1

Identify your soft skills stengths (good with people, detailed orientated, etc) then research jobs that require your soft skill strengths. Then target the jobs you like. If you are prior intel NEVER say the words "well I cant provide too many details because its classified." what that means is you haven't spent the time to translate your skills into intelligible connections to the employer.

2

Build your network throughout your career. You absolutely can do this without "dropping your pack" or neglecting your current responsibilities. Very often this form pf professional development actually makes you better at your current job in the service

3

Prepare 3+ years out by networking, networking, and networking.

4

Start looking for a job sooner rather than later. Get your Smart Transcripts and translate those skills into civilian workforce roles so you know what direction to look and how to respond when they ask what you can do and how it translates for their corporation.

5

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.

6

Use your education benefits and train in a marketable skill.

7

Start preparing yourself at least a year out. Start familiarizing yourself with the different job sites that are military familiar. Prepare resume and and have a couple of people look at it. Familiarize yourself with all the different job programs for transitioning veterans in you state. There is also oversees position that specifically look for transitioning veterans. Do not be afraid to go where the money is. Stay focused and stay hungry. Network, network, network, network! Most important, know your worth.

8

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

9

Explore career fields that have an accepted Body of Knowledge, a professional credential indicating a command of that BOK, and are in demand. Then obtain the credential and discuss your military experience in the language of the BOK. The credential then corroborates your experience which sounds familiar to the hiring official because it's in the language of the career/discipline/profession. Examples of fields are Human Resources, Project Management, Accounting, etc.

10

Plan ahead by putting out feelers sending out good civilian resumes

11

Spend 6months to a year transitioning... Get your resume out there! Keep military jargon out of your resume..but a conservative suit. If you have no computer or technical skills coming out of the military.. find any way you can to take courses..Beef up on your computer skills and know the differences between military and civilian corporate styles of leadership. Save your money!!

12

Keep very good records of medical and personal while inside and any correspondences between yourself and the VA.

13

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

14

Be sure you have some type of employment prior to separation. Contact an area American Legion or VFW ASAP after separation and get involved without the drinking!

15

No matter what they've been led to believe, well paying jobs and perfect employment opportunities are not automatically waiting for the majority of veterans separating or retiring from military service. Most service members will be discouraged by the massive amount of time and energy they'll have to dedicate to their quest for employment, and most will be shocked by the low level jobs they'll be offered as they attempt to enter the civilian workforce.

16

Make a copy of all your records.

17

to get a copy of your service records and medical papers

18

Stay positive in your approach. Network to the best of your ability. And trust that your path will reveal itself. Find books that will help you in this endeavor

19

Schedule the start of your transition early, then back up the date another 3 months. start + years early and get all your civilian certifications you need to get a viable long term job/career. Do not rely on your "military soft skills" to start your civilian career. Don't give up!

20

One thing do your homework. Decide if your going to school or find a job. Know were you want to move. If you are going to do the same type job after your out. Find out were the same job is and is it easy or hard to get a job in the field. Second Get your records copied and if you can get VA disability after you leave get the info together.

21

Have a college education and skills that translate to the civilian world.

22

Don't underestimate the repercussions of your service. Unless you were wounded or experienced combat situations, at first things might seem normal, but it doesn't take much to lose sight. Allowing people unqualified workers to push you around is common. Try not to be intimidated when it comes to workplace relationships. Saying, 'Yes Sir' is only a sign of weakness.

23

Prepare... internships or finding companies that do Onboarding specifically for Veterans are the ideal!

24

Learn the art of being a good networker, be someone great to network with, join Toastmasters, clubs, networking groups.

25

Take a few days to create a plan. Expect to run into roadblocks, have plan b, plan c thought out from the beginning.

26

Register at VA as soon as you get out.

27

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

28

The VA is the enemy, take charge of your health care and don't take no for an answer with the VA. Find out all you can about programs and bennifits available.

29

I struggle to find a "one size fits all" answer to this. What was a little relief for me was merely relaxing for a couple weeks after discharge. I still applied for jobs during that period but listening to soothing music, eating well & no real hard labor was somewhat of a relief. Eventually my local VA rep helped me get a job at a local factory and I was very grateful for that (even though I only stayed 9 months then took some college courses).

30

Leaving the military is like dealing with loss. There is a grieving process that some go through. Allow yourself to grieve. But do not grieve for too long. The job market isn't what is was 15, 10 or even 5 years ago. It is truly competitive and can feel quite degrading at times. Don't give up. What is meant for you will come. You may have to take someone you don't want (and might not even like) before your dream job comes along.

