Dear Matt: After more than 20 years, I'm retiring from the military. I have excellent leadership skills and a strong educational background. How can I translate that into a new job and new career?
Matt says: The biggest challenge veterans face is translating the value of what they have done in the military into what they can do in the corporate world, says Dennis Davis, Chief Translation Officer with Metafrazo (metafrazo.net), a Minneapolis-based organization that works to maximize veteran employment opportunities in the private sector.
The first step should be to demilitarize your résumé, says Davis. For example, the military uses plenty of acronyms, but since 93 percent of the population has not served in the military, the majority of hiring managers aren't going to understand those acronyms or the value and meaning behind them.
So, when writing a résumé, applying for jobs and interviewing, showcase the transferable skills without the military-speak, says Davis. What did you do which would be universal for many jobs outside the military? Did you supervise others? Did you train anyone? What administrative duties did you have? Were you responsible for performance reviews and personnel recognition?
Also, be sure to highlight the values and intangibles you bring to an organization. Integrity, service, teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving and troubleshooting are all learned in the military and are all valued by employers.
"Skills can be taught, values are forged and they have been forged in you as a veteran," says Davis. "Use them to your advantage."
When searching for a job, be open to a variety of industries and fields that may fit your unique experience and background. Understand the power of networking. Build your network online through LinkedIn and in person through various networking groups of professionals with common interests in your area.
Once hired, understand that no matter what level you start at outside the military, you are starting over, says Davis. You bring expertise that can be used in your new role, but it must be given in small amounts and when it appropriate to do so.
"Just as in the service you did not have respect for someone coming in and trying to change things just for the sake of change, you must resist the urge to do this," says Davis. "Don't be the person that always says, 'in the military we did it this way'."
One of the biggest challenges will be to understand that the civilian world operates very differently than the military world, says Davis. Develop a plan, just as you would for any military operation.
"Finding a job is a full-time job," Davis says. "Get with as many people as you can and ask for advice and help where you can."
Contact Matt at jobslink@startribune.com.
