The 5 Most Common Military Transition Mistakes

I have been working with veterans and teaching career development skills to transitioning service members since 2007. In these years I have assisted thousands of veterans in the job search process as they make the switch to the private sector as a civilian employee. Below I have compiled a list of what I have seen to be the most common mistakes that transitioning service members tend to make in their job search.

Starting Too Late
In this earlier blog post, I detailed a timeline of the military transition process that started as far out as 18 months. There are some veteran's who don't have get the chance to start the transition process well in advance. However, if given the opportunity to plan your transition in advance, take full advantage of the time to get your plans together so you are not caught unprepared.

Lack of Planning
I meet veterans all the time who have no idea what career they want to target when they get out of the military. Writing a resume and entering the job search process without a target is like going fishing with the wrong bait - your chances of success are lowered immensely. Take the time time to figure out what you want to do, research the qualifications or education required in the field, and find out if what you want to do and where you want to live are a match in terms of job prospects.

Undervaluing Yourself
Whether you are a Chief in the Air Force or a Marine who has served for 4 years, by doing your research in advance, you will be able to identify your prospects and find out where your skills fit into the private sector. The military takes away the focus on the individual and highlights team accomplishments. While team work is important, give yourself credit for what you brought to the team and how you can add value in the private sector.

Not Taking Advantage of Resources
Most veterans don't take advantage of the multitude of resources that are available to them. For starters, go through your installation's Transition Assistance Program. It may be a week long, but it is full of relevant information that you can immediately apply to your job search. Also, don't let pride get in the way of utilizing the unemployment insurance benefits that may be available to you if needed. Check with your local transition office to find out what resources can help you, and take full advantage of all the resources to which you - as a veteran who served our country - are entitled.

Failure to Translate Your Military Skills
Keep in mind that less than 1% of the population has served in the military. It will be difficult for a potential employer to determine how you fit into their work environment if they don't speak your language. Here are some resources from a previous blog post that can help you ensure your ability to remove the military language from your resume and interview answers.

Pros and Cons of Discussing War Experience on a Military Transition Resume

U.S. veterans with war experience on their resumes are sometimes having a difficult time finding work. This is a subject that I find upsetting since I am thankful beyond words for our veterans who have been overseas fighting in any of the conflicts our country is involved in. However, there are many people out there who are engaging in passive discrimination when they discover that veterans have war experience.

Whether you disclose your overseas experience is your own choice and I would like to offer what I feel are the positive and negative aspects of listing war experience on a resume.

Cons
> The main reason veterans are being discriminated against is due to the fear of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Employers fear that the veteran employee may be suffering from PTSD and will therefore not be an effective candidate.

> Most civilians don’t know about all the screening, testing, and reintegration training that veterans go through before they transition back to their regular life state-side. This lack of knowledge may also be the cause of a bias against hiring war veterans.

> There are some people who are fundamentally opposed to the war effort in which you served. This is usually based on their personal opinions, belief, and political persuasion. Unfortunately, you have no way of knowing whether or not this could be an issue when you send in the resume.

Pros
> Being able to demonstrate leadership under the pressure of a battlefield situation is a testament to your management skills.

> In many fields such as law enforcement and intelligence analysis, the real-world experience from war makes you more valuable to an employer.

Whether you decide to discuss your war experience or not, highlight your most relevant military experience and translate your military terminology into understandable terms that civilians understand.

Four Barriers to a Successful Military-to-civilian Transition

Whether you have served four years or 24 years, the process of transitioning out of the military can be stressful. I am a believer that the more you prepare for potential problems, the more successfully you can overcome them if they arise. I have worked with thousands of veterans transition out of the military. During that time I have identified the following four common themes that seem to cause them the most trouble.

Lack of Focus
I hear many veterans describe themselves as a “Jack of all Trades, Master of None.” Veterans are often asked to wear many hats in the military. One of the biggest challenges they face is a lack of focus in their job search. You can’t define your marketable skills and research the job market if you don’t know what your target will be. Refer back to this blog post for additional assistance with focusing your search.

Faulty Marketing
One of the biggest barriers to successful transition is failure to translate military skills and job titles. I learned recently that only 1% of the population has served in the military. When you factor in spouses and family members, that leaves more than 90% of the population that has no idea what it is like to serve in the military. No matter how qualified you may be, if the person reading your resume does not understand your skills and accomplishments, they will move on to the next candidate. Some resources to help you translate your skills are available in this earlier blog post.

Fear and Uncertainty
I have met veterans who have told me stories of being deployed in foreign countries where their lives were in danger on a regular basis. These same – very brave – veterans have been reduced to an unsure, nervous wreck at the prospect of leaving the military. Keep in mind, a transition is a learning process. Take advantage of all the resources, information and experts available to you. You will learn from doing and you will make mistakes along the way. Just make adjustments and get yourself back in the game.

The Reality of Civilian Life
Some military veterans face challenges with adjusting to life as a civilian worker. The work ethic of your new civilian co-workers is often not standardized, and may differ from the standards you are used to in the military. There is no clear-cut rank structure in the civilian world, everyone is simply a Mr. or Ms. I discussed these challenges in detail in this earlier blog.

Statistics show that many veterans do not stick with the first job they take right out of the military. I know a retired Air Force Chief who went through 4 jobs within the first three years before he finally landed with one he really liked. Once again, this is a learning process that you will have to learn to adjust and adapt to as you gain more information. Stay flexible and open-minded throughout the process.