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Beyond the Military – Career Preparation for Service members and Veterans

Whether you’re planning on separating from the military, retiring, or are a veteran and are working towards your next professional goal, there is a lot to consider. Factors like your branch, military occupation, family situation, timeline, location, discharge, and more all play a big part in how you approach the search and where you’ll land; fortunately, support and resources are available to help you on your journey.

Category
Preparing for College & Career, Exploring Careers, Advancing or Changing Careers, Job & Career Training
Topics
Career Help, Exploring Careers, Getting a Job, Mentoring & Advising, Veterans

Preparing to Leave the Military; More than 1 Year

  • Build a relationship with your command and career assistant advisor/career counselor or a trusted service member organization like those linked below to help you identify post-military goals and how to get to them
  • Communicate ideas and thoughts with your family to make sure you’re on the same page and to identify which needs you’ll have post-separation
  • Take on new assignments, participate in trainings/workshops, or earn certifications to strengthen your eventual civilian resume
  • Look into the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program or SkillBridge Program to prepare for a separation
  • If you’re active duty, consider the Idaho National Guard or reserves as a way to balance military and civilian life while working towards a military retirement
  • Take some of Next Steps Idaho’s Self-Assessments & Planning Tools and browse Careers to get direction on post-military opportunities
  • Explore some of the job boards to get a sense of what’s currently out there

 

Preparing to Leave the Military; Less than 1 Year

  • Continue working with your command and career assistant advisor/career counselor to work through your post-separation plans
  • Explore Next Steps Idaho’s Self-Assessments & Planning Tools and Career Resources to help you prepare for your post-military goals
  • Network with professionals and employers in-person through events hosted by organizations like those linked below or online by using websites like LinkedIn
  • Identify who your veteran representative is to navigate the job landscape using your benefits and available services
  • Develop a professional online persona by using an appropriate email address for applications and correspondence while also cleaning up your social media
  • Understand how to prepare professional documents like your cover letter and resume
  • Capitalize on your remaining time in the military by earning any additional experience and certifications you can 
  • Use some of the military crosswalks below to translate your military roles and responsibilities into civilian ones
  • Identify some of your professional skills and technical skills as well as those you’d like to have
  • Start searching through online job boards and create a list of target employers or apply to jobs if you find some you like
  • If you have a spouse, have them check out My STeP military spouse transition program for resources and tools

 

Post-Separation; Less Than 1 Year

  • Safeguard your discharge documents
  • Stay in touch with service members who can be a support system and outlet during your job or training search
  • Prepare your wardrobe for interviews, networking events, and the industry you’re pursuing
  • Become familiar with the interviewing etiquette
  • Use the crosswalks linked below to represent your skills and experience for a civilian audience
  • Draft a 15- to 30-second elevator pitch that reflects your brand and states your background, what skills you have, and what you’re looking to pursue after the military
  • Obtain a copy of your Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) document to help you prepare resumes, cover letters, and applications as you work
  • Work with your veteran representative to understand your military benefits and career or education possibilities
  • Continue looking through job boards and reach out to the organizations linked below to access professional services that match your needs and aspirations
  • If you are married, connect your spouse to one of the supporting organizations linked below to tackle this together
  • Be cautious of organizations or institutions that are looking to take advantage of your military benefits

 

Post-Separation; More Than 1 Year Removed

  • Continue networking and connecting with military-focused organizations like those linked below to maximize your benefits and skillsets
  • Reconnect with familiar service members to offer and receive support and advice
  • Regularly revise your resume and update your LinkedIn profile to best reflect any developments you have had
  • Refer to your Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) document to highlight accomplishments
  • Refine your elevator pitch on what you did in the military, what you’re looking to do after your exit, and what qualifies you for that goal
  • Look into using your education benefits through post-secondary institutions linked below or receiving training for a career with Idaho Launch
  • Be cautious of organizations with predatory benefits claims practices
  • Remember to stay confident through the job-hunting process and find outlets to balance yourself

 

Things to consider Identifying and Translating Skills and Behavior into Civilian Sector

All the experience and skills you build during your time in the military will give you an advantage in the civilian world and prepare you for new roles and challenges. Regardless of what you pursue after the military, it would be helpful to begin translating some of your military-acquired skillsets and phrases into civilian language. For example, if you tell people about your ‘company’, it will mean different things to servicemembers and private sector colleagues. Consider drafting an elevator pitch that covers what you did in the military, what you’re looking to do after your exit, and what qualifies you for that goal.

If you need some additional direction, there are online tools like the military jargon translators (see below) that help match your MOC/MOS/AFSC/Ratings to public and private sector occupations and professional summaries.

Your resume will be significant in showing what you did during your time in the military and your cover letter will give you a chance to introduce yourself, your resume, and your qualifications to employers. Put together documents that you think highlight your experience, skills, and professional profile using civilian-language equivalents where possible. Also, make sure to tailor these documents to the position you’re applying to and the employer for the best shot at being considered. Before submitting any of these documents, share them with a friend, your veteran representative at the Idaho Department of Labor, or local veteran-focused organizations for feedback and suggestions where possible.

 

Helpful links

 

Military to Civilian Translations

 

Local Idaho Organizations and Agencies

  • Idaho Veterans Chamber of Commerce
    • A 501c3 non-profit organization that provides wrap-around services and a navigation network hub for service members, veterans, and military families. IVCC offers community resources for career seeking, education, housing, entrepreneurship, workforce management, and family & wellness.
  • Wyakin Foundation
    • An organization that offers a sense of community, support, expertise, and comprehensive resources to help post-9/11 veterans who are currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a certificate or degree-earning program. Open to all veterans regardless of VA Disability Rating.
  • Idaho Department of Labor
    • A public organization that connects job seekers with employment opportunities and administers state labor laws. They offer services and resources for over 130,000 Idahoans who are veterans of the Armed Forces.
  • Idaho Launch
    • An online career and training research hub that matches skillsets with employer needs. Training funds are available for Idahoans and can cover partial or all training costs.
  • Mission43
    • An initiative from the JA and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation to connect Idaho’s post-911 veterans and military spouses with education, employment, and engagement opportunities.
  • EQUUS Workforce Solutions
    • A comprehensive workforce development services provider that supports Idaho communities by connecting career seekers with employers and education. EQUUS is a partner of the America Job Center Network and funded in part by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

 

Military to Civilian Employment Support

  • Hiring Our Heroes
    • An initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation focused on connecting military members with civilian employment
  • Hire Heroes USA
    • A national organization with a dedicated branch in Idaho that assists veterans and military spouses with employer connections, brushing up interpersonal skills, and crafting professional documents & profiles for the job hunt.
  • USO Pathfinder Program
    • The USO Pathfinder Program offers professional development services to active duty, Reserve, National Guard, and military spouses during military service and in preparation for military separation.

 

Idaho Post-Secondary Institution Veteran Services

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