Starting a Military to Civilian Job Search

Have you recently separated or retired from the armed forces? Or maybe you've been out of the military for awhile and never had great success finding a position that was a great fit for your skill set. Regardless of the reason, looking for work is a full time job and seeking employment in the civilian world when you've been in the military for an extended period of time can be scary. Here are 5 tips that should help you when you begin to make the transition into the civilian world.


#1: Know how your military skills/job experience transfers into the “real world”
You worked really hard while serving our country and employers know that. However, if you can’t translate the work that you did into civilian terms, it will be very difficult to find a job. The truth is, employers don’t know what an E3 or NCO does and if you use too much jargon the Hiring Manager will lose interest because you’re not speaking their “language.” You wouldn’t tell your 90 year old grandmother what you do at work using military terms—you’d explain it to her in a way that she’d understand. The same is true in a civilian job interview. Speak of your experience in a relatable way that would make sense to someone without a military background.

#2: Use bullet points instead of paragraphs on your resume
Resumes are hard to write. They tell YOUR story with your responsibilities. If you want people to look at your resume, write it in bullet points. Most HR professionals take 4 seconds to skim a resume and if they don’t see what they are looking for you don’t get a second glance. If your resume is written in paragraph form and full of military terminology, most Recruiters won’t even look at it because they will see it as too challenging to read.

#3: Don’t be afraid to start over
If you were an Electronic Technician in the military but didn’t really like your job, this is the perfect time to start over! Think about your passions, motivations, and what truly drives you to discover what you should do in the civilian world. Make sure your passions and skills are translated clearly on your resume.

#4: Use your network
Reach out to people who you worked with in the military to find out where they are working now. Do they like what they’re doing? Find out if the transition was easy or difficult for them. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of people who were in the same spot you’re in now. It will help calm your nerves and make the job search process less nerve-wracking for you. If they like what they’re doing, ask if they can find out if their company is hiring and get the name of someone you can send your resume to for consideration. Most people find a job through networking, not by applying to random jobs online.

#5: Practice makes perfect
There are plenty of websites to help you with practice interview questions. Role play with a civilian because they can help you understand if you are using too much military jargon. It is so important to ask for help as you make this transition and practicing with people will make you feel confident as you tackle your job search.

Looking for the right job, putting a resume together, practicing your interview skills, and networking are crucial to finding the right job. Don’t shut down and don’t be disappointed! Asking for help can be hard, but if you put your outstanding work ethic to good use in the job search process, it will pay off and you’ll accomplish your goal.