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A Transition in Your Future? Plan Ahead for Your Civilian Career

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Each year over 250,000 military personnel and families leave their respective service and enter civilian life. While some decide to retire, most people intend to start a new career. The goal is to make a smooth transition from your active-duty military career to a new career in the civilian world.

The Transition Plan

A military transition plan will give your civilian career direction, and help alleviate any overwhelming or confused feelings you may have about your future. The military provided you with a strong skill set and favorable job traits. A transition plan can arm you with the extra training you need to become a professional in the civilian workplace.

Career Training

Be confident that many of the managing, motivating and maneuvering skills you learned in the military are applicable to the civilian workplace. With this solid skill set in place, it's just a matter of building on this foundation and getting new job skills. Here's how you can plan ahead:

1. Make a list of your military skills -- Write down your job title and duties from your military service. Include detailed tasks that you were required to perform. Be specific. Incorporate skills, qualifications, experience, awards, education and anything that is relevant to your military career.

2. Determine how those skills translate to the civilian workplace -- Match your military skills to jobs or professions outside of the military. You can use a military occupational classification (MOC) guide to help you identify these jobs. This information is readily available via the Internet, resource guides and books.

3. Get the extra skills you need -- You can acquire the additional skills that will make you marketable in your post-military career. Choose something with long-term potential, such as a real estate salesperson, home inspector, small business owner, or medical billing specialist. Your military training and new career skills will make you a well-rounded addition to the civilian workforce.

Job Preparation

Once you complete your career training, you need to focus on your job search. This is a vital part of the transition process when you bridge your military career with your new civilian career. Find a school that offers job assistance to make your transition easier. You'll learn how to:

-Create an effective cover letter -- This is the first impression you provide to a potential employer. Provide a concise description of how your skills will apply to a particular position in a company. Make it clear how your military experience is applicable to this job and what unique experience you can bring to a company.

-Write a stand-out resume -- This is a culmination of your work experience. Create an effective summary of your job history by listing all of the relevant work you have performed. Try to avoid using military terms, jargon and acronyms that employers will not know. Make your resume reader-friendly. Incorporate any awards, recognitions and achievements.

-Conduct a successful interview -- If you create an effective cover letter and resume, this will be the next step. Make sure you are prepared by practicing your answers to common interview questions. Dress in appropriate attire and conduct yourself in a professional manner.

You've had a successful military career. Now is the time to take the next step and mobilize your talents. Making the transition from military to civilian life doesn't need to be difficult. With careful strategic planning and preparation, you can successfully move into the next phase of your career.

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