1

I would have completed my College at the beginning of my career, instead I had my 14 year plan to pick up Chief or transition to the Officer ranks. At year 9 I had surgery, plus 14 more in the years to follow.

2

Use TAP; Put some thought into where I wanted to live; Focused on and targeted employers where I wanted to live, if jobs slim, look at shifting where to live , then look at jobs there. Stayed connected with a Vet org, VA, VFW, etc

3

Go to job fairs

4

I would take advantage of the relocation allowance offered by the military, do research and find the area in the country where people with my skills and training are needed the most. I would then send out my resume to every company in my field of expertise in my new desired area. All this would take place 6 months before my transition begins.

5

Everything! I'd focus on knowing my true skills and branding.

6

Saved a bit more money during my last tour.

7

I would've negotiated my salary and benefits much better...I didn't fully understand how the federal government worked.

8

Start looking for jobs earlier and making those networking contacts.

9

I would have start working on my transition to civilian life a year out.

10

Yes. I would prepare my resume in the context of project management, obtain my PMP, and prepare to answer behavioral interview questions.

11

Network more. Start making connections while on leave.

12

Everything

13

Career fair.

14

I would be more willing to take a lesser paying job in order to start working sooner and then work my way up.*

15

I would take more time off and travel a bit. I would also look into local community colleges and the programs they offer.

16

Have double the amount in savings. A better resume with better military skills transitioned into civilian terminology. Get a sleep study and mental health exam while you are still on active duty.

17

Give more thought to leaving. Make sure I investigated options, send out resumes, line up contacts. Most importantly set up my financial well-being.

18

Connect with people in the field and in the location that I decided to relocate to.

19

Saved up 2 years' worth of living expenses, become a full time student, gotten my under grad and masters degrees. I did not have ANY educational benefits other that VEAP. I wish I would have dumped all my $ into that. There was ZERO mentoring

20

I was eligible to unemployment and did not take it. Since I was already accepted to school, instead of working as a karate instructor, which doesn't pay that much, I should have started to study. My first year of college was certainly the most challenging.

21

More prep and I would build a network before transitioning.

22

Find out About programs available

23

Well I have to go back to the manner in which I ENLISTED and say if I had went through OCS instead of ENLISTING,,,I may have been a career Officer so what I would do "differently" has to do with ENLISTING. Not discharge. The only thing about discharge that was difficult was the trauma from how my service was conducted.

24

I would start apply for jobs much earlier than I did. Because my emotional state was not 100 percent at the time, I could not focus on what needed to be done.

Start thinking about 150 days out about what industry you want to work. Look up job descriptions, KSAs, etc., for the positions in which you plan to apply. Send you resume through the free evaluation programs. They are easy to find. Just google resume services. Many of the companies offer a free resume review, and you don't have to purchase anything. Be weary of those companies that want to charge anything more than $150. They aren't worth it.

25

Expounding on my research from what a transition facilitator actually makes compared to what I was getting paid, part time too.

26

Would have gone directly in the reserves

27

Start a business while still in the military!

28

I would start sooner.

29

Start the process sooner

30

Once I knew I was going to get out, I would have started researching companies and opportunities earlier.

31

Be patient....focus more on your presentation of yourself to recruiters and interviewers. Understand its not about how great you are, its about what you are going to do for a Company.

32

Not take the first job, delay while continuing to evaluate, and relax just a little. I was retiring from overseas and I didn't have housing, so staying with relatives was stressful plus we were trying to make things work around getting the kids into school at the start of the year - added an unnecessary level of complexity.

33

Find someone who could explain what social interactions are expected. An example of what I see commonly but will eliminate you from getting hired...a friend was taking a college course that required team work for a project. One recently separated veteran demanded that he be put in charge of the team, but the teams were not structured to have a leader only participation towards a goal. The veteran refused to work that way and dropped the class. I've seen variations of this behavior in the workplace and it costs the veteran his job.

34

Stayed in the navy until I was too damned old to serve any longer. Barring that, I would have spent my last 10 years networking and learning what I needed to know from qualified, non-military resources and assets.

