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Each year, thousands of individuals in the armed forces leave in hopes of obtaining civilian careers. After being in service for so many years, a transition into the corporate landscape can pose a challenge for these individuals. How can former military personnel adjust and showcase their full civilian hiring potential?
First, consider a self-assessment. Do you know which direction you’d like to take your new, civilian career? What careers have you considered? When transitioning from service to civilian life, it can be difficult to pinpoint or narrow down a career path. Think about the companies are you applying to. Consider choosing organizations that are active recruiters of ex-military personnel, such as defense contractors and organizations that work with the Armed forces. These companies will value things like special security clearance, which make you an attractive applicant.
The next step is gearing your career materials towards a corporate setting. This means formatting your cover letter, resume and job applications to match your new goals in the corporate world. Switch gears towards the civilian mindset when working on these documents. What kinds of skills, experience and education are your potential employers seeking? It is certainly valuable to potential employers that you share your military experiences, but proceed with caution. Remove military acronyms, jargon or phrases that will confuse employers. If possible, translate this information to better fit the desired qualifications of the position. Talk about relevant duties to the position you have applied for. Are you able to function under pressure? Do you have a sharp attention to detail? Civilian employers want to know this kind of information about you. You can check out some of our resume writing tips in a previous blog post.
When you finally score a chance to meet with an employer, avoid solely using “military speak.” They know you have had plenty of great experiences in the military, but focus on information that is relevant to the position you are applying for and stick to it. Some of your military experiences may be of more relevance, such as those stories where you demonstrated qualities such as leadership or the ability to overcome challenges. Talking about these experiences will demonstrate your strengths and potential to succeed.
SGIS is a military friendly employer. We urge candidates with military experience to consider joining our team. To learn more about SGIS and view our current career opportunities, visit our military personnel page.
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