Beyond military service
For many Veterans, leaving the military does not mean retirement. In fact, the majority of Veterans extend their working lives beyond military service. Depending on when you release, you may have years ahead in a post-service career.
You already have a strong foundation
So how do you translate your military career into satisfying employment? Build your new career on a bedrock of skills you learned in the military.
Your years in the military very likely gave you a core set of qualities that can serve as the basis of your job search. This foundation is made up of the many skills, approaches and habits you gained and refined during your military service. You learned: teamwork, communication, leadership, integrity, planning, work ethic and problem solving. The good news is, the skills you learned are among the most important qualities employers look for in a potential employee.
That said, your own particular skill set is likely different from any other Veteran. For instance, you might be an expert in equipment procurement who speaks English, French and Mandarin. Maybe you specialized in managing complex projects and know how to take full advantage of computer software designed to direct such projects. Or you might be a natural leader and communicator who sharpened these abilities in a variety of command roles.
The array and combination of skills, approaches and habits that Veterans have is as diverse as Veterans themselves.
The good news, the skills you learned are among the most important qualities employers look for in a potential employee.
Get to work
Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ll have no issues landing a job after your release. You will have work to do. And your success depends on the time and effort you put into it.
Use VAC benefits, programs and services as building blocks to help make the most of your strong foundation.
Maybe you need to train or go back to school to prop up your skills and find work you enjoy. If this is the case, you may qualify to get financial support for education and training.
If you’re dealing with illness or injury, you’ll have to manage that before you’re ready to find work. Rehabilitation programs can make it possible for you to regain your health and learn new skills so you are able to enter the workforce.
Many Veterans have either never looked for a job, or it’s been so long that they don’t know where to start. If that’s the case, you’ll have to learn how. You know that you have valuable skills to contribute, but how do you even write a resume that civilian employers will understand? And what do the job postings even mean?
Depending on your circumstances, you can make use of VAC career transition programs that will teach you to:
- put together a career plan,
- write a strong resume,
- look for job postings,
- prepare for interviews, and
- describe your skills in language that civilians understand.
Putting it all together
Your skills and talents were valuable in the armed forces. When shifting to civilian employment, you can proudly promote your assets there too. The combination of your knowhow and our backing enables you to get started on a fulfilling career in your life after service.
Get started on building your next career: Call us at 866-522-2122 to set up a transition interview.
Date published: 2018-10-10
