Military to Civilian Career Transition: A Veteran's Job Search Guide

Navigating a Career Change: A Guide for Veterans Transitioning to Civilian Life

The shift from military to civilian life is often challenging. Our research and conversations with veterans who have either recently transitioned or are in the process of doing so have confirmed this. This guide aims to provide a comprehensive resource for veterans seeking to navigate the civilian job market successfully.

This resource is regularly updated with insights from transitioning service members, veterans already working in civilian roles, and experts specializing in veteran career transitions. Our goal is to offer a valuable and evolving tool to assist you.

We appreciate your service. While fully understanding the emotions associated with leaving active duty is impossible, we recognize that transitioning to civilian life can be daunting. This guide focuses on simplifying the job search aspect of that transition. We are here to support you every step of the way. Let's begin.

Understanding the Military-to-Civilian Transition

Military members leave for many reasons. A 2023 survey of junior officers revealed that over 40% cited factors such as:

• Lack of autonomy and control over their future
• Poor leadership
• Better job prospects outside the military
• Negative impact on family and personal relationships
• Lack of fulfillment

While these reasons are significant, they don't make the transition to civilian employment any easier. Leadership coach and former U.S. Army Commander Jason Roncoroni explains that the core issue is connection. Leaving the military is difficult because it disrupts our innate need for belonging. The military provides purpose, comfort, and security through shared experiences and empathy.

The anxiety and urgency to find a new job may stem from our emotional need for belonging, not just financial security. The gap between military and civilian life is vast, making the transition feel like moving to a foreign country. Different languages, traditions, and social structures exist. We seek assurance that we belong somewhere after leaving the military.

Transition services are often fragmented. The Department of Defense (DoD), the Veterans Administration, and the Department of Labor all play roles, adding complexity to an already challenging situation. While service members receive extensive training at the start of their careers, the military may only allocate a few days to a week to prepare them for civilian life. We aim to provide job search support during this transition.

Getting Started: Setting Up Your LinkedIn Profile

If you don't already have one, now is the perfect time to create a LinkedIn profile. With a vast membership, LinkedIn is an invaluable tool for your job search. Optimizing your profile is crucial. Here are key sections to focus on:

• Profile Photo: A professional headshot creates a personal connection with recruiters and hiring managers. Research shows profiles with photos are viewed more often. If you don't have a professional photo, ask a friend or family member to take one against a simple background. Use a clear, high-resolution image without hats or sunglasses.

• Banner Image: The banner image at the top of your profile significantly increases visibility. Customize it with a personal image or graphic. Many veterans use images related to their military service, but you can also choose something that reflects your civilian interests and career goals.

• LinkedIn URL: Create a custom LinkedIn URL to make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to find you. Minova's LinkedIn Profile Review tool can help you change your URL, or you can do it directly on LinkedIn.

• LinkedIn Headline: This is prime real estate. Your headline, name, and profile photo are the first things people see when they search for you. Think of your headline as a formula: Target Role | Relevant Skill 1 | Relevant Skill 2 | Relevant Skill 3 | Mini-pitch illustrating how your military skills benefit a company (e.g., "I help X do Y").

  Former U.S. Marine Matt Disher's headline is a great example of how to concisely display your role, skills, and veteran status.

  Focus on keywords and the value you bring. If you're unsure what to include, start by stating your military role and the opportunities you're considering (e.g., "U.S. Army veteran and military logistician seeking roles in supply chain management").

• "About" Section: This section allows you to tell your story. Share why you joined the military, your transition experience, and what you seek in your next chapter. While LinkedIn is professional, it's also about connection. Write in your own voice, sharing your passions, motivations, and goals.

  Include:

  • A high-level overview of your military experience and its relevance to your target roles.
  • Notable accomplishments from your military service or prior experiences.
  • Skills developed in the military and how you plan to use them in your next role (technical skills, language proficiency, leadership experience).
  • What you learned and what inspires you to use your talents differently.
  • End with personal details to humanize your profile.

• "Experience" Section: This section functions like a resume. List your military experience and use bullet points to describe your responsibilities.

  • Focus on accomplishments rather than just listing duties. For example, instead of "Commanded a company on a deployment to Afghanistan," write "Successfully transported a company of 200 soldiers to and from Afghanistan with millions of dollars worth of equipment and supplies."
  • Spell out acronyms. Many recruiters and hiring managers won't know military acronyms.
  • Use strong action verbs.
  • Include relevant keywords (skills, certifications, technical knowledge).
  • Frame your military skills as transferable skills.

