1

Plan ahead and network

1

Learn to translate your skills and accomplishments. Learn the language of your new career.

2

Don't give up. Seek out people in place to help such as your VSO and your local DVOP. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!

3

Use the skills you learned in the military to make a better workplace, not to measure those around you in the workplace. Civilians don't do things the way fellow veterans would. That doesn't make it wrong or even more inefficient, it just makes it different. Apply your skills to learn the best way in your work and them build from there to make it better.

4

Before getting out of service make sure what you did in service is related to outside work

5

It's more difficult than anyone thinks.

6

There needs to be more transitional services to head off "job shock." Some military fields are so specific that skill sets would need to be evaluated. Assessments can also assist in finding career clusters and further refine specialty from there. There are some equivalency sites, but these are no substitute for standardized assessments and guidance from career professionals. This does not mean someone that is called a Career Counselor that have some certification from a private organization, but someone that has training and at least a Masters Degree in the behavioral sciences. Carefully investigate schools for accreditation(s) and recruiting/placement. Advocate to your Congressional Delegation the need for any school that takes Veterans Benefits, are required to have companies recruit at their school(s). Also, any company that states it has a specific veteran recruitment effort demonstrate the eligible and actual hire on the VT100. Have a redress committee to review denials for being "over qualified" in which companies cannot hide behind confidentiality. Have a review for any veteran that has gone as a Chapter 31 and not received job offers in at least six months of graduating and investigation after 12 months or more of no being placed. Schools must demonstrate a better than 95% placement of graduating veterans. Have all certifications investigated and ready for testing upon graduating. Require certifications or licensing curricula as part of program before approval for entry. Make sure your degree is honored in the business community. Require companies that recruit to recruit at all schools that have veteran students.

7

Get all you can before you sign out. Once you are out you have no access to base.

8

Get as much education as you can possibly get!!!!

9

Know that you'll have to start from the bottom again and work your way up.

10

Get your resume up-dated and a copy of your DD-214 ready. Make sure your security clearance is also up-dated.

11

Learn how to translate military training/experience into civilian opportunity. Completely different language.

12

If you are required to have a license or certification to do on the outside what you did while you were in........GET IT

13

hard to find a job

14

1. You're going to have to start from scratch not only on your first job but all others thereafter. 2. Not everyone welcomes you with open arms. 3. You may have to cross train. 4. If you haven't served IN COUNTRY, it seems as though you shouldn't
have served at all.

15

As much education as possible. Have a plan in place. Research possible jobs.

16

Use your discipline, experience and skill to propel you into your next career. Be honest with yourself that it is demonstrated experience needed for the job unless it is a trainee position. If it is a trainee position, then apply yourself with vigor--working all hours, keeping the civilian rules and realizing that those with whom you work with do not necessarily share your values or traditions.

17

Get educated and, if necessary, certificated.

18

Find a career/job that you love

19

Remember the confidence the military instilled in you. You are one of the elite. Remember the discipline instilled in you from your military service, you were part of the best team on the planet, don't be afraid to bring that experience with you and apply it in the civilian world. You served honorable, carry yourself that way. Don't loose the core values you gained from the military. Civilians will see all this in you and you could inspire them to carry themselves in that manner.

20

Don't give up. Remember that you are not alone. Don't be afraid or too proud to ask for help. You should find an outlet that works for you when it comes to dealing with those "dark times". Also take full advantage of whatever veterans' groups are in your area.

21

Get as much education as you can get before getting out.

22

plan ASAP.

23

Use the discipline aquired in the military to pursue the outside workplace. Be prepared to have to start at the "bottom" and work hard to climb the ladder.

24

Be patient and take advantage of your GI Bill

25

First of all: Know yourself. Some folks are college-oriented while others are happier going to a vocational school to learn a trade. Either way try and use your GI Bill and add to the abilities you already have. Also, if you have trouble with getting your VA benefits as I did please don't be discouraged. I had to appeal to the President of a college before I could get their VA guy to get off his duff and get my GI Bill payments which were 6 months late. As a result, I helped dozens of other folks who where "lost" by an incompetent person. Please whatever you do don't give up trying!

26

Patience. Loads of it. Depending on the job or career, the lack of discipline, organization and unwarranted whining requires it. Seldom is there proper management and follow up of nuisance in comparison to the military. Also, have a degree, certification for a trade or take government job assessments prior to transitioning.

27

Break it down, all that you learned - there are so many components of your job that translate to civilian work. Time, inventory and project management. Team building, recognition, professionalism - you bring many skill sets. The biggest difference is you no longer wear a uniform or salute. Boundaries are different, but you can adapt by focusing on what's important to others. While we have served, others don't necessarily appreciate that - poor them, they have missed much. But, we can also learn much from them. Be discreet, be aware, try not to judge and do your best.