31

Plan to start early, then start even earlier. Get certified in your trade, or the trade you want to get into. Yes you will need certificate and or diploma. Network, network network...

32

Take care of your medical process first because it can be lengthy. Get with people whom have jobs and find out what was the process they went through. Also have your mentors and people in the industry you want to go into look at you resume. If you need a degree, use your post 9/11 gi bill and get one. Live within your means as you look for a job since you may be looking at less. If stressed out, turn to people in your personal network(friends, family) As well as your professional network(co-workers, supervisors, mentors)

33

Talk to family. Now the military has career counselors but back in the day it was a collateral job. contact local unemployment offices and job centers. Also contact veteran organizations. VFW. American Legion Etc.

34

Differentiate yourself from everyone else looking for work. If you are very passionate about something, or extremely great at some certain skill, consider startstarting a business utilizing that particular passion/skill and network to find others to fill the gaps that you are not good at. Focus on what makes you tick and let the others do what they are best at.

35

Don't limit your civilian career options to a specific location or industry. Be as open to all possibilities. Don't limit your options to your primary military duties. Consider your collateral duties as possible careers.

36

Translation of your Military experience to the Civilian sector.

37

Start planning 1-2 years in advance.

38

Be prepared for things to take longer than you expect. Have adequate savings to weather the transition as there will be a 45 day lag between your last active duty check and first retired check. If you don't have a job ready, expect to use savings to pay bills for 3-4 months.

39

Start preparing for separation at least one full year before hand. Get educated on what you want to do post-service while the military foots most of the bill... do that starting the day you leave recruit training. Network with civilians in the sector you want to join! Seek good advice from those that have walked the path you're embarking on. Consider starting your own business. It'll be a LOT more work than a job, but there's nothing like the feeling of freedom you and you family will enjoy... after you've made it a success. Getting there is the hard part.

40

Complete as much off-duty education as possible. Take advantage of certification programs that are available ie PMP.

41

Take a vacation and see what is out there. Make sure your military career has a civilian counter part. If not take advantage of the GI Bill. Take full advantage of your Veteran benefits. They will help a lot. When I left, I was forced separated during the downsizing, I spent about a month with family researching what was out there. As an AO (Aviation Ordnanceman) there was next to nothing available. I ended up driving a commercial truck for 3 years. Now I am a Security Officer. It is extremely important to take advantage of you veterans benefits. When you go for a job interview, dress to impress and put on your most professional attitude. If apply for the state or federal government, you will have preference points that will help you to get employed. the interview with the state is usually with a panel of 3 to 5 people. they will ask you a specific series of questions that are uniform in nature for all applicants. Do not stop answering each question until you literally run out of things to say about it. and if after the interview they ask if you have anything to add. take full advantage of that. now is your time to play on their emotions and explain why they should hire you. The process is probably the same for federal civilian jobs. If you do not make it. do not give up. keep trying and go for any entry level job you can in any agency. once hired, you can lateral over to any agency or position as they become available.

42

Make sure they enroll in the VA Healthcare system, EDD, Create a resume, consider being a member of Team Rubicon, The Mission Continues and or IAVA-All offer great support and you will feel a sense of belonging while serving yiur community.

43

Drop the stuff that only we would know. Use standard 12 hour time when talking to civilians, stop putting slashes through your zeroes, and most of all keep the jargon between us brothers and sisters, they wouldn't get it anyway.

44

There are a lot more organizations now to help veterans transition now than when I left the service. I only had a Half day seminar mostly about resume writing and that was it. Take advantage of any Veteran help that you can find. Join your local veteran organizations such as VFW or American Legion. The members there can be of invaluable help. On a negative note, do not expect any employer to give more than lip service about being pro veteran supporter. After 20 years of working in the civilian sector my military service played almost no advantage in the view of any of my employers other than as a curiosity. What has always counted has been building a civilian history of hard work, sacrifice to the company and loyalty. Basically you are starting all over again. Get copies of all your service records and keep them in a safe, fire proof location. In regards to translating military skills to civilian skills, in my case most of my skills were classified and won't be unclassified for 50 years so that was useless. There are efforts by organizations and colleges to get around this. Keep copies of any qualification cards you may have gotten signed off. While your skills are still fresh in your mind, take "challenge tests" at colleges to quickly get college credits toward degrees. About job fairs. I quit going to them and consider them a waste of time and money. After a couple years of working these mass events and receiving almost no employment responses yet noticing a large increase in the amount of junk mail I received I started using different middle initials in my name when submitting resumes and filling out employment forms as an experiment. After a while I started receiving junk mail with these different middle initials in the address. I have become convinced that these mass events are nothing more than information mills by employers to gauge the number and quality of the unemployed available and to sell lists of peoples names to various organizations that will pay money for mailings. On being patient, that is nonsense. Be aggressive in pursuing your employment goals. Sitting around waiting for an employer to call you is a joke and a waist of time. Research the companies you want to join and work the heck out of every possible avenue to get that job! Wait for nothing! Don't bother with professional resume writers. There are plenty of excellent programs you can use. My resumes got me in the door constantly and that's all they are supposed to do. After that it is all in your interview skills and your connection with the interviewer.