After creating your profile, seek feedback. Minova's free LinkedIn Profile Review offers personalized recommendations for optimization.

Understanding the "Open to Work" Banner

Some LinkedIn users have a green "Open to Work" banner. Whether you should use it depends on your situation. If you are fully transitioned and actively searching, use the banner to signal your availability to recruiters.

If you are still active duty or have a future separation date, you can set your "Open to Work" status to be visible only to recruiters. This removes the banner but keeps you in recruiter search results. You can then explain your situation and availability in your "About" section.

Avoid using your headline to say you're "looking for opportunities" as it takes up valuable space. The "Open to Work" settings already communicate this.

LinkedIn Resources for Veterans

Familiarize yourself with LinkedIn's veteran-focused groups, organizations, and thought leaders. Here are a few examples:

• LinkedIn Groups: US Military Veterans Network, US Veterans, The Value of a Veteran
• Veteran Organizations and Services: We Hire Heroes, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), AMVETS American Veterans, IT Veterans, Hiring our Heroes, Hire Heroes USA, HireMilitary, Ex-MilitaryCareers.com, Veterati
• Veteran-Focused Thought Leaders and Influencers: Anthony “Tony” Gilbert, Jessica McPherson, Kevin Greene, Matt Disher, Kandi Tillman, Michelle (“G-I”) Gardner-Ince, Amanda Huffman

LinkedIn also offers U.S. veterans a free one-year Premium Career Subscription, including access to LinkedIn Learning.

Part 1: Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life: What's Next?

You've decided to leave the military. You've served your country, fulfilled your commitment, and your separation paperwork is approved. Whether you have months of service remaining or are counting down the days, returning to civilian life is a significant step.

This transition involves more than just the job search. It's about reconnecting with family and friends, finding comfort in your new community, building connections, creating a new structure outside the military, establishing healthcare services, and adjusting to a different pace of life.

Even for the most resilient individuals, this transition has challenges. Lindsey Thomas, Owner of Thread Coaching and Consulting, LLC and a former U.S. Navy officer, emphasizes the importance of a strong support network. "It can be a really lonely place... I encourage people not to go at this alone."

This time is also an opportunity to reflect on what you want your career and life to look like. Here are some recommendations, along with free resources to ease the transition (from a job search perspective):

• Soul-Search and Reflect:

  • Determine your Motivation and Personal Values: The most fulfilling professional experiences align with our values. Use a values workbook to identify what's important to you and how your values can be expressed in your new career.

  • Reflect on Your Skills: Use a skills workbook to document your military skills and how they translate to civilian roles. Identify skills you want to develop.

  • Brainstorm Your Interests: Aligning your skills and interests leads to greater job satisfaction. Use an interests workbook to identify your passions and past enjoyable projects.

• Develop Your Career Pivot Strategy: Leaving the military, especially if it's the only career you've known, can be overwhelming. Be patient and avoid feeling pressured to do everything at once. Develop a career pivot strategy with foundational steps to empower you. Military transitions take time; everyone's journey is unique.

  As we like to say, we don't change careers; we build careers. Many careers are non-linear, full of unexpected turns.

Next Steps: Brainstorming and Researching Career Options

After determining your priorities, research employment options that match your values, skills, and interests. You might not know which roles to apply for yet, and impatience is normal. However, this research is essential.

• Establish Career Goals: Setting goals helps you progress in your professional and personal life.

• Understand Your Work Style: Identify your work style (competitive vs. cooperative, adventurous vs. cautious). Knowing your work style helps you identify suitable roles.

• Define "Career Passion": Your initial reasons for joining the military (serving your country, seeing the world, being part of something bigger) may still guide you. However, passion in your work can manifest differently over time.

• Research Career Options: Brainstorm and document potential career paths.

  • Brainstorm appealing areas (healthcare, technology, nonprofit, consulting, sales) and companies. Consider companies that have caught your eye or industries where veterans have succeeded.
  • Use a job application tracker to organize companies you're interested in.

• Use Job Boards for Research: Job boards (Recruit Military, Hire Veterans, LinkedIn, Indeed) are more than just job listings. Use the search bar to enter your skills and interests to discover unexpected job titles.