Glad I saved 10%+ of my earnings (plus what I earned moonlighting) for the entire 24 years I did serve so I had no money worries when I left. I also had enough to invest in starting a business without having to borrow money.

35

Find out definitively what I wanted to do and then put everything into it.

36

Apply for jobs before getting out, having a resume ready, know about EDD, how to navigate usajobs, and VA services

37

Be less gung ho.

38

Seek employment with a company that had military contract connections such as shipyards in my case.

39

Work on my resume more and market myself harder.

40

Stay in

41

I would have gone straight back to work.

42

I'd have gone into management consulting from the start instead of banking first.

43

1. Finish a degree, take critical thinking courses.
2. Find out what is my passion - what job would I do for free.
3. Reduce any outstanding debt - if my dream job does not pay as much, I would not be concerned about finances.

44

Seek advice of a financial advisor to help prepare for finances. I was unprepared for the financial transition- cost of living, new tax bracket because all of my earnings were taxable etc.

45

start earlier in my career in the military tracking my accomplishments and recording them appropiately

46

Be more collaborative
Listen more
Be slow to make judgments and take action
Develop personal relationships

47

Go to more job fairs and apply to more places.

48

Line something up before I transitioned out

49

Revamp the whole system. If I had the money and the cooperation from the Military I would get every Military person getting out of the military qualified on their current civilian potential career so they can be competitive with their civilian counter parts.

50

stay in - take a different assignment

51

I would have gotten my PMP before I left the military and I would have worked harder to complete my Bachelors degree.

52

Volunteer more, network more, be more gracious and forgiving with myself about my expectations.

53

I don't believe there is anything that could be done that would have mattered.

54

Maybe live closer to a military base.

55

Start looking earlier and network more.

56

i would have attended more networking events and career fairs.

57

I would stay in.

58

I would start working on my BS in business management instead of an AS in electronic engineering. I feel that would have helped me tremendously upon leaving the military.

59

For the last few months, turn over your position to another peer so you can focus on your transition. The military will continue without you.

60

I would have earned my Master's Degree.

61

-Don't retire on deployment
- Manage your career don't let others
- Change your life stile 5 years out and start saving 2 years just isn't enough
- Line up you jobs earlier than expected with different stiles of resume's
- Go to school while still in the service "Burn your TA up prior to your GI Bill an get your associates, Bachelor's at a minimum
- At your 15 year mark you plan on doing 20 and getting out have a plan and a back up plan with you job search and life in general

62

I would have done more research on where I should live to best find employment in my career field. I eventually moved from California to Virginia where finding work has been much easier.

63

More networking in my business related area of expertise prior to leaving the military.

64

I would have stayed in the military reserves. I look back now and understand that I missed a great opportunity to further serve my country and truly benefit from a military career.

65

Attend college in the military, become an officer

66

I would start my job search two years in advance rather than one year.

67

I would have declined to leave the military. I also would have considered relocating at the time of separation, which I did not consider as my spouse was deployed at the time of transition

68

Network globally and avoid staying in the location where I retired.

69

I would work on my network of new and existing contacts. The more people who know you are transitioning, the more people can alert you to unposted positions they hear or know about. I have watched this happen again and again since my own transition. Networking is THE MOST IMPORTANT PART of the job search process!

70

Do more networking while still in Military

71

Have education on what are my abilities and capabilities and how that relates to civilian vs. military.

72

I'd tell my transitioning self...
1-slow down
2-work needs to be a priority so prepare yoursrlf and your son
3-stoo talking so much and listen. You don't have to work so hard to prove yourself or add value

73

Stay in school.

74

Visit the ONE site and other sites like it to see job potential for the next few years.

75

Would have focused more on job planning rather than focusing on completing my degree. It took a year to do that. I should have worked more toward specific employment

76

It could not have gone any smoother.

77

I would have a more aggressive networking plan (in terms of timeline), but try to be equally as methodical in my decisions.

78

Get out of debt!!!!!!!!!!!!!

