1

Know how to articulate your skills learned in the military and put them into civilian terms. Know what civilian jobs are most like your skill set DO NOT mistake finding a job like yours in the military...instead rely on your SKILL SET!

2

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.

3

Use the services offered at the Transition Center

4

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.

5

1. Ensure that soldiers understand their educational benefits to include Voc Rehab. 2. Start researching a career path while still serving - jumping into any degree program without a plan sets up failure with a short shelf life of benefits 3. Get civilian resume guidance before separating to translate the military terminology and jobs into what will be understood in the workforce 4. Military translators should not be relied on 100% - it is not always apples to apples - look at the skill sets comprehensively - 11B offer so much to any workplace - they are not destined only to be truck drivers or entry level positions

6

You should regard your military service almost as a college degree. Today a college degree really says that a person has commitment and follow through. The same is said for honorable military service. Odds are you have to deal with many people from different cultural and geographical background than yourself.
Many people think enlisted personnel are given a task to do and governerd down to the details. Explain that this isn't the case. That while missions or task come from the command, it is up to the enlisted leaders to figure out how to do those task properly.

7

Research how the skills you acquired and used during your active duty can transfer over to civilian positions and emphasize those skills to employers and how you succeeded with those skills.

8

Start early and highlight skills that are good for civilian employers.

9

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.

10

Be ready to answer interview questions about your service. Make certain to "translate" the skills you learned in the military into something tangible for the interviewer to imagine. This will help the interviewer figure out, during the Q&A session, where you might fit in the company. Also, this will give him/her a better assessment of your skill set(s).

11

Networking is the most important thing you can concentrate on. The bigger you network the more options and info you will have.

12

That they consider all their options and know what their future career plans are.

13

Get as much education as you can before seperating which will open more job opportunities. Also make sure you have an excellent resume, the military has people who can help put one together.

14

Lean on family for help if possible. Otherwise utilize other Vets who have did this before you

15

Have a plan before leaving the military. If you are transitioning to university then get your application in to schools before exiting the military, if you are transitioning into a civilian job then update your resume and send it out approximately two months prior to your transition date. Also, save your vacation the last year so you can take your last month as paid leave and use it to go on job interviews, find housing, etc...

16

Have a plan and have someone help you translate your military skills into terms that civilians can understand.

17

Go to school. It is hard to translate military service into the civilian world. Start applying for jobs prior to complete separation.

18

Fake it till you make it. One would be surprised on what one is capable of doing when placed in the situation. You may not be the most qualified, but apply anyway.

19

Learn what resources are available to you before you separate (i.e. resume, job transition, healthcare).

20

Spend time with friends and have been in the military and understand what it was about. I found that most military clubs tend to put the emphasis on making money.by selling tips and taking a lot of veterans paychecks. Also excessive drinking which won't solve any of your problem.

21

NETWORK! I never would have landed the position I am in if I didn't already have my name established with the company before I even applied . Getting a job has much to do with your qualifications, but that doesn't mean anything if you cannot get your resume in front of the right set of eyes. Don't use job fairs as your only source to find a job. Search forums, use LinkedIn to find recruiters to connect with, and as always, make sure you aren't using a "gimme gimme gimme" approach. People are more inclined to offer you assistance if you can offer something of value to them either through other candidates, services, or just advice.

22

Find your passion and use your experience and skillset to start your own business. Research SBA, VBOC, VetBizOpps, just to get started.

23

Make sure to have a plan in place prior to separation and the civilian world really doesn't think that you are special. Also, look at the area that you are moving to and make sure that the VA programs are actually available in that area.

24

Don't become isolated.

25

Write a proper resume and learn how to do a good job interview and where to search for jobs.

26

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.

27

connect the VA as soon as possible, the help is there WHEN you need it.

28

You should be eligible for unemployment insurance upon separation.

29

I recommend identifying an area of interest before leaving the military so you are not completely overwhelmed when you leave the service. That is a time of extreme transition and it can be incredibly challenging.

