From Military to Corporate: How Veterans Can Make the Big Shift

How veterans can make the big shift?

As they become civilians, veterans not only have to go through some learning and unlearning, they also have to figure out the right entry point to the corporate world. It can be harder than your typical job search, as I learned from Kimberlynn Hunter, a former member of the U.S Army and now a senior consultant at Cognizant.

As veterans face a new battlefield, they have to come up with a plan of attack, ready the tools in their arsenal, and expect some curveballs along the way. Here are some ways you can pivot, make your corporate debut, and accelerate your career.

Expect a lot of roadblocks

Did you know that you’d most likely be grouped with college football players and incarcerated individuals? Recruiters have a lot of misconceptions about former military men and women which can largely affect their entry into the workforce. Here’s the SYCK truth.

Age discrimination

There can be a disconnect among job level, years of experience and age, especially for people who have been in the military for a long time. “How can you go from being a leader of a big team in the army to now being a junior employee?” For more senior roles, some recruiters might not consider long-timer vets at all.

Overlooked skills

Even if you’ve gained military skills through the years, recruiters don't always see how that can be translated into an office role. This is why, as Kim suggests, veteran job seekers need to work with a career coach to translate their military experience into corporate skills and translate civilian job postings into language familiar to service members.

Lower pay

Some recruiters assume you’d be okay with a smaller salary because you’re a veteran on pension.?

Consider trainings

Kim’s Executive MBA degree, or what she referred to as the ‘moneymaker,’ was the game-changing factor that attracted companies to her. Through her business school experience, Kim landed the role of an Organizational Change Management Consultant – her seniority aligned with her MBA.?

You may want to consider any form of training that will connect you to career coaches and mentors who will advise you on your resume, which conferences to attend, and which groups to network in. Whether through an MBA or a coaching program with us at Kadima Careers, find supporters that can guide you through the process. It makes all the difference.

Get out there

Networking is now a requirement. While walking up to your senior for a quick chat might have been unimaginable in the armed forces, it’s highly encouraged now. There’s no rank structure anymore. Message people on LinkedIn, go to professional events, keep connections warm.?

Try to kickstart your networking efforts at least a year before you retire from the military. Building relationships takes time. You have to start in advance; otherwise, you might be forced to take a job you're not interested in just to be able to put food on the table.

If you want to switch to a different industry, your current circle may not be able to help you – but strangers might. The people you least expect can offer a lot of support, so keep yourself open to them.

Define your story

Basically, be a good storyteller. You have to come up with a spiel for interviews, your resume, and your LinkedIn profile. In a nutshell, what’s your career narrative? How should people remember you? Best to dissect this by knowing (1) what to say and (2) how to say it.

Compared to the military, corporate civilian vocabulary is more laidback with a hint of seriousness, assured but not arrogant. In interviews, you should seem relatable, personable, and confident. People will hire candidates who have the skills to perform the job, of course, but remember too that people want to be around people they like, Kim noted. Like in the service, there’s a learning curve to corporate culture, and interviews take some practice, but with support from others, you’ll adjust to it.?

From your military experience, what skills do you want to develop? Include that in your story. Do you want to highlight your ability to strategize? To lead people? What industry interests you? The decision is yours. You now have the privilege to do what you want, refuse what you don’t want, and ultimately, carve your own career path.

Kimberlynn Hunter on LinkedIn

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