79

Start earlier. Network more with folks in the industry that you want to go into.

80

Understand the importance of networking.

81

I would network with senior leaders a lot more.

82

I would look for a government (GS) position right away in the area that I wanted to retire in. I took one in an area that I hate and am now looking for one in the area that I was originally in and have to once again pay for the move out of my pocket. But I will be back where I want to be.

83

Concentrate on VA Disability Claim.

84

Pay more attention to the importance of and how to "Network" more effectively.

85

Work sooner to get a government agency position

86

start several years out

87

I would have retired closer to the 20 year mark vice over the 35 year mark.

88

Research, plan and quickly focus on developing networking leads.

89

Learn more about the federal job application process.

90

More networking.

91

I would have narrowed my search to look for project management positions.

92

I would have started my research earlier and I would not have accepted the first offer that came my way.

93

Prepare 2 or 3 years ahead of time to ready.

94

I might hold out for a better position, instead of jumping on the first thing that came along. It worked out great for a few years before transitioning to something better, but if I had been more patient, perhaps the second transition wouldn't have been necessary.

95

Go to TAP more than once

96

I would have started the process earlier. Would not have waited for my chain of command to determine when.

97

I would have more funds set aside for transition and would have taken longer in the job search.

98

Concentrate on my education and resume. Look for work in different areas as well.

99

Obtain a college degree while still on active duty

100

STart earlier.

101

Contact HR at the local corporation for more about the hiring process. Contact the American Job Center and talk with case managers on the full process of getting hired and the available FederalState program to assist me in the employment process.

102

Start the process much earlier

103

I would seek out non-profits that offer mentoring services to help with the transition.

104

learn more of the VA benefits process, learn more about bidding for government contracts, where to obtain funds for business ventures and obtain more education specific to a civilian position/business opportunities

105

I would have never tried to switch branches and leave active duty.

106

Apply for all jobs

107

Apply for all jobs

108

Network network network. I would also learn more about the companies hiring process and the culture.

109

I would value my own experience more highly and negotiate higher salaries.

110

Have a true career plan and execute it. I tried winging it. A very poor decision as I was pretty unhappy for my first eight years in the civilian world.

111

Ensure that Personnel doesn't screw up my final pay, not stop my job hunt until I have signed a contract, and maybe put away more funds for the transition.

112

I'd save more money. I'd start my own business during my last year or two in service.

113

No, it takes time no matter who you are and what you do. Patience is key. There really is no way of rushing the process if you are taking an active role in your transition.

114

I would have gone into the troops to teachers program. I ended up as a teacher anyway, but I got screwed on the incentive where they would give you day for day added to your retirement (at age 62) up to your 20 years. I had no idea I could start teaching before I got certified. I only found out after the fact.

115

Not assume I had a job waiting for me. The first 3 letters of assume are "ASS".

116

I would have planned better financially. I made my living plan based off what I was making in the military. I expected to make the same amount of money and that I would secure a job at that level much sooner than I did.It made my life exceptionally difficult for a very long time afterwards. I would have saved more money, I would have lived less expensively, and I would have been more persistent in my job search.

117

Research many companies

118

I would spend more time considering total career reboots, i.e. medical school, law school, entrepreneurship, etc. I might also spend some time not working initially in order to refresh my interests and goals as a civilian.

119

Get out state side. I got out overseas.

120

I would be more attuned to the company culture that I was joining.

121

Start earlier!

122

Find a head hunter that could get me past the gate keeper so my military experience would be given consideration.

123

I applied to everything I could and took a job that was rewarding but not what I wanted. It got me started while I looked for the jobs I really wanted.

124

Learn the difference between the two worlds

125

Try to get other opportunities in my job field.

126

Look at different Mos after completion of first contract.

127

I would have negotiated for a higher starting salary.

128

I would say that everything up till now has helped shape me mentally for what's ahead. I wouldn't change a thing.

129

When realizing I could not become a police officer due to color vision issues, I would have requested assistance in finding information about other emergency management / mitigation oriented jobs.