45

Research potential careers based on your passion and personality type. Examine your MOS/Rating and see what's out there that is related, IF that's what you'd like to do.Research careers based on your passion and personality type. Use the web sites that will help you examine your MOS/Rating so you can se what is related if that is the direction you'd like to go. Finally, do what you love to do!!!

46

Stay in the service or you will be sorry you didn`t.

47

EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN FOR THE WORKFORCE. REMEMBER TO DO A RESUME' THAT ACCENTUATES YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS, ABILITY TO TAKE DIRECTION, AND MOST OF ALL TO ACCOMPLISH GOALS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. EMPLOYERS KNOW THEY CAN TRUST EX MILITARY FOLKS TO BE PUNCTUAL, BE THERE WHEN SCHEDULED, AND EXHIBIT A WILLINGNESS TO GO THE EXTRA MILE WHEN OVERTIME IS REQUIRED.

48

Don't worry too much about the transition. You'll be much more prepared for life in the civilian workforce than you think. Employers like hiring ex-military because of their training and dedication. Just get ready to do your best; you'll do great!

49

Just because you have a particular NEC or MOS, that may not be the job that capitalizes on your abilities. Find out what you truly love to do.

50

No matter what career path you decide to go to, take advantage of your Post/911 GI Bill and go to college or go to school and learn a trade. The person with more education or credentials will get a job and hopefully later on promotions. Once you are in a managerial position, remember that the best managers are the ones who treat their people well and they rule democratically. The authoritative managers will eventually be exposed and they will be replaced.

51

1. Prepare yourself long before you decide to transition to the civilian workforce. Attending TAP class should be something you do a minimum of 2 times because it is impossible to get all the information in 1 sitting; 2. Plan 1 or 2 years out. Start writing resumes, practicing interviews, reading books on the subject of job hunting (Guerrilla Warfare for Job Hunters, What Color is Your Parachute, etc.); 3. Don't be afraid to ask for help. There are dozens and dozens of places to ask for assistance from Veterans & Industry Leaders who are willing to help (Linkedin, ACP, etc.)

52

Make time for yourself to make sure all your medical and transition paperwork gets completed early.

53

Get and or make copies of your records and I mean EVERYTHING! !!!! Things have a tendency to get lost or it doesn't have the information needed on some of the forms that is requested by civilian employers or by the civilians that operate programs for veterans; (VA benefits/medical facilities)

54

Have a short-term and long-term plan for how you envision your civilian career path. No one is going to outline your promotions and career path for you, so it's up to you- which is both exciting and nerve wracking.

55

No one at any job I've had has cared anything about my education, since it was not a 4yr degree. No one cared about my military experience or training. No one cared that I was a disabled vet.

56

The employers I dealt with could care less about your military background. In some cases, once you mentioned you were retired, they would find a way to end the interview. On one occasion I was interviewed by (a retired Air Force E-9) who was a mayor of a small town. He didn't even care about what I had accomplished in the military. I got the job over 11 other applicants only because I agreed to start out at minimum wage. Please don't misunderstand me. I felt that serving in the navy was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I think I did pretty well considering I had broken service and still made Senior Chief.

57

You have to know yourself and know what career field you want to pursue outside military. Once you have this info, start branding yourself, let people know who you are and what skills you bring to the table. Networking is key, online and in person. Establish a strong Linkedin profile and start making connections.

58

Stay in.

59

No matter what your MOS is, think about what type of employment would you enjoy the most and seek that. Just because you enjoyed your job in the military doesn't mean you will like the civilian counterpart.

60

Get as much of your education completed while on active duty. New employers want new employees with education and certifications. Some of the most popular certifications in my industry are: PMP, ITIL, CISSP, CEH, and Security +.

61

Have a plan; know what you want to do when you get out, create your goals as early as possible and then use the military transition process to help you attain those goals.

62

Many of your friends, from high school or other activities, may not be there for you. They will have moved on in their lives. So understand that you may need to find new friends and create new relationships.

63

Remember that not everyone you work with are disciplined and pro-military. (also depends on which company you work for)

64

Be yourself; Give, teach, and love.

