Mil-Civ Transition: A Phased Approach

Every service member experiences the military-to-civilian transition differently, but most can agree that being caught unprepared can feel like being late for first formation during basic training or realizing you can't find your sensitive items after a field exercise. While some situations will always be reactionary, applying the right transition principles can help you avoid the kind of panic that makes your stomach drop… As you enter the final stretch of your transition, relax; there is hope.

The Transition Mission

Transitioning from the military and successfully integrating into the civilian sector is a no-fail mission and relies heavily on proper planning, preparation, and execution. As a former Field Artillery Officer in the U.S. Army, I can appreciate the importance of a good strategy and how incorporating phases, focus, and direction in every aspect of life can increase your probability of success.

Whether you are two years or two months from transition, use this three-phase approach to help you stayed focus and moving in the right direction. Phase One: Focus on Self

Military leaders often fall victim to focusing so intently on everyone else that they forget to assess their individual needs. Invest some meaningful time into self-exploration[LC1]?[LC2]?.

1.????? Do a Myers Briggs personality test.

2.????? Do a goal setting exercise.

3.????? Discuss your lifetime goals with your spouse; get sync'd!

4.????? Build your master reverse chronological resume.

5.????? Write your 30 second elevator pitch.

6.????? Optimize your LinkedIn profile.

7.????? Find a mentor[LC3]?[LC4]?.

While these things may seem tedious, superficial, or things that can be done at any point in your transition, they are necessary in setting the foundation for effective job seeking, especially on a condensed timeline.

Phase Two: Focus on Your Network

Career professionals like to discuss the importance of growing a network in a job search, but more important than growing a network is nurturing it. All the time you spent exploring yourself will define how and who you network with, and the effectiveness in which you communicate with your audience[LC5]?.

1.????? Research industries and career fields.

2.????? Network, both in person and digital.

3.????? Attend DAV / RecruitMilitary career fairs... plural.

4.????? Execute 15-20 informational interviews. Yes... that many!

5.????? Build your presence on LinkedIn by posting content or commenting on other content 2-3x per week. Make it authentic and meaningful to you.

6.????? Sit down with a financial advisor and write a budget that addresses the goals you established.

7.????? Define and refine your personal brand on LinkedIn.

Be mindful not to hyper-focus on the number of connections, instead, shift focus to the quality. If you are more concerned with meeting a certain number of informational interviews than you are about how you perform or what obtain from it, then the connection is meaningless.

Another aspect to consider is the authenticity of your connection efforts. If you are connecting, engaging with content, and reaching out to connections with requests, remember to represent your personal brand with thoughtful and respectful engagement. The impact of your network is up to you and involves deliberate effort.

Phase Three: Focus on Employers

Phases one and two focus heavily on information collection and preparation, phase three involves the execution[LC6]?.

1.????? Start targeting your resume to specific opportunities.

2.????? Research housing, insurance, tax laws and cost of living.

3.????? Seek referrals... it’s still important "who you know!"

4.????? Target your job search... optimize your networking efforts.

5.????? Rehearse by way of mock interviews.

6.????? Start applying for jobs[LC7]?.

Don’t Forget to AAR

As much as we all hated sitting sweaty, dirty, and hungry in an after-action review (AAR) of a mission, the practical application of an AAR made each subsequent iteration of a training or mission that much more impactful.

The same is true for each phase of your military transition. Every few weeks, evaluate the effectiveness of your plan and preparation steps. Are you accomplishing the transition goals you had hoped for?

It’s never too late to reevaluate your transition needs. If you’re feeling stuck, consider seeking an outside opinion to help you adjust with an unbiased perspective. You’ve got this.

Good Luck and God Speed!?

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Lucas Connolly is DOD Program Manager at RecruitMilitary and a retired U.S. Army veteran. ?

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