Making the shift from military service to the civilian workforce requires a mission mindset that includes tailoring the skills learned while serving to the civilian jobs you seek, according to Carolina Handling corporate recruiters.
“Understanding the shift and the common challenges that come with it will prepare you for the search and help you develop an action plan for obtaining the civilian job you’re seeking,” said Carolina Handling Corporate Recruiter Catie Beth Bishop during a presentation at the recent 2024 VET (Veteran Employment & Transition) Summit held in Greer, South Carolina.
Sponsored by The RECON Network and presented by Carolina Handling, the annual VET Summit focuses on transition employment for service members, veterans and military spouses.
“There are more than 18 million veterans across the United States and many of them, along with military spouses, are currently unemployed, underemployed or mis-employed,” said Jordana Megonigal, CEO of The RECON Network. “The transition from the military to civilian or corporate employment has challenges that must be addressed to ensure our veteran and military populations can find their fit within our workforce.”
Almost 13 percent of Carolina Handling associates served in the U.S. Armed Forces, with many of the skills learned in the military transferable to jobs in the material handling industry, according to Bishop. The mission mindset for making a successful military-to-civilian shift, she says, includes:
- Understanding the shift
- Addressing common challenges
- Networking
- Preparing for the search
Understanding the shift
The first step in preparing for a successful military-to-civilian shift is making a list of everything you did in the military, identifying all job functions, skills and strengths, Bishop says.
“Identifying your strengths is important and remember to highlight soft skills that may not seem obvious but are highly valuable such as self-sufficiency, problem-solving under pressure, discipline, accountability, adaptability and decision-making,” she said.
The next step is to map those skills to civilian roles and to the descriptions of the jobs for which you are applying. For example, consider military jobs such as logistics, operations and communications and how those job skills match similar roles in the corporate world.
Common challenges
One common challenge when applying for civilian roles is effectively communicating military experience, most importantly, translating military jargon into civilian terms.
While Google is a recruiter’s friend, military E-levels, for example, are unfamiliar to recruiters who have not served so military ranks should be used on a resume rather than E-levels.
Civilian job seekers also should align their military responsibilities to the responsibilities outlined in a job description.
“Search for roles that seem interesting to you and try to match your military skills to the requirements listed in the job description,” Bishop says. “You also can create two to three different resumes that are tailored to specific roles you’d like to apply for.”
Applicants have about 15 to 20 seconds to capture a recruiter’s interest with their resumes, according to Bishop, and quantifying statements are a good way to do that.
“Statements like Led a team of 25, Increased efficiency by 12 percent or Improved response time by 20 percent are a great way to get our attention,” she said.
An easy-to-read resume format that can be scanned quickly also is preferable.
“We want to know where you were, how long you were there and what you did there,” Bishop said. “And three bullet points listing your responsibilities always is better than 30.”
Networking
Continuous learning, seeking mentorships and networking are other ways to enhance the job search.
Leveraging veteran networks and resources like The RECON Network are good ways to build connections. LinkedIn also is a good resource for reaching out to those in your desired field for advice and insights.
“Most people want to be helpful,” Bishop said, “and LinkedIn is a great place to network, ask questions and develop relationships.”
Bishop recommends identifying potential mentors on LinkedIn and requesting online “coffee” meetups.
Researching veteran-friendly employers and finding companies with military support programs also are important for your job search.
Preparing for the job search
As previously mentioned, developing an effective resume is a good first step in your job search, remembering to:
- Focus on measurable accomplishments
- Translate military experience into civilian terms
- Highlight soft skills like leadership and problem-solving
The next step is preparing for the interview.
Bishop recommends that candidates practice answering questions that demonstrate adaptability and using the STAR (Situation. Task. Action, Result) response format for answering behavioral interview questions.
For example, an interviewer might ask the following question to assess problem-solving skills:
Could you tell me about a complex problem you solved during your military service? What was your approach to finding a solution?
Your answer will help the interviewer learn about your natural problem-solving skills and assess how you perform in demanding situations.
“Bank a few stories that answer questions about a time when you failed and how you dealt with it, a time you had to deal with a difficult customer or a time you had to collaborate to improve a process,” Bishop said. “Practice your answers in front of a mirror and remember to smile.”
It’s also a good idea to prepare a three- to five-minute response for when the interviewer says, “Tell me about yourself.”
Be sure to go in chronological order and include pertinent information about the industry and the job you’re applying for, Bishop adds.
For more information on finding a career with Carolina Handling and to view all our open positions, visit the Careers page of our website.
To contact a Carolina Handling corporate recruiter, email recruiting@carolinahandling.com.