65

To develop a comprehensive job search strategy that includes a robust tactical toolbox, but does not focus on any one to the exclusion of the others. Some of those tools are: 1) A networking effort that includes friends, family, and former military members along with social media vehicles like LinkedIn and TogetherWeServed; 2) A resume template for military-savvy and private sector employers that can be customized for a specific job; 3) Avoiding the limiting concept of staying or re-locating to a specific location; 4) Develop a realistic understanding of how companies hire; 5) Develop the ability to negotiate a salary based on the market, NOT on some preconceived idea of personal value.

66

Don'the believe a thing they say.

67

If retiring, find out how much the cost of living will be where you intend retire. Ask the question, "Will my retirement payment allow me to reside here with minimal financial risks until I have a full time job with acceptable benefits?" Not retiring, learn and understand the unemployment policies. You will most likely need to use the service soon if a job is not lined up after separation from service. Ensure your resume is filled with keywords both the military and civilian environments understand. Employers want more than just single page resumes. Get a LinkedIn account, populate it, ask for recommendations and endorsements. Submit atleast three resumes a week and don't choose the first job opportunity unless it is exactly what you wanted. Better opportunities could be right around the corner. Best chances of getting hired is in the first quarter of the year! Most importantly, Pray to God to guide your path. All these things will workout for you! :)

68

Prepare for your re-entry back into the civilian sector and know that you are not the same person you were when you entered the military. Find a mentor, a local veterans service organization and surround yourself with other veterans when you can. Older vets that have been out a while have great advice and wisdom to share. Peer vets, who have recently separated will provide you with support as your transition begins. Research your veteran benefits (both Federally and within your State of residence) and learn when and how to engage them.

69

Your home-of-record move is one of your most important assets. Don't squander it. Make sure you are moving to an area with an economy that can support not just your next job, but the one after that. Even if you are planning on going to school (that plan doesn't always work out), make sure that the area can support your post-college career goals. After all, employers like to hire from their local colleges. Location, location, location!

70

A college education is necessary if you expect your civilian salary to match your military salary.

71

Start to plan your transition at least a year out. Use LinkedIn and other social media to network. Get advise from other veterans that have completed the transition within the last two years, they will have the latest information. Attend GPS class in the area that you plan to move to if possible, the class will have the local connections.

72

#1 Priority - VA Disability Rating (Seek help from DAV, VFW, AMVETs etc. #2 Resume Skills

73

Do not wait until the last minute, and I mean "the last minute". I work with service men and women in transition, and I see on a daily basis how they wait until they are 3 to 4 weeks out before really looking at their options. At a minimum, given the ideal situation, all should start planning and developing their exit strategy 2 years out.

74

To research what potential employers need in order to determine what you (the vet) may need to become an employee of choice. You must be able to articulate what you can do for them in terms of their business...specifically whenever possible.

75

Plan, plan, plan. Get out and start attending job fairs and networking. Attend FFSC Employment Classes (Career Planning, Job Search Strategies, Effective Resume Writing, Interview Techniques and Federal Employment). Make sure everything medical is documented and start on VA Claim. Federal Eployment is plan B. Learn to target resumes.

76

Ensure that you get a military to civilian transition resume done. A lot of civilian companies do not understand military terms. Also know the difference between each type of resume you may need. If you have a clearance, keep it active as long as you need for potential jobs that require clearances. A clearance is a great benefit on the outside world.

77

The civilian market place is not better than the military - it's just different. In the military we developed plans to deal with turnover - material history, other crew/shift/etc. logs. We were always told the civilians have the 30 year guys who are there and understand it all. Not true - and not planned for. We are better equipped than a lot of our civilian counterparts to deal with turnover. Make sure you're not deferring to the "experts" on how to deal with turnover.

78

Understanding how to translate Military experience to Public sector, so that they don't sell themselves short. The first jab sets the tone and market proce for future endeavors.

79

Start planning at least two to three years in advance.

80

Start far earlier than 18 months!! The transition takes a long while and should be started, at least planning, 2-3 years out. What am I going to do for the rest of my life? What is my next career? Will it need a degree? Serious questions that must be answered and planned for early.

81

Do your homework in studying which civilian jobs are available and those with advancement potential. Get a college degree while still on active duty.

82

Networking and the translation of skills into the civilian employment. Learning how to talk from active duty to seeking full time employment. This is crucial in the interviewing process so that the interviewee can understands the passion and training I have received to translate into the job description that I have applied to for the interview.

83

Search & Consider All options to make use of your government service time already spent, ensuring future success. Life time endeavor - build on skills of interest to fit alternate career paths with retirement (pension) benefits couple with professional -personal development.

