After honorably serving their country, veterans sometimes struggle to translate their extensive military experience into civilian workforce skills. Matching similar positions proves challenging beyond obvious security contractor roles. Nevertheless, smart preparation and credentialing best exhibit capabilities aligning military service with parallel civilian jobs. Here, we will explore helpful guidance and resources for converting your background into successful post-military careers.
Inventory Transferable Skills
The wide variety of intense real-world experience gained in uniform intrinsically builds soft and hard skills. Start by thoroughly inventorying individual training completed, assigned duties, equipment operated, and software systems managed relevant to desired civilian fields. Look beyond job titles, noting vital transferable abilities like leading teams, assessing hazards, repairing complex machinery, delivering supplies despite obstacles, or analyzing geo-data. Highlight skills demonstrating work ethic, problem-solving, technical aptitude, and learning agility. Your bank of credible talents likely exceeds what civilian resumes showcase.
Research Target Job Openings
Research specific civilian position types and organizations of potential interest by browsing job boards or conducting informational interviews. Note frequently requested credentials, specialized certifications beyond bachelor degrees, familiar systems from your inventory also used by companies or non-profits. Cross-reference openings with your transferable skills inventory to identify matches worth pursuing and gaps requiring development or certification for bridging. Download several appealing vacancy announcements to concretely understand targeted industries’ needs and terminologies.
Obtain Credentialing Where Able
While military service alone carries weight demonstrating versatile competencies and security clearances, certifications provide tangible proof for recruiters according to civilian terminology. The people at ProTrain recommend reviewing opportunities to formally document your proficiencies through:
- Military COOL program that funds vocational certifications linked to your service branch and occupation.
- CLEP tests that convert specialized know-how into college credits.
- DoD branch transcripts formally notating extensive training courses completed.
Patriotic organizations like the American Legion also offer veteran career counseling and financial assistance in obtaining civilian career-aligned certifications.
Align Your References
Start early courteously informing key officers and direct supervisors likely to serve as future professional references for your transition plans. Discuss intentions to pursue related civilian positions so they can observe first-hand and later validate capabilities matching employers’ needs. Proactively ask if they feel equipped to discuss particular hard and soft skill competencies with recruiters. If gaps exist, politely request opportunities to practice additional job responsibilities before departing the service. These credible endorsements advocating your qualification go far with recruiters.
Tailor Your Resumes and Interviews
Strategically tailor resumes and interview responses to directly address civilian organizations’ priorities using familiar language noted from target vacancy announcements. Quantify accomplishments like replacing helicopter rotor equipment six days ahead of demanding operational deadlines. Emphasize security mindsets, work ethic, team coordination, safety adherence and how your experience strengthening military readiness preparedness applies to civilian contexts. Prepare stories relating transferable skills to employers’ worlds. Underscore learning agility embracing new systems and regulations. Show you speak their lingo and understand key performance indicators meaningful to civilian industries.
Continue Networking and Upskilling
Keep expanding networks, knowledge and certifications supporting long-term career goals through:
- Joining industry associations
- Building social media presence showcasing capabilities
- Reading trade publications
- Attending job fairs and virtual hiring events
- Considering internships rotating out of specialties
- Researching in-demand tech skills to self-teach
Proactively upskilling showcases commitment to excellence that aligns with military service values.
Conclusion
It simply takes a bit more forethought, packaging, and messaging for veterans to effectively translate the incredible breadth of applied skills, security clearances, discipline, and expertise the military instills into civilian workforce terms. Following this guidance, your military service time absolutely gives you an advantage over other applicants if consciously presented. Be proud of your capabilities and contributions while intelligently conveying how they enable transitioning into meaningful civilian careers aligned with honorable duty.