130

Widened my location search and been more open to other cities.

131

loosen up at lot earlier.

132

I would have left the navy the first chance I had after failing out of flight school.

133

Start building a network and searching for jobs with the expressed purpose of finding post retirement employment at least 10 years prior to retirement

134

I would remain on active duty longer. When I again thought about transitioning out I would begin smoozing with contractors that supported my military specialty and find a mentor who had already made the transition. I wild join the VFW or American Legion in the area where I expected to begin my civilian life and at least correspond with them and ask for their assistance.

135

Make sure I was stationed in the states close to where I was retiring.

136

Submit my VA claim earlier, get transition counseling earlier, and take advantage of unemployment during a longer, more well thought out job search.

137

Go right straight in to college.

138

I am actually pleased with my transition.

139

I would have waited on a better next job.

140

Get a coach sooner!

141

Save a bit more and to be "more financially comfortable" during the transition.

142

Seek additional industries and job pipelines, perhaps even go to get a Masters right away.

143

Start early, go to TAP.

144

Not do TAP, it was a waste of time

145

smile Probably would have stated in service.

146

Probably not do TAP

147

I would prepare more for instance, I would have made sure I had my degree before starting the job hunt.

148

I would have started in a much more challenging position.

149

Negotiate pay better. I took amounts offered rather than really negotiate them. Also I would have tried to better understand what they really wanted of me in the job, because once I got there they changed what I was doing. I wanted to leave, but did not.

150

Fought harder to prevent the separation due to service-connected disability

151

I think I would have been more proactive on searching for jobs on the internet.

152

Find job before moving

153

Take some preparatory courses for the law school entrance exam. I took it cold and, although made a pretty good score, could have done much better had I taken a prep course. I didn't even know they existed. The exam (LSAT) greatly influences the opportunities available---from which law school one is admitted to, to what job offers one receives later.

154

I would not have rushed back into the workforce. I should've taken time off to enjoy life and family.

155

Be more selective in the position I would be willing to take. Be more critical and ask more questions. My position is in high demand I held out for the salary I wanted. I would still do this, but I would also make sure it was with a company that matched my core values. Too much dysfunction at the top leadership at my first job.

156

Nothing. I just had to go through the process get to the other side, so I could get on with it.
The transition isn't hard, but you do find yourself in a strange land.

157

Start preparing sooner

158

Try not to worry as much.

159

I would do more research on how to transition my job skills into the civilian market and know more what my benefits I was entitled to were

160

I would have done a lot more groundwork to learn about the public accounting industry and would have done more to keep my skills sharp between the time I finished my graduate work and the time I actually retired (about 3 years).

161

It's possible that I might take advantage of the Troops to Teachers program, but I was "scared off" back then by the low salaries new teachers make.

162

Look into local veteran benefits!

163

I would hand deliver resumes to smaller companies rather than wait for ads to appear online.

164

Probably nothing

165

I would have aggressively sought out participation in a Transition Assistance Program course.

166

I would have prepared my resume and VA disability claim sooner.

167

LOADS. I would look at where I was going differently. I went to a PhD program where many people had vastly different outlooks than I did. I should have expected that but wasn't prepared for the truly vast differences. I was still a reservist in grad school during the Iraq wars and had several professors and students telling me that I would not have to go if I was called up (never was). I had a very different notion on that matter.

168

I would call a workforce center and ask about programs for transitioning military members. I would start phone conversations early before my transition, and I would ask, specifically, how I could look for work in certain industries or what industries I could work in. It took me years to realize there were places that I could have worked in my workforce region which would have been ideal given my military experience.

169

I would have started 9 months to a year out. I would have been involved with groups in the community. I would have spoke to more professionals in the industry I wanted to go to.

170

Use some of the programs available today

171

Saved more of a nest egg and begun my job search much sooner before my discharge date.

172

Be better at salary negotiation. I think I started lower than I should have, based on my military salary.