• Informational Interviews: Talk to people with experience in roles or careers that interest you. Informational interviews are for networking and learning.

Remember, the career you're looking for now may not be the career you have in 5-10 years. Avoid pressuring yourself to find "the one thing." Focus on long-term objectives and create detailed plans for the next year or two, allowing for evaluation and adjustment.

Analyze Your Transferable Skills

The skills you've gained in the military are highly applicable and marketable to civilian careers. These transferable skills are talents and abilities learned through work experiences, schooling, professional development, volunteer work, and hobbies.

Also, consider the positive outcomes of your military service that you bring to an employer. These can be framed as skills and used in your cover letter and interview answers.

Focusing on the Career Pivot

Pivoting from the military to a civilian career is different than a civilian changing corporate jobs, but there are similarities. Any career pivot requires action to build a solid foundation.

If you need more experience, consider these actions:

• Take a class, boot camp, or certification to gain training and foundational skills (sales, customer success, data analysis, app development, program management).
• Start a side project to hone your skills and build your portfolio.
• Volunteer to gain experience and contribute to a cause you're passionate about.

The pivot is easier when you connect with others making the same transition. Many people document their experiences through social media and blogs.

Part 2: The Job Search Process

You've critically analyzed your skills, interests, and experience, and how they apply to civilian careers. You've conducted informational interviews, researched roles, and narrowed down your interests. Now, it's time to create a job search plan.

Planning Your Job Search

A plan is essential. It helps you narrow your focus and allocate time effectively. This leads to a less stressful and more manageable job search.

Using a Job Search Planner, list the roles and industries you're interested in and the companies you want to work for. Set a weekly timeline for your job search. The Job Search planner can help you track your progress and stay accountable.

Organizing Your Job Search

Planning and organization are key. As you apply for multiple roles, it's too much to keep track of in your head.

Saving Roles and Identifying Themes

As you explore job boards, note any recurring themes. Do the roles share a common industry (engineering, manufacturing, healthcare, aerospace)? Are you seeing similar job titles (Logistics Manager, Supply Chain Manager)? Identifying these themes helps you focus your search.

Learning to Read Job Descriptions

A job description (JD) is a company's "request for proposal." It outlines the role's requirements, duties, responsibilities, and required skills. Your resume and cover letter should explain why you are the best match.

Think of a JD in four parts:

• The Requirements: These are the essential hard skills and minimum qualifications. Turn each requirement into a question: "Do I have experience with X?"

• The "Nice to Haves": These are preferred but not essential qualifications (e.g., "SAP experience a plus"). Don't be deterred from applying if you meet the other requirements and the job interests you. Aim to match 70-80% of the requirements.

• Role Description and Responsibilities: Pay attention to the order in which duties and responsibilities are listed. The tasks listed first are likely the most frequent.

• Company Information: Research the company's history, size, and hiring manager (if available on LinkedIn).

Identifying Skill Gaps

Depending on your target role, you may need professional development to close the gap between your current skills and the job requirements.

For example, a Logistics Manager role might require proficiency in ISO quality systems or lean manufacturing principles.

This is normal. Career transitions often involve upskilling and training. Many free and paid resources are available online, including courses, boot camps, workshops, and YouTube content.

Upskilling also boosts confidence. Learning something new and applying it to your job search combats impostor syndrome.

Identify what you need to learn:

• Use a Job Application Tracker to compare job descriptions and identify recurring skills.
• Conduct a personal SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) to develop a plan.

Closing the Skills Gap

There are many ways to learn. Here are some starting points:

• Free Training for Veterans
• Free IT Certification for Veterans
• Free Online Training Courses

Deciphering Unknown Terminology in Civilian Jobs

Civilian workplaces use many acronyms. Understanding these terms is crucial for your job search and interviews. Learn common corporate acronyms to familiarize yourself.

Unconventional Ways to Search for Job Roles

LinkedIn and job boards are great starting points, but explore other resources, especially those for veterans.

There are three approaches to finding opportunities: a people approach, a company approach, and a job approach.

Tap into Your Network

Networking and referrals are the most effective ways to land a job. You have more resources than you think. Remember that "loose ties" and "weak ties" in your network often yield the best results.

