Signs that you are ready to transition
Back in the day when working as an employment counsellor and seminar leader at two military bases (Kingston and Trenton), I used to advise military members to prepare for entering the civilian workforce 18 months BEFORE release or retirement. Why 18 months? As an outgoing military member, it is often neither an easy, nor smooth transition to “civvie street.” Just as the military has its own culture (and sub-cultures, depending on the element: navy, airforce, army or marine). Every culture has its own norms and expectations, and outgoing military members need to understand and ultimately embrace the new “civilian” culture if they want to achieve success.
Coming back to the time when I was delivering career transition workshops, coaching and “de-militarizing” resumes (long BEFORE my local military bases understood the power of career coaching by the way!), I taught some crucial points about transitioning and morphed them into a “to do list” for outgoing military members.
1. You have dealt with any physical or mental health issues before transitioning (i.e. physical injuries or issues not dealt with by the military release unit; mental health concerns such as PTSD, OSI or operational stress injury, severe social anxiety or anti social personality traits after deployments?)
If you have not dealt with the above, are you willing to get help or access resources? For example, if you suspect you have PTSD, check out this site for my article on the PTSD checklist of symptoms.
2. You are able to identify at least 5 strengths as a civilian worker.
Of all the populations with whom I’ve worked, military members are the most modest. Unless you can identify strengths that you can be valuable to a potential employer, you’re not ready to apply to civilian jobs. If you can’t see your strengths, put away your modesty and ask trusted friends, colleagues, superiors or community/volunteer contacts.
Remember: Employers don’t hire “generic” employees. They hire people who offer value (often to help their “bottom line” or productivity above all).
As a last resort, go back to your best performance evaluations (in Canada, we call them “PER’s.” Look at the complimentary comments your superior wrote about you).
3.You are able to identify at least 5 important values in decision making.
Basic career counselling often refers to identifying one’s values as a way of making sound decisions. We use our values daily already to make decisions. Applying values to changing careers is essential because it allows you to make a conscious choice of whether a civilian job or career would be a potential fit.
For example, do you like to work independently or on a team?
Do you like variety or established routine?
Would you like to work for a non-profit or for profit business or company?
Do you fancy opportunities for professional development and/or learning?
Is money one of your most important values or is it autonomy?
AND a question that many overlook: Does my desired field, company or industry match MY values?
The takeway: Don’t give these questions short shrift. They count!
3. You know what 3 skills you would LIKE to use as a civilian employee.
In 15+ years as an employment counsellor and career coach, I have seen job seekers (many military members) choose skills that they have used versus what they WANT to use in a civilian job or career. Mistake! Just because you may have skills in your military trade or occupation, doesn’t mean that you want to use them in your civilian work life.
The takeway: Choose 3 desirable skills before you move forward in your military to civilian transition.
4. You have identified your accomplishments (personal, professional and academics.
Here’s another instance where modesty goes out the window. How many times have you been asked this question and hesitated? I recall one example when a military member installed satellite dishes in the Canadian arctic (it was -65 celcius ) under gruelling conditions. Let’s examine this. I told my military spouse this example and he replied,” There’s a whole lot of WOW in there!”
The takeway: Go back to your PER’s or or trusted network of contacts and get their feedback. Record your milestones and identify them as your accomplishments.
4. You have researched civilian careers that fit your current background.
Let’s face it. There are many military careers that do not necessarily “translate” into civilian job boards/sites. While there are more than 100+ military careers (in the Canadian Forces, www.forces.gc.ca), the occupational titles aren’t apparent when you look at “civvie street.”
The takeway: Go to sites like www.onetonline.org (U.S.) to find occupations and look up occupational codes or www.workingincanada.gc.ca (Canada) to garner valuable civilian employment information.
5. You have developed a brand that is suitable to promote on social media sites (ex: Twitter, Linkedin, Google Plus)
I deliver social media workshops and seminars devoted to the job search. My latest was at a major career conference in Ottawa, Canada, www.cannexus.ca
The title? “How tweet it is” to sell the merits of Twitter.
Social media is not a trend. The New York Times called Twitter, the “fastest growing phenomenon on the internet.” Social media will help you to develop a brand. A brand is what sets up apart and makes you distinguishable from one job candidate to another. Think of your special qualifications, certifications and exceptional experience and accomplishments that you bring to a potential civilian employer.
The takeaway: Develop your brand and choose one social media site and get comfortable with the platform.
Check out my Twitter profiles on @melissacmartin (bilingual) and @ravingredhead or linkedin, http://ca.linkedin.com/in/melissacynthiamartin/
6. You have decided where you want to work in your civilian life. (ex: stay in the community of your last posting or relocate).
Military members are masters of relocation, by virtue of deployments and postings. Think about whether you want to stay in the last community where you served or to relocate entirely.
7. You have researched the local job market.
Select some aggregate (web sites that draw from other main job search web sites) to save time and be more efficient in your job search. Once you conduct some research in the local job market, develop some insight that your occupation or career is in demand in that community.
8. You have developed a “de-militarized” resume that potential employers can understand.
While employed at two military bases, in addition to working in the career field for 15 years, I must have created and revised 1500+ resumes. If you cannot “translate” military language into civilian, I can connect to the key resources.
9. Have you discovered the BEST way to find jobs (HINT: tap into the hidden job market)
Unless you have stepped out of your military circles to do volunteer work, you may not be familiar with how jobs are acquired. This is the most competitive workforce ever! Just as you are used to doing your “duty” to your country, it is your duty, as a potential civilian worker to become acquainted with the civilian job market. Job searching has drastically changed, especially in the last five years, with the rise of social media and hiring trends.
10. You have not developed your job search marketing plan.
Plans are not uncommon in the military, from training plans to mission plans. In my field, no plan= no success. Accepting “any job” will not yield results. In crafting your job search marketing plan, consider these points:
What are your targets (employment title, industry, field, occupation, etc?
What are your tools (resources that you need to conduct an effective, successful job search?
Timelines (when you do want to leave the military officially? Or how long will it take?) Fix a date and set some goals to land a civilian job on that date.
11. You have become familiar with civilian job interviews, such as behavioural interviewing techniques (STAR, PULL, etc).
On the whole, military interviews are rigid and quite structured in nature. Civilian interviews come in many forms, but the most common is “behavioural interviewing.” Behavioural interviewing is common amongst civilians; it works on the premise of “the best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour.” Dr. Phil mentions this all the time! Civilian hiring managers use behavioural interview extensively.
Get acquainted with the civilian format and practise, even if it is in a “mock interview” format. Make a commitment with a career professional and learn the landscape of civilian interviews.
12. You have not built a solid network of contacts on and offline.
Job searching is all about establishing relationships. Web sites are highly ineffective in landing jobs, so start looking at making contacts on and off line.
The takeway: In the civilian job market, the “weak links” (the people who THINK are least likely to provide job leads) are invaluable. Don’t leave a stone unturned on this one!
13. You have not researched salaries, understand your value to a potential employer and learned how to negotiate a job offer.
Once again, becoming familiar with civilian job boards will give you an idea of not only salaries, but also salary ranges (a negotiating technique to earn a higher, more attractive salary).
Consult with a career coach for negotiating salaries (I have been trained by one of the top American career coaches on this topic!) If you are looking at job offers, use the SWOT strategy:
Strengths of working for the potential civilian employer
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats (uncontrollable such as stability of the company/industry, local economy, etc).
Are you ready to enter the civilian workforce?
If you need assistance with any of these issues, contact me at melissacynthiamartin@gmail.com
Melissa C. Martin
Bilingual career/military to civilian employment transition coach
www.military2civilianemployment.com