need to make it all happen. The fact is, it can happen, and by now, you have a better idea of where to start.