84

Planning for the transition is essential. Laying the groundwork to change locations and especially industries can take years to accomplish. The sooner you start planning for a successful transition the better. It is never too early! You should always be planning to get out. You never know what could happen, a personal or family illness or injury, forced separation, force reduction, ect.

85

No institution cares if you served. Yeah you get 5 veterans points in hiring but its essentially meaningless. Companies will hire a college grad who has never done anything over a veteran every day of the week

86

Be humble and willing to learn new things. Our sacrifice is under appreciated by most civilians and it's something they won't understand.

87

Go to school and apply for all different kinds of jobs. You might find something you like but weren't expecting to find.

88

Go to school and apply for all different kinds of jobs. You might find something you like but weren't expecting to find.

89

Get ready for either unemployment or to switch jobs each year out of frustration and anger at lazy backstabbing shithead civilians.

90

Start early

91

Plan ahead!! I asked all the right questions, and still found out that I had wrong answers. I officially retired on 31 March 2016, and was lead to believe that my first retiree check would be April 1st, not the case. I was also not told that my final check would be held up. I had planned to start work on 14 March, but the job offer was rescinded on 11 March, and I had to start over. Needless to say, April was a very tight month with no income coming in. Another thing, DO NOT STOP LOOKING FOR A JOB UNTIL YOU ARE IN THE DOOR OF YOUR FIRST! As soon as I got the verbal offer, I was told by my recruiter to shutdown my job search. I did, and lost out on other opportunities I could have had when I lost the first job.

92

Do not waste your GI Bill. The idea of returning to school may be scary and daunting and you may not have any idea what you will major in or where you will end up after graduating, but I promise you will figure it out and you will completely surprise yourself with what a great student you are, especially after your military service. You will also surprise yourself with where you end up, all thanks to your military service and college degree. Don't waste it!

93

Ask questions. People assumed that I knew a lot of things and had expectations.

94

Start transition planning early by doing parallel career development.

95

Patience with those who have not served a combat assignment.

96

Take the transition classes as early as possible and close to separation or retirement. Start working on college courses while on active duty. If possible attain at least a Bachelor's degree before leaving the service. Start perusing USA Jobs to have an idea what's available in the Federal Government. Seriously consider a Federal Job due to special hiring authorities granted to Veterans.

97

Find a mentor

98

Plan ahead to be unemployed for 6 months while searching for your next career opportunity. Don't expect to walk into a job making what you did when in uniform.

99

Go for jobs that might not be what you did in the military to have a better chance of not being unemployed due to waiting for doors open. A job in something you don't like is better than nothing at all and shows you are not just staying home waiting. Get a college degree, that's when doors opened for me. Most employers where anti-war protestors during Vietnam and will not care if your a veteran, even hold it against you. I use to have 2 resumes and the civilian one always got me more interviews than the military one. 20 years of service means less than the degree to the employers out here, even know I learned more knowledge, leadership, and discipline in the military. I applied to 40 websites for over 1000 jobs to get 20 interviews in a 5 year period. I worked Charity job, TSA, VA, and now CBP.

100

Be willing to change and understand your link in the chain of command will likely go down. Be willing to prove yourself and demonstrate your skills, not everyone understands where you have been, nor do they need to. Be patient.

101

Get all the information possible about the VA benefits. compare your benefits to what you will be getting if your retiring from the military. Don't jump at a sum of money, instead look at what you will be giving up if you take the money or if you take your disability rating. Try to get a job in the civilian world before you are mustered out.

102

1. MAKE time to get in touch with yourself and identify what you want and where you want it. Don't just chase money UNLESS you're willing to relocate and even then, FOCUS on what aligns with your internal compass. 2. Get a counselor, get a mentor. Develop a PLAN but know that that plan can and is likely to need to be adjusted based on the intel you gather. 3. Plan on the first post-service job being a "transition" job, a learning experience.

103

The civilian community really does not care if you are a veteran or not, don't be in a hurry to get the job done right the first time, civilians except you to make a 1 hr job last at least 8 if not longer. Take pride in your work, goes out the window, again there is no pride in the workplace.

104

Get a job offer before getting out.

105

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.

106

Save more money than they tell you to save because the job market is not as friendly as people say.

107

Don't take it so personal that people don't know what you've accomplished in the military, because they too have their own accomplishments to be proud of. We are all selfish and proud to an extent, that we don't care so much about the accomplishments and experience of others.

108

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.

109

Prepare early with job finding efforts.

