What’s Next: Master Your Transition

WHAT’S NEXT

Transition to Civilian Life

By Eve Nasby & Kristin Hennessy

It’s Your Time to Master Your Transition

CHANCE VS CHOICE

Let’s be honest. Just the thought of transitioning from the military into the civilian workforce is stressful. Jeff is a prime example. He struggled with thoughts and worries, such as “Will my skill set REALLY be transferable?” “Will I have to start near the bottom and work my way up?” and “Will I have to take a pay cut?”

These are normal fears. After 25 years in the military, Jeff S., US Navy Commander, was determined to find a civilian job that he enjoyed going to everyday, made good use of his skills, and paid a comparable salary to what he made in the military. Most importantly, he didn’t want to leave this important career milestone to chance.

It is overwhelming just to determine where to start. But, in order to get to a destination, you need to have a clear idea of where you want to go. Jeff understood that he needed to show potential employers that his skills were clearly transferable. He knew he needed to sharpen his interviewing skills to position himself as invaluable. Although Jeff’s mindset was right, he knew he couldn’t execute on all of these needs alone.

WATCH & LEARN THE PROCESS

Think about a watch. Open up the back of a watch and you’ll notice hundreds of individual parts, all machined to perfection. They all work in unison. However, if just one part is faulty, the entire watch stops functioning. The job search process is no different. There are many critical aspects of the job search process that need to be mastered. If all are not cranking in harmony with each other, it can sabotage the entire process.

To ease your transition from the military world into the civilian workforce, here are 5 practical steps you can take:

1. Get clarity on what career paths excite you and

which positions are the best fit for your skills.

Finding a good fit requires that you have clarity on the role ‘career’ plays in your life right now. For example, do you want to climb the corporate ladder or is work-life balance more important? Think about what REALLY matters to you.

2. Develop your personal brand. Branding isn’t just for companies. Taking time to create a personal brand helps highlight your unique skills and sets you apart from the competition in a clear and effective way.

3. Leverage and expand your network. 90% of job offers come through your personal network. It’s important to be laser focused on who you are trying to meet, how you present yourself, and how you can be of service to others.

4. Upgrade your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn

profile. It is important to highlight the skills you have developed throughout your military career in a way that showcases how your skillset transfers into the civilian world. Be mindful to avoid military terminology that is not easily understood by people in the civilian world.

5. Develop your skill set so you can win the

interview. Interviewing can be intimidating to many people. However, it is simply a skillset that needs to be developed. Mock interviews can be a helpful way to build confidence with how you describe your expertise in a way that showcases your value in the civilian world.

Easier said than done? Without help, maybe. Fortunately, you do not have to navigate this transition alone. There are plenty of support options available for transitioning military members to find a great job that makes excellent use of your skillset, compensates you at the level you deserve and provides you with a sense of purpose.

GETTING HELP HELPS GET YOU HIRED

There are many available resources that support transitioning senior military leaders. At the Hired Executive, a team of executive coaches will guide and support you through the transition process. Having a coach or team of coaches will help you gain clarity on this next phase of your career, develop a rock-solid mindset, optimize your LinkedIn profile, upgrade your resume, develop a personal brand, hone your networking skills, master the interview process, and maximize your salary negotiations.

With the help of The Hired Executive team, Jeff was able to build his confidence and get into action. They helped him modify his LinkedIn profile, which resulted in him being contacted shortly thereafter by a recruiter from a multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate. Support from their interview coaches boosted his confidence and belief that he could win whatever interview he was engaged in. True to form, within 8 weeks of starting the program Jeff received a job offer that he was very excited to accept.

If you are a senior military leader transitioning within the next 6 months, we’d like to invite you to a complementary 45-minute strategy call where we will do a deep dive into your situation and help you make a plan for your career transition. To book your call go to: https://thehiredexecutive.com/senior-military/

For more information or help transitioning, contact Eve Nasby at eve@bandofhands.com, 619-244-3000.

Need help with your resume or interviewing skills? Reach out to Eve at: eve@bandofhands.com

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