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5 Things I Learned Transitioning From The Military To A Civilian Career

Estimated reading time ~ 3 min
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After eight years of living on Air Force bases and doing things “the military way,” I experienced culture shock when I returned to the civilian world. I left the military in 1993 and moved to Florida because I wanted to finish college and pursue a different career. Suddenly, making sure my shoes were polished didn’t matter anymore, my rank no longer appeared on my sleeves, and touting that I was part of a reconnaissance aircraft troop had no meaning. My identity felt lost.

Nigel Roberts USAF (edited)

I set out to find a job, but articulating the value I could bring to the civilian workforce proved to be a challenge. I worked on my high school newspaper and was always a news junkie. So, I decided, eventually, to pursue my interest in journalism. Though it took me a while, I learned how to compete in the job market and adapt to a civilian workplace. I worked at a law firm as a legal assistant while working my way through college. Later, I wrote for the NYU student paper. My first full-time staff job was with the Beacon Newspaper in DeLand Florida. Now, I am the education editor at NewsOne. Getting to this point in my career proved to be a difficult but rewarding journey. Here are a few tips that could help other transitioning veterans hit the ground running.

1. Learn how to speak civilian.

You’ll get blank stares talking about your “AFSC” (Air Force Specialty Code). The explanation will get even more confusing if you say something like, “I was responsible for prepping the birds on the flight line every night.” Translate your résumé and drop the military jargon during interviews. Describe your experience in terms your nephew could understand. When it comes to fitting into the office culture, addressing superiors as “sir” or “ma’am” is cute the first few times, but may become off-putting after a while. In many informal office settings, bosses prefer that you call them by their first name. Oh, and avoid using military time. Confirming a meeting at 14-hundred hours will raise eyebrows.

2. Highlight the civilian value of your military job experience.

Interviewers often didn’t make the connection between my eight years as an aircraft sensor systems specialist and the jobs I sought. So, it was necessary to spell-out the transferable value of my military experience. My job required troubleshooting complex aircraft systems and electronic equipment, which demonstrated strong analytical skills. And the fact that I oversaw flight line maintenance crews said something about my management and leadership abilities.

3. Underscore the intangible skills developed in the military.

My First Sergeant taught me a valuable lesson that continues to serve me well as a civilian employee. I made the mistake – once – of showing up 10 minutes late to a training appointment. The First Sergeant chewed me out, and, ever since that moment, punctuality has been a personal obsession. The military instills many other intangible skills, such as tenacity and perseverance, that civilian employers value. Be sure to highlight those skills. Don’t assume that an employer understands the traditions and rigors of military service.

4. Consider military-friendly employers during job searches.

Not all workplaces are military-friendly. The office culture at one place I interviewed was unabashedly anti-military. I was sometimes asked to defend U.S. military actions, such as the 1989 Panama invasion. To my surprise, I discovered that some supervisors believe negative stereotypes about service members. One of them told me that vets tend not to show initiative, but instead, wait around until they’re told what to do. On the other hand, there are scores of companies, including many large corporations, that seek out veterans. To help identify those organizations, check out G.I. Jobs, Military Times, and Forbes. Employers such as Home Depot, Verizon, and General Electric have programs specifically for veterans.

5. Research civilian careers before leaving the service.

While I enjoyed my Air Force job, I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. You could waste valuable time and resources if you start trying to figure out your post-military career path only after you leave the service. Planning is essential, as the military underscores. Accordingly, develop a plan that will include education or training if necessary – taking into consideration what education benefits you’ve earned. At the same time, reach out to people who are working in the field you’re interested in pursuing. You may be surprised by the positive and informative responses.

Images courtesy of Nigel Roberts

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