173

Be Debt Free

174

Request and get into TAP or more classes surrounding how to write a resume, your veteran benefits are and how to contact to get them, reserves and education benefits. You need the information about the state that you may relocate into - if you are leaving and not retiring how you qualify for unemployment as you look for work; the 90 days to register to vote or get past documents like vehicle and driver licensing to the state where you are not to live in.

175

Stay in the full twenty!

176

Talk to even more people working in the civilian sector to learn more about what they do, how they got to where they are in their career and what they enjoy most about it.

177

Perhaps look at other graduate schools.

178

Sell terminal leave to help with transition time not having a job

179

I would not go immediately to work, I would have taken at least 30 days off to reset my brain.

180

I would work harder with the recruiter and be more patient. I might also have sought more help with my resume to make it more "civilian friendly." If my family situation had been different, I probably would have immediately gone back to graduate school or take a year off to determine what I really wanted to do. It was basically starting completely over for me.

181

Start master's degree earlier before making decision to transition

182

Broaden the area of work I was looking for.

183

Learned more about educational benefits available.

184

I would have pushed for education needs

185

Skip civil service

186

Transition process should be longer with more one-on-one counseling from transition experts. These people should know resume writing, interview prep, VA forms and procedures, applying for colleges, VA home loans and refinancing, and many other aspects of transitioning.

187

I would have eliminated as much debt as possible.

188

Since I'm happy in my job, nothing.

189

Started sign up for college sooner.

190

I would have taken more time off before starting a new job.

191

I probably would have valued retirement location much more over job/career "fit". We did not return "home" after I retired. While we did the research and financially we knew the cost of living requirements, etc. to ensure we could easily transition into the civilian community, we were blindsided by the local/state legislation, politics and differing values - the ever increasing community/state annual taxes/service fees increases, new state laws/restrictions, etc. take their toll.

192

I left the military and went immediately to college. I would have chosen my second -- and much more difficult major -- first. I was far more capable than I knew and I would have attacked things more aggressively. That's the one thing I'd tell any veteran. Go For It!

193

I would stay in and getting additional contracting or information systems experience before transitioning out.

194

Perhaps the only thing I would do differently, that I can think of, is starting filling out job applications sooner.

195

There was nothing I could do differently. I wasn't given enough time to prepare for my transition.

196

I would have tried to anticipate and deal with the emotional trauma of leaving the military before retirement. No TAP program...or any organization...is very well equipped for that part of the transition process.

197

Skip T-GPS and contact a recruiter in the real world.

198

Start earlier. I started in February went on terminal in September and started my new job that week.

199

I would get a PMP certification.

200

When I see an 06 parking spot close to the door at the Commissary, I sometimes wish I had stayed in and do what I needed to do to promote to 06. I also feel that way when I am taking MAC and 06's get VIP privileges. In general I had a wonderful military career starting as an E1 and retiring as an O5. I am happy!

201

I would probably get more hands on experience for other departments and get those equipment certifications. A college degree is good but I was making the same salary with only military experience because I had certifications.

202

Focus on potential interview questions and answers and practice interviewing.

203

Started earlier and cast a wider net

204

Start networking earlier and start applying for jobs at least 6 months before leaving the Service. It takes at least 6-8 months to land a good job unless you have highly marketable skills. It also depends on exactly what you want to do. If you want to be a greeter at Target that's one thing, if you want something more you'd better start working much earlier than you think.

205

I'd have taken some time 2 weeks to a month) off before starting the next job.

206

I would have completed my Bachelor Degree or gotten my PMP Certification before transitioning.

207

I would have stayed in

208

Yes, get medical and military records correct and complete before leaving.

209

Re-enlisted!

210

In my case, the main reason I got out was to finish my Bachelor's Degree. Any job I got was to enable me to finish school. In retrospect, I might have considered staying in if there was an opportunity to take more classes, but the job I had and the schedule I kept made it extremely difficult.

211

I would have stayed in. I had a hard time adjusting to not being a part of something bigger. It also took me a few years to find a job and still am not doing anything remotely close to what I did in the military.

212

I would take advantage of the educational opportunities such as the GI bill. If i could have afforded it, I would have gone back to school and got a degree.

