AND
THE
IN SERVICE BEYOND
Making the Career Leap from the Military
Career Corner
by Kurt Virkaitis ’94 and James Weigand These two contributions were written from the perspective of a recent retiree and a career Human Resources professional. Each was drafted independently, but echo many of the same key factors to employment transition success from the perspective of the veteran job hunter and potential future employer.
Seeking a Job
A
s a recently retired Captain who made the transition to the ranks of the civilian workforce, I hope to provide some lessons learned and some key points of emphasis I learned along the way. I’ve seen the full range of success, with some landing their dream job before leaving the service, and others enduring 6-8 months of full-time job hunting. Many factors influence this timeline, but my advice is to be prepared for the long haul and some difficult life decisions if you really want to land your dream job on the first go around.
Network, Network, Network Cold applications to a job you really want are rarely successful. You need a point of contact who can advocate for you regarding that position, provide an internal referral, and help get your resume past the computer screening software. Ideally your network connection has the ability to discuss your resume and outstanding career accomplishments with company leadership, a hiring manager, or recruiter. This person may be a former Coast Guard member who has paved the way, an established veteran from another service, or a parent from your kid’s soccer league. Never overlook the potential of a networking opportunity. It is deliberate and difficult work. Likewise, be ready to pay it forward or return the favor by making connections for others. There are organizations to help you do this, and you should use them. The USCGA Alumni Association is a great one. Others include the Military Officers Association of America 52
(MOAA), FourBlock, and local veterans networking groups. These organizations often provide review and coaching services of your resume, interview, and LinkedIn profile. They offer other skill building services as well. Ideally, your strongest network contacts are local to the area you will be seeking employment. This can be challenging if you don’t live in that area during your final tour. I was fortunate to have a network connection that brought me into a newly formed veteran mentoring group near my home in New Hampshire. In addition to the benefits of having a dedicated mentor, I immediately entered a growing network of local professionals and business leaders whose primary goal was to help transitioning military members. Further, I started a monthly networking event which benefited everyone in the group. By actively contributing, I was able to rapidly expand my local network and make new connections for others.
Do you need to be on LinkedIn? LinkedIn is a reality of the modern workforce, you need to embrace it. If you don’t have an account or a complete and polished profile with a photo of you in civilian attire, get started right away. Your profile is a living social media document, and your activity can range from thoughtful daily or weekly posts, to commenting on the posts of others, to simply ensuring that you update your employment status and professional certifications. Your presence (and effectiveness) is up to you, but always remember to keep it professional, it’s your first impression for many network connections and potential employers. December 2020/January 2021