110

Listen to your family and be aware of trends in your industry

111

Positive mental attitude. Sell your strengths not only your accomplishments in your resume and interview(s). Be ready to provide at least two areas of improvement that you have set as a goal. Sell military experience as if you were talking to someone who knows nothing about the military. Clean up your internet footprint (e.g. Social media accounts)

112

Jobs are not abundant no matter how many years you served or how qualified you are.

113

With over 20+ years of military experience, continue networking with private companies and civil service employees who believed in your knowledge and experience and they will be the one that will call you for a job offer. I was already offered a job even before my retirement and I have to ask them that I need a break first before I start my Federal job.

114

Stay in the military as long as possible.

115

Lower your expectation of focus from peers. Most civilian sector is not driven the same as military

116

Do not count on your military training to be recognized by civilian employers. While you are on active duty, get all the college credits and civilian credentials that you can. Plan on getting a college degree or a technical/trade certificate after you leave the service.

117

Despite the best efforts of the military, skills learned while serving often do not translate into skill sets civilian employers are looking for. Many employers promote their companies as being military friendly yet it is too often only for their entry level positions.

118

I learned to take full advantage of any opportunity thrown my way. I initially thought I deserved a well-paying job right out of the gate but that isn't the case for many. I had to get my degree, take lower paying jobs and work for that dream job.

119

Practice interviewing

120

It helped me to not take anything for granted. Prepared me for the long hours I would be working, and was a stepping stone for the work in the lab I do today. Couldn't be more thankful for what the military did for my family and I

121

well hopefully your military job can be used out side the Military ,like i was and ADJ3 in the Navy convert to Aircraft mechanic with the airlines

122

Take the skills you learned and apply them to the problems you encounter. I grew up in the Military, I became a man and lost my Fears of failure, heights, Dog Bites and death. since I had lost my fear of Death, what was I to fear?

123

Call the unemployment office prior to getting out/once you get out to check your benefit availability. Ask questions and make calls! Do NOT just assume what you read is true. Speak to someone to make sure!

124

Do not let anyone make you fear the civilian world. Tough job markets, more expensive healthcare, inexperienced management, etc. No matter what, you have the ability to succeed and flourish as long as you stay persistent and work hard.

125

make sure that you get help translating your job skills into civilian language. Also make sure you understand your benefits when leaving

126

1) Education - Foreman and group leader positions are looking for those with a four year degree or more. 2) VA - File disability claims within a 12 month window. Once service connected, those items are treated free of charge through VA Medical Centers. 3) County Veteran Service Offices - inquire in your local community where all your VA resources are located, to include your county. Vet Center, VAMC, VARO, banks that participate in VA Home Loan program, check with State Veteran Services to see programs your state offers etc

127

Learn all you can, get certs for it, whether it is in your job scope or not. Get it on your resume and that will make you more marketable.

128

Have a game plan before you transition out and use all the resources made available for you through taps and sign up for Linked In from the get go.

129

Be honest with yourself on how the skills you learned in the military cross over to the civilian employment world.

130

Have 3-6 months of living expenses saved up before you make the transition. If a move is involved, more on the 6 months side.

131

1) Start your VA disability claim 6 months before you get out. 2) Prepare your resume 1 year before you get out. 3) Start looking for a job or applying for school 9 months before you get out.

132

1) Assess how well connected you are to where you will be living. If you have no family who is working, no friends in the area, you will find it extremely difficult to find meaningful work unless there are abundant job opportunities. 2) Begin networking before you exit the military to find your career path in your civilian area.

133

Have a good church for spiritual support

134

Save up a substantial amount of money while you serve so you will have some to allow yourself a small amount of vacation time and support yourself until you can find a job in a tight employment situation. Even better would be to begin looking for work well before your discharge!

135

Civilian employers don't see our experience as a Leader/Manager equal to what they expect out of a college grad.

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People (who never served) treat female veterans differently than male veterans. There is a double standard which I have yet to understand why in looking for employment, to obtain the veteran benefits, and to socialize with others

137

Stay in! Wish i had retired! Thought i would have no problem getting a Job in the world that i was trained for, But employers needed that diploma! So i became a fricken roofer!

138

Explore all options. When you attend TAP listen carefully, take the advice the various presenters tell you and make copies of your medical record prior to leaving active duty. when i attended TAP i paid close attention and like a good sailor i followed instructions to the letter and as a result when i filed my initial claim for service connection i was awarded 40%. make sure you go through your medical record for completeness. there are a # of sites now that'll assist in converting your rating/MOS to a civilian job. take advantage of those and apply for either government jobs be it local government, state government and federal government. when you work for the government you can buy your military time back which adds to your retirement. you can do this IF you DIDN'T retire.

