Veterans Please Listen: You Must Own Your Transition … and There Are Many Who Want To Help You!

As we are part of the Leadership Team within a growing military networking organization of 50+ National Chapters -The Veterans Beer Club (#VBC_USA)- we feel compelled to comment on concerns voiced from myriad military and civilian transition course leadership out here in “The Golden State.” The below is a tight summary of our recurring dialogues and recommendations - there is much more … and they certainly do not just apply to transitioning Veterans in California. The preponderance of the commentary was documented by Brad (an Air Force Veteran), with input/editing from Brian (a Marine Veteran).

BLUF: We are discouraged at the number of junior enlisted and officers still taking transition courses from online service classes when in-person options are available. “In-person” is also code for Networking (aka Trusted Relationship Building over Time). In our eyes this is a poor reflection on the leadership of these junior personnel; however, it should not come as a surprise since those providing guidance have yet to transition themselves. This is not an indictment, this is reality. We -already on the outside- need to work even harder to help all uniformed demographics better understand the potential buzz saws they are about to walk into when shedding the purpose driven “Cloth of Our Nation” and putting on their steel-toed work boots or newly tailored suits of the non-military world.

Part I - to the individual transitioning Veterans:

It truly is an understatement to state: This is your transition and life is going to be very different once you leave the service. Seriously, this is going to be a huge change. Selecting schools for kids, dealing with jobs having rigid schedules not matching school schedules, not having PTO (time off) right after starting a new job…the list goes on.

Employment in many states is “at will.” This means business decisions out of your control often determine if you remain employed or not. If you focus on the basics now and pay attention to the FREE transition programs and resources you will be able to manage many shifts in the market. Alternatively, if you rush through these programs just to get the check mark for your separation or retirement package, life may be very different down the road.

Take advantage of the resources you have available while still in service. Most military members can come and go to appointments as they wish, while also attending week long training sessions. Take those classes and learn all you can! Trust us, you will be hard pressed to find a job on the outside allowing you all of this time off for certifications ... with pay!

Consistent comments from Transitioning Veterans:

●?I am moving to X state and going to work at X

• Tip #1. When we ask if they have applied or interviewed, the common answer is “not yet.” Remember, the average time to fill a role on the outside is 90 days or more (best case). Interviews, offer, background, reference check etc. There are staff positions taking 45 days; think environmental specialists (housekeeping), hostess, admin etc. Thus, do not wait for the jobs to come to you. They will not. Go Network and get them!

●?I am not sure what I am going to do, but, I will probably work for the Government

• Tip #2. You do not get to just show up to work for the Government. You will apply and hopefully interview to then land the role. With 40,000 people exiting service every year in California alone, there will be competition; and of course there is the “rank huggers” or buddy system you will need to wade through. Note: Veteran preference and disability ratings offer zero guarantee you will be hired to work for the Government. Thus, do not wait for the jobs to come to you. They will not. Go Network and get them!

●?I want to make six figures based on my years of experience

• Tip #3. Commonly Brad jokes he can pretty much guarantee a six figure salary if we count the decimal and cents. Seriously though, if you plan on saying this please know this means you will need to make ~$48.50 an hour to gross that amount. Realistically, this is closer to $66 an hour to net this amount as the Federal and State Governments will take their share. Further, your pay is all tax susceptible now versus just dealing with the base pay hit. Think about it … you need to earn more than double your current BAH in order to deal with the tax implications of losing this massive part of your tax free military pay & benefits if you want to maintain your standard of living in your current location. Yes, this specifically means all Veterans desiring to stay in San Diego! Thus, do not wait for the jobs to come to you. They will not. Go Network and get them!

●?The jobs are plentiful right now (… until they are not)

• Tip #4: On the civilian side we call this a business cycle. As the name outlines it is a cycle, and when it swings the other way you have to be prepared. You no longer live to work like in uniform; you work to live. You need to diversify your life. Networking, creating side hustles, generating investment opportunities, gaining additional skills/certifications, and even more networking outside your now “W2 job” are not just party discussions … these are resiliency cushions necessary for you to survive economic downturns. Thus, do not wait for the jobs to come to you. They will not. Go Network and get them!

Part II - more things individual Transitioning Veterans need to know:

●?Some businesses are winning in today’s market, while others are adjusting daily to stay afloat waiting for shifts in the market. The remote work of today makes sense for some industries; yet, it is almost impossible for others (think manufacturing, supply chain, classified work etc). Remote is awesome as you can work from anywhere; but, know if the business switches back to on campus/office you will need to maneuver quickly.

●?Many Transitioning Veterans have no idea the Federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. In California, the minimum wage is $14.00 an hour if the business has 26 or more employees. Small businesses can pay $13.00 an hour. These sort of details are critically important for those looking to start their own businesses. Do your research!

●?High School Diploma/GED with a ton of experience will still compete with those who have degrees and no experience. Right or wrong, hiring managers typically will take a person with a degree over someone with a diploma and years of experience. For those without a degree, you are encouraged to gain credentialed third party certifications in your desired career field. In the end, do not let a -real or perceived- lack of education or specific experience deter you! Know the businesses you want to work for, and focus on what is important for that business and their culture.

●?Basic job qualifications are just that, basic. Typically those who are hired into posted roles are able to meet or exceed the basic and preferred qualifications. Think about it this way, a business owner or decision maker will post an open position. The business owner will advertise their basic requirements; however, what they really want are the preferred qualifications. If they can find someone in the market with the preferred qualifications at the price point of the basic qualifications, they win. Note: despite the exceptions to the rule and anecdotal stories, a business with over 50 employees and subject to auditing will rarely onboard someone who does not meet the basic qualifications.

●?"Thank you for your service" does not equate to automatically getting a job. You must be able to articulate how you are going to make or save an organization money. ?Furthermore, businesses desiring Veterans are advertising hard, and their information is literally all over the place. If you can see they want to hire Veterans, so can all the other Veterans exiting service each year. This is why face to face Networking is critical!

In conclusion, when all else fails: Network! Network! Network! You need to hear all of the stories to inspire you during your transition. Further, you need to build the quality trust with those individuals who can help you on your journey from the military career cradle to the non-military career cradle. Remember, every new connection is an interview; thus, be the best version of you in every situation! You want connections to leave the conversation knowing the value you will bring to their industry, so those individuals will go into their employer and encourage them to look at you as their next relevant hire. This takes time … so go Network and find those people who can help you grow personally and professionally!

Bradley Garner & Brian Grana

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