213

If I could go back and re-accomplish anything prior to my transition, I'd get more education/certifications in the job market I want to work. Education and certifications pays big.

214

Use my network

215

Take more time off before starting my next career.

216

Start planning earlier

217

ask and get the correct infomation

218

Hotly pursue a military-industry position before separation - retirement. May have also stayed for another tour to see if I was selected for promotion. I took advantage of the planned retirement program in the army 90s

219

My transition was pretty painless but I might have taken a different offer if I knew what I did now. There was a company who offered me less but I believe would have been better for me. It's not all about the money is what I learned in the long run.

220

I would prepare myself better mentally. What I mean is, learning emotional intelligence and how to carry yourself with confidence and poise.
My first civilian job I still carried myself like "the Chief" (Navy). I never smiled, did not engage in much conversation....I just was there to "get the job done". WRONG ATTITUDE!
You need to develop soft skills and know how to communicate effectively in the workplace,

221

I would take six months to visit schools, talk to people in different professions, build a research base, and start thinking way beyond the kinds of thoughts I'd had in the military.

I would make sure I understood all of my veteran's benefits and learn what I could accomplish with them. I would then start my education or my job search, whichever I chose.

222

Changed careers

223

Seek a career coach, network more, and start using my GI Bill right away

224

I would have went into a technical field and probably not the medical field. The ratings in the Navy don't prepare you for civilian life when you retire unless you are a tech.

225

I would have placed greater emphasis on a long-term plan that included furthering my education and obtaining a Law degree. Once I began work, following that path would have been too difficult and costly to the family as a whole, thus I never pursued that particular dream.

226

Know that the people were just hired by friends that retired and secured themselves and that they didn't care about giving the proper information out knowing that their job was secured !

227

Go right into school and work part time. Should have got my degree right out of the military instead of continuously putting it on the back burner.

228

More time from mission to prepare

229

Start the disability claim process earlier.

230

I would have taken more time off in between retiring and starting the new job.

231

I would research civilian job opportunities further in advance and attend at least one job fair.

232

Get a secured job before I got out

233

Nope. Okay, maybe take a TAP like course.

234

Already have a job lined up, no gap preferred.

235

Already have a job lined up, no gap preferred.

236

I would have gone into a MBA program in the city where I wanted to live post transition. Being in the location you want to live and networking there is key to a successful transition.

237

Attend certification programs and determine a specific job title to enter into the workforce.

238

Start earlier.

239

Retire in the same city that I planned on living in after retiring. I retired out of Naples, IT and moved to San Antonio, TX

240

Start earlier!

241

If the butterfly had a machine gun the bird would not be a predator. Not IF but knowing what on experienced what would be ideal smoother transition from military service to civilian sector to our future soldiers. Have available a full military copy of all the members record files as part of a separation documents. Lack of records finding is an issues to this day for verification assistant programs.

242

I would try to have a better idea what industry and career I wanted to work in, had a better understanding of the jobs available, and started making plans to get certifications and training ahead of time.

243

Work out every single day!!

244

Start college earlier

245

I wouldn't have gotten out

246

I would have not gotten out of the military.

247

Work harder at getting a degree or certification in my technical field. Not having that piece of paper has hurt because on the outside I don't have any specific certification that I know how to do anything.

248

I would have partaken in more training opportunities!

249

I would've planned my next steps more carefully.

250

Start much earlier. Leave on my terms.

251

Conduct many informational interviews and leverage my friends for support.

252

I would not have joined the military. To much opportunity costs down the drain for very little gained. I have great bar stories....

253

I would spend minimal time on online job boards and maximize my time networking face to face.

254

Contact my human network sooner and spend less time reviewing the internet for jobs.

255

Take more advantage of financial planning well in advance of my ETS.

256

Start preparing much earlier.

257

Resume preparing

258

I would have retired at an earlier age. Many Federal jobs that I was qualified for have age restrictions.

259

Do more research in the degree I was perusing to make sure it would lead to a successful career.