30

Maintain the military attitude. Especially when job searching. Make your interviews like a board review. Look for fellow veterans in your advancement and look for fellow veterans to advance.

31

Network. Go to American Job Centers. Research career fields and companies. Stop believing that because you are a veteran the job will be handed to you.

32

1) Plan out your transition. 2) Arrange for a job or school before your ETS. 3) Get aquatinted with a Veteran Service Organization in the area you are moving to. 4) Keep in close contact with veteran friends. (support system) 5) Talk about your troubles with a loved one or counselor. (don't be ashamed)

33

There are no hand outs, being a vet dosent get you special treatment, I've noticed it's the opposite. Use your work ethic to your advantage.

34

Make a plan and stick to it.

35

Start doing your research a year out for your ETS date. Figure out what you want to do, and if you're going to take advantage of your GI Bill. Being prepared will make the transition a lot easier.

36

When u r leaving someone needs to tell u point blank that it is going to be extremely hard. The workforce is not as accommodating to Veterans as u may think.

37

Keep busy. I immediately started taking college classes at a community college, and worked a part-time job.

38

Maintaining friendships is difficult, and jobs now simply just don't amount to how awesome it was being in.

39

Job building skills. no help was given on resume building. how to prepare for civilian work sector. no info on what colleges were looking for veterans. i know now. but when i did ACAP, had no clue what i was doing when i got out.

40

If you don't have a job in the military that easily transitions into a civilian job, earn a degree or skill that will before you get out.

41

Get any job you can because employers don't care about veteran status.

42

That with all the bad press that the military has received on veterans that you are perceived to have a stigmatism. Veterans have PTSD or are Depending upon some type of drug.

43

Get all the benefits and resources you can from the military before getting out.

44

1. Relax. You don't have to be on point all the time everytime. Don't expect your coworkers to be either. 2. Failure is an option. No one's life is on the line. You don't have to be on time or else. Some failure is expected. We all go home at night regardless. 3. Take risks. Accept blame. Be humble.

45

If your dreams encompass being in uniform, do not ETS. If this is not possible, attempt to obtain a career conducive to teamwork, discipline, and honor such as first responder or law enforcement.

46

Learning how to write a resume and what HR process and how they screen out candidates and how to translate military skills into civilian skills.

47

Know your worth, as a veteran you offer many exceptional skill sets. But also know that, "old dogs can't learn new tricks", is complete nonsense. There are too many options and support systems for us veterans. We can make it, no one gets left behind

48

Figure out what kind of career you want to target, and prepare for it WHILE still in the military, preferably 2 to 3 years out. This means working on certifications, degrees, gaining knowledge about, etc... Also if you are lucky enough to have a job in the military related to this targeted career, get help putting together a description of what you did that can be easily read by a civilian.

49

Education - maximize whatever transferable college credit you can get while on active duty and then once your out, use the GI Bill money and be laser focused on getting a 4 yr degree. Advice for the for any enlisted soldier or NCO.

50

Given the harsh realities of the contemporary job market and how it's shifting, veterans should start planning their exit some years before their actual transition date. This includes many things, but chief are knowing where they're at, what skills they bring, to the table, what companies they want to work for, and where they should relocate to get themselves on a firm footing.

51

Employment expectations were too high after getting out.

52

Plan ahead! Know what you are going to do when you get out. Prepare for a let down--like civilian life feeling "too slow" with not enough to do. Best advise--go immediately into some kind of training or education program. Find a new PT routine that you don't hate.

53

Listen to the issues each individual is having whether it be good or otherwise then make a decision as to the path to help that person take

54

remember your discipline and be the best at whatever you do

55

Don't get discouraged from all the companies that say they hire vets and don't. keep trying eventually you'll find the right company / job.

56

Pursue an Associate's Degree at a local Community College. The interactions with civilians, both teachers and students, will help ease the transition in the workforce, and my experience shows that the degree holds more weight than the military experience

57

get better help with converting resumes from military to civilian speak.

