What Veterans Can Do to Make Transition Into Civilian Workforce Easier
Are you a veteran who is worried about transitioning into the civilian workforce? Read this guide to learn how to make it easier.
Whether you’ve been in the military your whole career, or you only a few years, getting out can be daunting. You know the culture will be different, and you’ll be finding out how to live a whole new life.
But for 72 percent of those who have made the switch, they claim it wasn’t as hard as they thought. And there are ways that can make transitioning into the civilian workforce easy.
Ways to Make Transitioning into the Civilian Workforce Easier
Learning a new way of life doesn’t have to be as hard as you think it is. Follow these tips and ideas to make career transitions worth it.
1. Match Your Skills
As a veteran, you likely have a very special set of skills that helped you do your job. You had the opportunity to train as much as you needed, and hands-on experience.Â
These factors make you very marketable. So, when you’re looking for a job, think about the skills you already have. This will mean less change and less training time for you when you’re on the job.
2. Find a Military-Friendly Environment
Returning to civilian life is going to be full of challenges. People don’t understand what you’ve been through. And when it comes to a civilian job, that could be even more difficult.
That’s why you should try looking for a company that is military-friendly.
The benefit of a pro-military employer is their understanding. You’ll also have the flexibility to deal with what you need to. They’ll be on your side because they’ve either been there, or they care about your service.
3. Be Aware of Language and Culture Differences
Of course, you all will speak the same language. But there’s a difference between the language used in a civilian career and your military one.
The sooner you learn to translate the words you’re used to using into the commonly used ones at work, the better. This includes military time, and using uncommon terms for simple actions.
If you want others to understand you, you also have to understand them. That means having the patience for people who don’t work the way you do. Work ethic and strategy are very different between the military and civilian worlds.
4. Use Your Patience
It’s going to be difficult to change your perspective overnight. But the key to having a successful career transition is to remain patient.
The more time and effort you put into working with others, the easier it will get. You might even find that the second half of your career is better than the first. Making friends with a mix of veterans and civilians will also help you make a smooth transition.
Veteran Recruiting
When it’s time to move into the civilian workforce, you’ll find a mix of challenges. But you’ll also find that it opens a vast array of options that you didn’t know you had.
If you’re searching for a civilian job, look no further. JSK Recruiting wants to help veterans like you find the perfect post-military career.Â