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Have a clear understanding of what you would like to do as a career when you separate/retire from the military. Determine what skills and/or certifications are the industry standard and start working on them - the minimum goal being able to explain to a potential employer when you expect to complete the designation/degree.

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Figure out what field (career path) you want to take as early as possible, and read up about the field. Begin networking in person or through social media channels. People have always been willing to help me out, but I had to seek their help. If you want to start your own business, reach out to your local SBA and/or SCORE office. They have been very helpful and given great guidance/advise. Be assertive, don't wait for opportunities to come to you - go find them.

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Network!

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Either get your degree or take the best job offered. Don't waste valuable time looking for the perfect job at the perfect place. Work like you were still on active duty all the time.

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Make your first job, if possible, one that is still involved with the military and your co-workers are fellow veterans. Also, join clubs, groups and/associations for and with veterans. Use your GI Bill benefits immediately. And enroll in VA Health immediately. I did the first one. It took many years to do the other three, and those years of being disconnected took their toll in many aspects of my life.

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The hardest hurdle to overcome for me was making less money and starting at the bottom at a new job. The other challenging thing is having to pay additional taxes that I was exempt from while being active duty.

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Realizing and accepting that things and people are going to be different, and that you generally aren't going to step out into a job with similar responsibilities. The work ethic varies widely which can make it easier to promote once you get established. And as a manger, you don't have the same "tools" available to get people doing the right thing. For me, this was the hardest thing to accept. "It's not my job" is a hard, cold reality in trying to get things moving forward as opposed to the military mindset of finding a way to make it happen.

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Have your resume civilian ready. Make sure you have your resume proof read by someone who is fluent in military and civilian lingo. Take the advise of others who have transitioned from your branch and specialty. Do not expect top dollar for your years served. You will get what you deserve in time. Prove yourself. Know the company you are interviewing with. Do your homework.

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Learn how to network, most companies only hire from the internet as a last resort. If you go to college, attend career fairs early and find out what companies are looking for your freshman year and get internships. Most hiring managers do not understand technical skills in general, so military skills are really foreign to them.

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Spend time to remember your dreams and hopes before you went into the military and decide now how those have changed, and in returning to the civilian world, if you want to pursue those again.

149

Military job skills do not transition as easily into the civilian market as people believe. For example, if you are an electrician in the military with 20yrs of experience don’t expect the civilian job market to recognize that. Some places are better at it than others. Do your research, don’t assume.

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Identify a new career, make a plan to transition into that career (i.e. college degree, apprenticeship, etc...), and don't lose sight of your goal!

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Start getting an education or training to improve your career in the civilian workforce.

152

If you decide to join. Get a job that will train your mind. Anyone can carry a weapon. Get a job that the military will train your mind to do and translate to skills you can use as a civilian.

153

Make sure you have a family/friend support system, and don't be afraid to rely on them. The transition out of military service is a difficult one, no matter how you slice it, harder still for those with families of their own. It is a daunting challenge, particularly in an unstable economy, to again find your civilian legs, as it were. Because that's the big difference. Regardless of all the minor comparisons and contrasts between military and civilian life, the big one is that we can generally rely on our commanders to take care of us and our problems at the end of the day while we're in. Once we're out, though there are various programs and services available to us, that huge level of support is gone, and it is once again all on us as the individual. And that is a heavy weight to carry, especially if we have a spouse and children to care for. I do not regret one iota my decision to get out; the price I ended up having to pay in frustration and anger for that "huge level of support" was too high a price in my opinion. But the fact of the matter is, a successful transition does not happen accidentally. It takes being proactive in your plans and the steps that you take, and it takes good friends and family to help guide your way, and catch you when you start to stumble or simply fall flat on your face. And personally, the same is true of everything in life; it is merely highlighted with great intensity during the military-to-civilian transition.

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Civilians who have never served will not understand you and your abilities. They also have a misconception that we all have some kind of mental problem stemming from our service. Many will also feel as though you are a threat to them (professionally) and will treat you accordingly. Just remember to breath, control your anger and frustration, and teach them about who you really are. It will be difficult at times but remember, we Veterans are experts at overcoming diversity.

155

T-GPS or whatever it's called is useless. The two biggest things to do when transitioning are scan all your records onto a flash drive, and use a military targeted recruiting firm to land you a great job

156

My Family and I were much happier while I was in the military. As you transition you must network non stop to be able get employment. Also compared to what I was doing in the military my new job seems USELESS.

