Looking ahead, do transitioning Military Officers seek certainty with their new Civilian Careers?

As a West Point grad and Career Coach for military officers transitioning to civilian life, I hear this topic quite often. Since the military does a fantastic job of career planning, many officers wish they could have the same certainty of a monthly paycheck and the relative predictability of their career options.

The truth is that most careers in the civilian world are usually not well-planned and much more random than in the military. Combined with the virtually unlimited options a military officer has when he or she leaves the service, the future can seem quite daunting.

3 Common Issues for Transitioning Military Officers

I've found three common issues confronting many transitioning officers about their first civilian job: what will I do, will it last, will I fit in.

1. What will I do after leaving the military

Many transitioning officers tell me they are "not sure what they want to do." That's perfectly fine, because the first step is recognizing that fact. The next step is developing a plan to figure out three things: the must-haves, nice-to-haves and deal breakers. This is usually the hardest part, because many of us like to mix their must-haves and nice-to-haves into one bucket. So, why do we do this? Because we want it all and haven't been used to making this mental separation. Being clear about what belongs in each of the three buckets, will make it much easier to be clear about what you actually want to do.

2. The first job won't be the last job

Another thing that helps officers leaving the military is recognizing that the first civilian job will most likely not be their only job for the rest of their lives. In fact, over 90% of the time, their first job is just a stepping stone to a diverse and complex career.

While the military has been a continuation of one long career doing different jobs for the same "company" - the Department of Defense - it takes a mental shift to realize that they will probably have several careers and employers over the next few years.

3. Will I fit in

Because military officers spend most of their careers surrounded by other military folks, it was easy to fit in. For example, everyone got up in the morning to go to PT (Physical Training) at the same time to start the workday. And most military people live on or near military bases, where they form a tight community.

When officers start a new civilian job, they're are not always sure whether people will accept them and their background. Too many have what is known as "imposter syndrome". This is a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud". Over time, this can go away. But, the start can be sometimes difficult.

Life is about change. Everything changes. Going through a big change like leaving the military can be a huge step for many, because they are stepping into a new and unknown world. There are many resources available to transitioning military officers to help them make that step, like VetCTAP in San Diego and VETTED in Texas. By taking advantages of resources like these and many others, they can ease the path to a successful post-military civilian career.

Tom Kent, Executive Career Coach

CEO, MyCivilianCareer.com

[email protected]