My Transition Success via LinkedIn and Veteran Service Organizations

Transitioning out of the military, regardless of the branch you were in, the titles you held, or the rank you obtained, can be a very stressful, and an intimidating time. While serving we had the luxury of knowing when our next paycheck was going to hit the bank, how much we were making, what we could and could not afford, and the security of a place to live, food to eat, and clothes to wear. Leaving behind the safety net of full-time employment that we have been so accustomed to while in uniform can seem somewhat scary while at the same time, exciting. My transition is one of a rare success story, though rocky at several points along the way. I would like to share my story and the steps that I took to get to where I am today in hopes of making your transition a bit smoother.

               Instead of writing a step-by-step guide, I will keep it more aligned with telling a story. In actuality, I AM sharing my story along the path to a successful transition from military service to an accepted offer of employment with a reputable company. I will share with you that it was not always a road freshly paved. It was a path full of ruts, sinkholes, obstacles and deterrents along the way before reaching the fresh, smooth asphalt of success.

             As I look back to early 2018, I had just returned from my fourth tour in the pristine Middle East, after completing a successful nine months in the country of Jordan. It felt great to be home and reunited with my family, enjoying some much-needed down time away from the chaos of daily military life. My relaxation period was abruptly interrupted by my chain of command, and I was forced to come to work for reasons that do not add value to this story. However, this event started my downward slide from feeling successful to feeling like a failure. They had initiated separation from service against me.

               Now the time came for me to really weigh my options and to create an exit plan. But first, I wasn’t going without a fight. I took my fight to my chain of command, to their senior leadership, and beyond. I fought and fought until I finally believed I had given all my effort to avoid separation. And in the end, I won this war against toxic leaders determined to make examples out of those that did not succumb to their demands. Unfortunately, not everyone had the same success as me.

               Jumping ahead to 2019, I found out that I required a surgical procedure on my back. Luckily, this surgery was of minor consequence, and considered a routine surgery often used to provide relief from pain and stress on the sciatic nerve. The surgery seemed to be a success and I felt that going forward my career was on the up and up. Until about five months after my surgery, I was put in for a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) to determine if I was fit for continued service.

              I refused to let them take me out like this. So, what did I do? I submitted my request for retirement immediately after being placed in the MEB process. Slowly, the MEB process was moving from one step to the next, getting my medical exams completed, finalizing other required pre-separation activities. Then, before my MEB packet could go forward for review, my request for retirement came back approved. Now with retirement orders in hand, I was able to get the MEB waived to allow me to retire and avoid medical separation.

               Then the next big hit came, and this affected not just me, but the globe. Introducing COVID-19 in to the mix of things caused a lot of headaches and heartaches. All the traditional tasks that I needed to complete in order to set myself up for a successful transition were put on hold. Most offices closed down, having their people work remotely from home. And, for a few months, it was as if everything came to a halt for my transition and preparation. This became a stressful time for me and my family.

Where some may see this as a negative thing, I saw an opportunity. It was time for me to really engage LinkedIn and discover what it was all about. It was here that I started seeking out new connections and building my network. But it was very slow going at first because I didn’t know how to do it the right way. While trying to figure out the do’s and don’ts of LinkedIn, I started to work on building my resume for when the time came to apply for open positions. I got my first resume completed pretty quickly and was able to get it reviewed by a couple people that I had connected with, all working within the Recruiting or Talent Acquisition fields. What an eye opener this was! My resume was a wreck from top to bottom, from left to right, and all the space in between. And here is where the success story begins, so stick with me for just a bit longer.

               It was one of the Talent Acquisition specialist that directed me to Hire Heroes USA. This non-profit organization connected me with a transition specialist whose job is to provide assistance for service members and veterans to prepare them for a successful post-military career. My individual transition specialist drafted me an excellent base resume, transferring my military skills over to civilian related terms and meaning. It was from here that I was able to build upon and tailor my resume to meet specific job requirements.

              Next, I sought out and researched the companies that I had a desire to join. Once I had narrowed my search down to just a handful, using the LinkedIn search tool, I looked for people within each company to connect with, especially those in the recruiting sector and those within the area of expertise I wanted to work. When doing this, always remember to add a personal note on why you request the connection. It will add value to your request rather than just being another connection for quantity purposes. You want to have quality connections; connections that will be of benefit to you and others.

       I built my network, going from just under 200 connections to over 500 in a matter of weeks. During this time, I applied for and was accepted to pursue my training to earn a Project Management Professional certification, which is still ongoing. I throw this in there because it leads to another great resource for veterans and transitioning service members. The Onward to Opportunity (O2O) program will allow you to earn one free professional certification, whether it is earned in the fields of Human Resources (HR), Information Technology (IT), Project Management (PM), or other offered certificates, is up to you and based on your qualifications. 

               Watching and reading my feed on LinkedIn allowed me to pick up on some things and recognize some great people to follow and connect with. Another amazing organization that I chose to follow was HireMilitary. This organization has great representation on LinkedIn. Three of my favorite connections are a part of this team, however, without their permission, I won’t put their names here. Feel free to reach out to me if you want to know. They provide great advice and tips from resume building to financial readiness. They are veteran friendly because they too are veterans.

       Finally, my success grew from networking, connecting, communicating, and being active on LinkedIn. I engaged others and others engaged me. As a community full of veterans, we have to be here for each other, to guide one another, to provide motivation and encouragement. My story ends with a successful transition still in the making. I interviewed for one job out of a dozen I applied for, and that was the job meant for me: my skillset, my qualifications, my experience. Just because everything seems dark and going wrong for you now, doesn’t mean that you aren’t being prepared for the next big opportunity. Stay positive, stay connected and engaged, and keep building your network!