Building a Successful Career After Serving in the Military

Transitioning from military service back into the civilian workforce can be both exciting and challenging. The skills and experience gained in the armed forces are incredibly valuable, but finding the right post-military career path takes planning and preparation. Here are a few key steps to building a successful second career:

Assess Your Skills and Interests

Your time in the military provided you with a wealth of transferable skills that are highly sought after by employers. Take inventory of the technical skills, leadership abilities, problem-solving capabilities, and personal strengths you developed during your service.

Also reflect on your key interests, passions, and goals outside of the military context. Identifying the intersection of your skills and interests will help you target the most fulfilling civilian career opportunities.

Explore Career Options

Once you have a clear picture of your qualifications and interests, start researching different career fields and job roles that could be a good fit. Look at the typical duties, education/training requirements, job outlook and earning potential for various options. Engage in informational interviews and talk to others who have transitioned into your fields of interest to get firsthand perspectives. 

Plan for Necessary Education and Training

For certain career paths, you may need to obtain additional education, certifications or training to qualify for roles and increase your marketability as a job candidate. Map out what credentials or coursework you will need in order to gain the required knowledge and competencies.

Many educational institutions and training programs offer military-friendly benefits and options designed specifically for transitioning service members. The people at ProTrain.edu say that resources like the army COOL (Credentialing Opportunities On-Line) can help match your military experience with relevant credentials.

Build Your Network

Having a strong professional network can be invaluable when launching a new civilian career. Start connecting with former military colleagues and officers who have made successful transitions themselves. They can offer guidance and may know of potential job opportunities.

Attend career fairs, job seeker events, and join networking groups for your target industry. Many companies and organizations have veteran recruitment and support programs to assist with hiring and onboarding individuals with military backgrounds.

Job Search Strategies

When searching and applying for jobs, be sure to highlight your military experience and the valuable skills you can bring to potential employers. Clearly showcase leadership roles, key accomplishments, and specialized training you received during your service.

Transitioning out of the military successfully takes time, effort, and perseverance. But the tremendous value and expertise gained from military experience provides a significant competitive advantage over other job candidates.

Civilian employers understand and appreciate the leadership abilities, discipline, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that service members bring to the workforce. With careful planning and execution, your military service can be an outstanding foundation for building an extremely rewarding second career.

Culture and Lifestyle Adjustments

Besides the career transition, it is also important to mentally and emotionally prepare for the cultural adjustments that come with post-military life: 

  • Shift in Structure and Hierarchy – The highly structured environment and defined chains of command in the military are replaced with more ambiguous structures in the civilian workforce. 
  • Change in Work Environment – Instead of bases and active-duty posts, your workplace may be an office setting, remote environment or a job site very different from military conditions.
  • Support System Changes – You’ll be separating from the close-knit community and built-in support system within your military unit.

Conclusion

While these cultural and lifestyle shifts can take time to adapt to, having a clear post-military career plan and leveraging available resources will help make the transition much smoother. Stay focused on the tremendous opportunities ahead in your new civilian career chapter.