157

Most of your military skills/experience can be applied to your civilian transition. I learned that experience and knowledge of are often confusing when you apply for a position in a related field. Even if you have only done the job once you have knowledge of it. Which means you can LEARN how to do that job. Don't short change yourself when you see that in a job requirement. If you have put it to use or practice say yes and go from there. Every employer has their way of doing the same job; it's up to the company. I held a position as a Functional Analyst and wound up being a Telephone Switch Technician. Once I got the job I put my hands on as much equipment as I could and got it documented. Then I applied for other jobs because I had knowledge of. Most employers would rather hire someone from within the company rather than get someone new to train. It's cost effective and the person filling the position is already there.

158

Prepare 2 years in advance for you transition if possible. It's a difficult transition from military to civilian and you need to have a good idea of what you want to do. Be prepared for the job search and interview process and know that patience is a virtue. It can take months after interviewing and applying for jobs before a decision is reached if you ever hear back from the companies at all.

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Network, network, network!
Utilize the free premium membership Linked In gives you and network!

160

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

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Ensure everything is documented correctly in your military record and medical record.

162

Become involved in an organization for veterans.

163

MAKE time to plan your transition. You don't know what you don't know. SAVE 6-9 months' living expenses. Accept that your out-of-pocket expenses (rent, car insurance, food, EVERYTHING) will increase. Accept that you may not be able to achieve a lateral financial transfer. Downsize NOW. Rent reasonably. When looking for a job don't determine it SOLELY on $$. Factor in the commuting time. Commuting = aggravation. Gas is cheap now but it's bound to increase again. Be economical.

164

Weigh your options and make the best decision for YOU, not just your family. Make sure you are really ok with getting out and that you're not doing it just because it would make life easier on everyone involved. Regret is not fun.

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Start early.

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Military service is not preparatory in nature. Skill conversions are difficult and training opportunities are nearly nonexistent.

167

Don't do it if you do not have too. If you do, be prepared to enter a different world. If you have a family, job security is something you will miss when you become a civilian. It is non existent in this world.

168

It is important to place the past behind you and learn to move forward. Do not forget what you have learned, but learn that portion of life is like the chapter of a book that can no longer be written. It helps to have someone discuss past problems as well as current ones. In my experience, it is best to talk to those who have already transitioned out of service recently. Connect with other veterans in your area. There are many military groups in existence.

169

do your homework and net work dd-214 med rec dental records take them with you.

170

1) Know yourself, know your skills, know what area of profession you want to enter. 2) Do not get caught up on whether you were enlisted or officer, focus on your hard and soft skills and promote them. Anyone can enter just about any profession, regardless of whether you were enlisted or officer. 3) Know what you want to do. Do you want to be a wrench-turner or do you want to get into management? Do like to work in various areas (outdoors, different buildings, etc) or do you prefer to go to one office day in and day out.

171

Don't use the plan you formulated while still in the service.

172

Be open to new careers. Get a degree in something. Don't wait on the government for job opportunities. I had a career in intelligence that disappeared in a blink and I wasn't prepared for the career change. Always keep looking for new opportunities because you never know when your current career may no longer be a part of your life. Also, don't be forced into believing that the only two jobs you can get once you separate are government employment or contracting

173

Get degrees and certifications. Have a civilianized resume. Build a professional wardrobe.

174

Get as much college education as one can while in the military. Many military careers need a degree in the civilian world.

175

have an plan and know what your gonna do.

176

prepare in advance look for jobs before your separation date.

177

Understand job skills and qualifications that civilian employers are looking for. Having military experience and a high school education, will not get you ahead in the civilian world. Education is the very valuable tool and many veterans get out hoping to use their benefits for school and few make it. Make it a priority in your life! Find a mentor in the workforce, preferably a veteran that has been successful in getting out of the military, and learn from them. Find out how to combine your traits from the military with your education, and leverage your potential and value.

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To plan as much as possible, realize that there will be setbacks so have a Plan B and C. Network and start taking the additional classes besides TGPS like Career Planning, Job Search Strategies, Effective Resume Writing, Interview Techniques and Federal Employment System. Take time to know who you are outside of the military and embrace your new identity. Keep your spouse and children involved in the process. Attend Employer Panels and Job Fairs early to network. Trust your instincts and rely on you. If you need more help sit down with FFSC one on one. Conduct Informational Interviews.

179

Get your college degree

180

Get counseling, to get or provide a part time job

181

Go back to school for a first or graduate degree. There is something about being immersed in school that helps the transition to civilian thinking and networking. Also, being in school takes the pressure off the job hunt process and related stress. Finally, being in the military opens up some great school support and resources....take advantage of it and act on those dreams that came to you as you matured in the military.

182

Get counseling, to get or provide a part time job

183

Work hard, do your job, save your money and invest.