Reach out to:

• Close and extended family
• Friends and acquaintances
• Former service members
• Former classmates and alumni
• LinkedIn connections
• People you've interviewed with
• Former colleagues

Thanking your network is essential.

Joining Digital Communities and Bookmarking Job Boards

Many resources have strong digital communities where you can ask questions, get advice, and find mentorship.

Part 3: Resume Tips for Service Members

The resume is crucial for a civilian job search. Knowing what to include to showcase your abilities can be confusing.

A well-structured resume should include:

• Contact Information
• Target Title
• Professional Summary
• Work Experience
• Education
• Certifications
• Skills

Should You Tailor Your Resume for Every Job?

Yes. Your resume is your sales pitch, responding to the job description's "request for proposal."

Tailoring increases your chances of getting an interview. Have a "primary" resume and make strategic modifications to align it with each JD.

Tailor your resume based on four aspects:

• Skills: Match the company's language for hard and soft skills.
• Industry: If there's an industry gap, explain how your skills are transferable.
• Product & Service: Tailor your resume to reflect your familiarity with their product and target audience.
• Stage: Align your skills and experiences with the company's growth stage (startup vs. established enterprise).

Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

An ATS is software used by employers to track and organize candidates. It's a digital filing cabinet, not a "bot" that rejects resumes. The most important thing is to ensure your resume is "parsable" so the text can be extracted.

Part 4: The Application and Interview Process

Optimize your application process for the best results. Your resume is your sales pitch, but you need to get your foot in the door.

Understanding the Interview Process for a Civilian Role

The civilian interview process differs from military interviews. It involves several steps:

• Application Review
• Phone Screening/Initial Meeting
• First Interview (with your direct supervisor)
• Second Interview (with team members)
• Background or Reference Check
• Job Offer

Prepping for an Interview

Prepare for a wide range of questions.

Many veterans enter the technology sector. Research common tech interview questions.

Second interviews often involve behavioral and situational questions:

• Behavioral questions ask about past experiences ("Tell me about a time when...")
• Situational questions ask about how you would handle hypothetical situations.

With remote work, you might interview via video.

A Note About Impostor Syndrome

Impostor syndrome often creeps in before and during the interview process. Combat it by acknowledging your accomplishments and preparing thoroughly.

Part 5: Negotiation and Compensation

Salary negotiations can be challenging for veterans transitioning to civilian careers. Military compensation is transparent and based on rank and time in service.

Compensation is more than just salary. It includes benefits like health insurance, paid time off, 401K contributions, and professional development stipends. This "total rewards" package may be new to you.

Best Practices for Compensation:

• Understand Your "Total Rewards": Negotiate all potential benefits.
• Research Fair Market Value: Use salary websites to determine a fair salary for the role.
• Be on the Lookout for Unfamiliar Benefits: Civilian benefits can differ greatly from military benefits.
• Know the Market Rate: Don't accept the first offer without negotiating.
• Know Your Points of Leverage: Leverage your skills and experience, and your research on market compensation.
• Know What You Can Negotiate: Use a Compensation Checklist to identify negotiable benefits.
• Negotiate "In Person": Negotiate salary over the phone for real-time conversations and clarification.

Reach Out for Assistance

The military-to-civilian transition has many moving parts. We want to support you and make this transition as seamless as possible.

We're excited to champion your success as you embark on this next chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key steps veterans should take when translating military experience to a civilian resume?

Veterans should pinpoint transferable skills, use civilian-friendly job titles, and emphasize leadership experience. It's vital to highlight achievements and quantify them whenever possible. Modifying the resume for each job application by incorporating keywords from the job description can further improve relevance and clarity for civilian employers.

How can veterans effectively network in the civilian job market?

Veterans can initiate by connecting with fellow veterans already in civilian roles and joining veteran-specific professional organizations. Attending industry-related job fairs and meetups can also prove beneficial. Leveraging social media platforms, like LinkedIn, to develop a professional profile and connect with potential employers offers another valuable approach. Ensure you articulate your skills and experiences using language that civilians understand.

What resources are available to help veterans with career counseling and job placement after military service?

Various organizations provide career counseling and job placement assistance to veterans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers support through its Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program. Furthermore, nonprofits like Hire Heroes USA and American Corporate Partners offer personalized career coaching and mentorship services. Veterans can also explore services provided by local veterans' service organizations and career centers.