58

Prepare yourself early. Like all military training, the TAP classes have information that is way out of date. Also, prepare yourself for a reduction in salary.

59

Transition into the civilian workforce is necessary but never forget that you are a veteran and take advantage of all benefits, services and agencies that provide them.

60

Civilians are, for the most part, (removed) that will make you want to yell at them. Don't yell at them. Thanks for your service.

61

Plan ahead as much as possible.

62

Have a plan at least a year out. Take the time to weigh your options on where to live, what it is you want to do for the rest of your life.

63

Don't expect to find a job that matches your experience level or leadership capability. To the rest of the world, veterans are high school graduates that forgot to get a job after high school or college.

64

Don't undervalue your experience. Be sure to ask for your true worth.

65

Make sure you have a plan. I had no plan when I separated and have had a rough go of it ever since.

66

Seek civilian recruiting firms at least 1 year prior to exiting service, they will be bale to place you with at least a contract position very quickly

67

First complete your 20 to retire and and education at least a bachelor if possible a masters. Seek transition assistance. There are groups and va support to assist with the transition into civilian life. 9/11 changed a lot for the support of veterans. Utilize those resources that are available.

68

Prepare, prepare. It depends on your MOS. if you were /are a grunt then you don't have much to work with except that you are loyal, dependable and a steady worker. So basically it starts with the MOS you choose in the beginning. Now a problem you might run into is that employers may fear you have PTSD and there will be issues later, missing work from DR. appts, mood swings. So showing that you didn't serve in combat can eleve some concerns but only tell them if you need to. If you do have PTSD then first take the time to heal before taking on a full time job, maybe start slow and work your way up.

69

If you don't have a degree, use your GI Bill. Education is one of the best investments you can make in yourself, and you've already paid for it so you might as well use it. Compare unemployment rates for HS graduates vs. college graduates, it's a world of difference.

70

Ensure you have a plan on employment before you leave, have a job lined up already.

71

The units don't support the soldiers properly and also the transition doesn't have very good classes to get you ready... Also lost of soldiers leave the service and start having much more Mental and physical issues from the service. This HAS to be fixed.

72

80% of available jobs are not advertised, they are obtained by word of mouth.

73

Don't separate. The work-a-day world is impossible, right now. Work up to a high NCO or an middle-to-high Officer rank, put up with the BS, because it's a LOT less difficult to deal with than the real-world at a lower rank. I wish every single day, now, that I had stayed in. I have a nice job as an instructor with some VERY good pay, except now I can't get any good hours. My mechanical aircraft repair skills are no longer in demand, and I have NOTHING, anymore, that I was able to pull with me from the Army. Stay in, don't separate. There is NO transition program that will truly help, especially since resume requirements change day-to-day employer-to-employer, ridiculous. Don't quit the military as long as you have a decent job and can stick with it.

74

Don't be too picky when looking for a job. You can always continue looking for the job you want once you have one to pay your bills with.

75

Make serious on your work in the military because you can use that knowledge when you get out from the service.

76

Make sure you have a plan before you seperate.

77

Have an idea of what you want to do and do it until its done.

78

Make sure youre dd214 is squared away and all medical records are validaded.

79

You have 10 years from your ETS date to use your GI Bill benefits.

80

Don't let your chain of command take advance of you or force you to cancel appointments

81

Become a government (DOD) Contractor! Make 3x $$$ doing similar work, indirectly for military but still in support of overall mission.

82

Do not stay in the same city where you were posted. Go home.

83

Before transitioning, consider pros and cons in the transition. Also focus on education after the military and while serving.

84

gi bill information and workforce

85

YOU SHOULD BE GLAD AND THANKFUL THAT YOUR SERVICE IS COMPLETED. I ALSO THINK YOU SHOULD PURSUE ALL OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU, CONGRATULATION.

86

Learn how to interview and create a resume that translate military skills into a civilian career.