28

The civilian world operates differently, find a place of employment that is vet friendly. Take advantage of your education benefits, but be prepared to have to deal with some on campus that are against the military. Most of all, Register your DD-214 at the clerks office of a city near you.

29

Put together a good resume and educate yourself on all the VA benefits available to you.

30

Gather your own information

31

work with your local VA Rep at your unemployment office and your VA Rep at your county building to know what benefits that are available to you. I wish I would have known these things when I got out.

32

Take the time to find your benefits, I was in a small outfit with no one to advise us so we didn't learn of our benefits .

33

Get with a vocational work advisor and really learn what you want to be when you get out. Dream big and go for that job. Don't settle for a job that just pays the bills.

34

I would encourage anyone in the military to purpose some form of education that would be unrelated to what he or she is doing at present within the military. It is a preparation of sorts that might help against the potential shock of finding yourself no longer active duty military.

35

Have a job lined up

36

Try to get a Bachelors degree before you get out. It opens a lot of doors.

37

Try to acclimate with society as quickly as possible - get a job, volunteer, etc. Stay busy. Remember, it does get better.

38

Have a good plan on what you are doing post military. Know where you will be living. Find local support groups in the area you plan to move to and get involved with them. They know the area.

39

Be prepared to adapt yourself to a different culture. Civilians are not like and do not have a military mindset. If you do not understand or accept this you will be very frustrated.

40

Military experience was routinely sold as the sole indicator of a successful post military career. My experience has been invaluable, however, this experience is only one tool in a tool bag that should contain many tools. Your military experience should be matched to a desired career trajectory and the education to follow it up. Your experience, coupled with documented education, coupled with a desire are all required to meet most persons goals.

41

Have a job lined up!

42

Unless you are financially secure upon separation, stay in until you can reach retirement. It will provide you and your family with a more financially secure future in a uncertain private sector employment market.

43

1) Make sure that you get all of your documentation and medical paperwork. Make sure to create a resume before leaving service that translates your work into understandable civilian skills. 2) Get involved with a veteran community prior to existing service as to access life outside the military. 3) Establish all basic needs and resources to help with stabilization before you get out of service.

44

Keep records of everything you did in the military. Get these tasks translated to civilian language, it is amazing how civilians can not relate to military experience! Also be aware that you may not understand what they are saying at times as well. Continue your civilian education in some manor, not only does it show initiative, it also helps with civilian verbiage.

45

Translate Military Jargon to understandable "Civilian".

46

Use LinkedIn to connect with your colleagues and especially your bosses ASAP, or you might never catch up with them (or remember each other well enough to help).

47

Have a solid plan on where you will be living and how you will be maintaining income once you get there. Seek out job centers, job fairs, temp agencies as quickly as possible so any debt you may have doesn't compound itself. If you haven't done so already, and you have the opportunity to do so, get a degree/certification before you get out. It will only help you in the long run.

48

Definitely have a good amount of money in your savings and if you plan on using your GI bill to go to school don't hesitate to use it.

49

The civillian world has no place for us stay in if you can

50

in the civilian world everyone thinks they are the boss. their is no way to see who is actually the boss, and they don't care about your training in anything applicable to the civilian world.

51

If you go to school do your research to ensure its something that will actually provide work for you. Also get used to civilians lax work ethics. Most of them don't care about what they do for a living and most will only do the bare minimum.

52

Prepare for the process and for what you plan to do long before the separation/retirement.

53

Financially prepare for the long process of finding meaningful employment. Dependent upon the residing area and employment aspirations, finding the ideal career can take time. Having some financial reserves for this finding period or proactively securing a job prior to separating is advisable. Stepping away from regimentation can be exhilarating, but the civilian financial reality can be stressful. Remembering the Boy Scout motto will help. Be prepared...

54

Network & seek support from other vets who have already transitioned and don't be afraid to seek out vocational rehab and VA healthcare along with employment services through your state. There are many resources available to help vets who are transitioning. Building a support network is crucial in being successful. Preparing yourself as much as possible ahead of time should also not be overlooked. If you were hurt when you were in and suffer a disability get your records and apply. Appeal if you're rejected and never give in.

55

Learn new life skills and understand some military life skills need to be adjusted to new conditions.

56

Find your passion and pursue it full force.

57

Be ready for your life to change from the order and structure of the military to suddenly having a life with none of that structure! When I separated, it took me a while to adjust from having a great job in the military, and being one of the senior people in my office, to suddenly having nothing! I had to look for a job, and ended up taking a 'step backwards' for my first job post-military. I eventually started a great career, but that interim time from the military to when I started my career was a bit of a tough transition. So take your training and everything else you learned in the military, and keep looking and moving forward!

58

Be prepared.

59

Be prepared when exiting the military. Have a plan and a job opportunity lined up.