What’s Next: Suck It, Up Butter Cup

WHAT’S NEXT

Transition to Civilian Life

By Eve Nasby & Kristin Hennessy

Suck It Up, Buttercup!

Woah, isn’t that aggressive? Stay with us. The phrase “Suck It Up, Buttercup” is a response to someone complaining. It bears hints of irony and sarcasm, The phrase stuck because it rhymes, it’s memorable, and has a enough sweet in it to combat the sourness. Essentially it means, “ just get over it.” Wondering how on earth a column intended to help someone transitioning out of the military could start off this way? Well, you’re going from a strict military mindset into the corporate civilian world where people may be kum-bay-ahhing. Again, stay with us.

Enter “Operation Insta Biotech Exec”

Meet Jim Gruny, a retired Colonel in the United States Marine Corps. He inspired the title of this column. Gruny recalls his transition era. After many years of exceptional service as a Marine with a family, he realized it was time to take his experience and apply it elsewhere. (Well, not really elsewhere - only San Diego. But we’ll get to that shortly. It’s relevant.)

When Gruny decided to take on the next chapter, he put a few priorities in order. First, was location. He had his wife, their two kids, and even a grandchild. They were all in San Diego. When considering the question of where to look for his next career, he knew that if he wanted to KEEP this lovely family, he was keeping his wife’s needs top of mind. San Diego, it was.

So far, he’s following everything we recommend! Location, check! Industry-focused, down, check! Type of role, check! Gruny started his transition preparation in earnest about 4-5 months out. He felt he had a head start. He knew a few people that he thought would help him get his foot in the door and had a lot of transferable leadership experience. He expected he’d jump right into biotech at the level and role he wanted. Slam dunk? Not as-is. Not yet.

Spoiler alert.

Gruny kept running into the same problem. The leadership role he wanted (Director or above) required 5-10 years of industry experience, which he didn’t have. His expectations were high, and he didn’t want to start at the bottom. After 5 months of this, he got frustrated and gave up the biotech dream.

While he did pursue a rewarding career connected with the Marine Corps, he does wish he spent more time researching biotech as a career. In retrospect, he offers this invaluable advice to you.

1. Suck it up, buttercup and find a job.

If you have to start at the bottom, do it. Even if you’re the best leader the Navy or Marines has ever seen, no one hiring in corporate America really cares if you don’t have the transferable and applicable industryspecific skills.

2. Networking Naturally.

People tend to network to find people that will help them. But Gruny recommends to network differently. Instead of looking for people who can help you, focus your networking on how YOU can help people. He calls it “networking naturally”. And it’s worked for him to build mutually benefitting and lasting relationships.

3. Accept PTSD.

If you get injured, you get the injury fixed. Treat PTSD like any other injury or ailment. Don’t run away from it or ignore it. Just fix it. There are a ton of helpful resources throughout this month’s magazine that can help.

4. Start the transition process EARLY.

Most people, including Gruny, started too late. As a result, you don’t know what you’re getting into

5. Ask yourself a couple of fundamental questions.

A lot will impact your decision. Make sure you are clear on these personal questions! What’s most important to you? Where do you want to be or what do you want to do after you retire?

6. Set reasonable expectations.

Even if you were an outstanding leader in the military, you won’t have what they’re looking for to start at the top in a sector outside of the military. You’ll need to suck it up and start lower down to get that experience. Setting realistic expectations results in less frustration.

7. Treat transition like a job.

You can’t half-ass it and think your new career will come to you. Work at it every day and structure yourself like you would for any other project you worked on while on active duty.

Jim currently serves as the Community Liaison Officer at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, where each year 17,000 young men and women are trained to win battles, become better citizens, and earn the title...Marine.

Jim Gruny

We hope this no fluff advice is helpful. Questions, looking for resources or answers?

Reach out to Eve at:

eve@bandofhands.com www.linkedin.com/in/eve-nasby-given-hiring-expert

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