3 Paths from the Military to a Tech Career

So you want to go from the military to a job at an exciting tech company?

Leaping from the world of SOPs and CoCs to the world of APIs and GIFs can feel like trying to jump across the Grand Canyon.

There has to be an easier way into the tech world...

But here’s a little secret: Hundreds of thousands of veterans have already done just that. And the easiest way to follow in their footsteps is to examine those footsteps closely. As in - where did they go and how can you do the same?

183,851 veterans work in the tech industry - from Microsoft to Amazon to Google

And if you look carefully at those footsteps, you’ll notice three clear patterns start to emerge:

1) Every Veteran Is Already a Project Manager (And Every Tech Project Needs a Good One)

We all assume that amazing tech products from the iPhone to the Tesla Model S are chiefly the product of amazing engineers. And it’s true that it takes an army of gifted coders and hardware gurus to get these built.

But it’s also true that these products would still be sitting on a whiteboard somewhere if it weren't for the equally amazing project managers who shepherded them into the world. After all, just like in the military, things only get done when someone takes responsibility for them. And that’s where the Project Manager comes in.

A great project manager:

• Lays out a complete roadmap, uncovering all the potential roadblocks standing in the team’s way
• Negotiates with internal stakeholders to get access to all necessary resources
• Delegates responsibility and then holds daily check-ins to ensure consistent progress towards the team’s goal

Do whiteboards get you excited? Chances are you might be a rockstar project manager... :)

And guess what? Almost every servicemember has had to perform the exact same leadership role at some point.

Whether you were in charge of a small team or a massive project, the military’s vast, hierarchical structure ensures that servicemembers take on significant responsibilities over the course of their tenure. Which means that you’re probably more than ready to help tech companies scope, track, and deliver similarly ambitious projects.

For more information on the role and how to get ready for it, here’s a complete guide from Shift:

2) The Military + Silicon Valley Run on Data

As noted above, the military’s massive scale dwarfs even the biggest tech giant’s. And all that heft produces data - lots and lots of it.

Which means that many servicemembers come out of the military with incredible analytical skills, having spent years marinating in massive spreadsheets, searching for hidden insights.

If that’s you, consider the fact that just about every major tech company’s success is built on great data analysis. Where would Google be without being able to sort through all the world’s websites in the snap of a finger? How useful would Netflix be without a recommendation engine pointing to the perfect movie in a library of millions? And what would be the point of Lyft if it couldn’t alert drivers to where potential passengers will be waiting next?

So here’s what drives the tech world’s data analysts and scientists to develop the next amazing breakthrough:

• A desire to collect and organize data - be it from company databases or from sources across the internet
• A curiosity to analyze that data, looking for trends and outliers that may point to important insights
• A passion to translate those findings into actionable results that can power key business decisions or even the next generation of killer tech products

Some people just see numbers. But others see a puzzle to solve - if that's you, definitely check out a data career!

Find out more about the key tools of the data trade - and how to develop them for free as a veteran - right here:

3) Tech Products Don’t Sell Themselves (It Takes a Great Veteran!)

While we’ve all heard the magical Silicon Valley stories of companies that went from 0 to a billion users practically overnight, those are the exception, not the rule.

That’s because the vast majority of tech companies sell a product or service that someone has to be persuaded to buy - be it a new database (e.g., Oracle), consulting contract (e.g., IBM), or even a new idea (e.g., IDEO). And guess what? When a company is considering spending $10,000 to $10,000,000 or more, they don’t just want to click a button on a website and fork over a credit card - they want someone to hold their hand.

Enter the tech salesperson.

Gifted at understanding other people’s needs and seeing opportunity, many veterans excel in this role. That’s because, whether they’ve done recruiting in the service or just led a team, they’ve had deep experience with influence and motivation. And that’s exactly the kind of expertise that a tech salesperson needs to thrive:

• The ability to listen clearly to others and empathize with their challenge
• The ability to transform this empathy into a solution that cuts to the heart of the challenge
• The ability to take a prospective customer from interest in the solution all the way to a done deal

Sales isn't about putting on a suit and handing out business cards. Instead, it's all about people - can you listen, care, and collaborate?

If this critical role sounds like the kind of work you’d love, learn more about the life and training of a tech salesperson here:

Which Path Should You Take?

So whether the military has turned you into a leader, an analyst, or an influencer, know that the tech world badly needs your talents. There’s incredible opportunity for those who can transform complexity into organization, data into insights, or leads into customers.

And the best part is that no matter which path is right for you, you won’t be alone. These trails have been blazed by veteran pioneers for years. So if you’re ready to embark, look for those footprints, talk to someone who’s traveled the journey you hope to make, and then take that first step.

Going from the military to tech is a leap you can actually make.

Want a little extra help as you begin your trek into tech? Shift matches transitioning active duty servicemembers with career opportunities at some of the world’s most innovative companies - from Uber and Affirm to Symantec and MLB Advanced Media. Learn more at www.shift.org.