I was blessed to have spent this Independence Day Holiday among the Military Spouse Choir, also known as “the force behind the force” and their appearance on America’s Got Talent, a live Navy Band, and active and retired Military individuals at a Theme Park in Orlando, FL. One of the moments I liked was when the spouses introduced themselves and mentioned the name of their spouse and the Military branch of which they were a part. It was nice to see the different cultures of Military families, as the backbone of this country.

A significant amount of professionals who follow my posts are serving this beautiful country. If you are one of those amazing and brave individuals, I would like to dedicate this blog to you.

Often times I see individuals in the Military who are about to retire express common concerns and inquiries. Below, you will see the questions and my suggestions.

When should I start preparing for my transition?

Military professionals should start the process of transitioning to the civilian workforce “at least” one year in advance. This is the recommended time frame said by Military veterans themselves. You should start by preparing yourself in terms of branding, marketing, and networking towards your new job. All of this takes time, especially if you are pursuing a salary bracket that is above $80,000.

I would also recommend starting a binder with record of all of the achievements you have acquired thus far in the Military. Place these documents in a sheet protector within your binder.

This would be a good time to identify what jobs you would like to pursue. Other Military professionals have difficulties doing this. As result, their job search prolongs. Indeed.com is a great site to learn about what jobs are in a high demand, their location, and their market salary.

According to The Division of Labor Force Statistics, the length of time it took someone to find a job increased during and after the recession. The length of time almost doubled and a significant number of job seekers spent longer than a year.

Also, the older the person, the longer it takes.

How do I brand myself to civilian employers?
I am qualified to fulfill many positions, but how do I communicate that?

When you go out somewhere, you most likely will go with some form of payment (cash, debit / credit card). Also, you probably will take your driver’s license. If you are in the workforce, you must not be without a resume. This is your most valuable branding tool to pursue your ideal job.

Additionally, using the top professional social media site is invaluable for the amount of exposure you can have, which leads to opportunities, if used strategically.

Having these two powerful branding tools will convey your qualifications to your target employers.

Will I have to settle for a low compensation, because I was not able to earn a degree?

No, you will not have to settle for a low compensation, just because you did not earn your degree. Some employers equate a certain number of years to a specific degree. For instance, if an employer requires someone with a Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of experience, they will find equal value in someone without a bachelor’s degree, but with 7 years of experience.

Please feel free to share other questions or concerns you might have.

As you view my resume services, you will see several services I offer to assist and guide you towards your next goal. Also, you will find resume samples including a couple of Military Veterans.

Click here to select your new career portfolio.

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