Military Professionals & Protected Veterans

Decide where you want to live?

• Search online for cost of living, job market and other factors for three to five locations of choice.
• If you’re thinking about joining the Reserves or National Guard, search for their unit locations.
• Narrow down your list of places to live to your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices.

Your next job/career.

• Describe your ideal job.
• List how you would use your current skills in this type of new job.
• Military Specialty Translator

Check out available support resources and necessary paperwork.

• Calculate your potential military compensation.
• Check with your military installation and your unit for general transition information.
• If joining the Reserves or National Guard, complete your end of service transition (transition to inactive Reserve, active Reserve unit or National Guard).
• Search the internet for “military friendly” states (lower taxes, military facilities, etc.).

Start and grow your network.

• Leverage the services provided by military support organizations like Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).
• Start informally contacting people who can provide support as you transition (including fellow military peers and people in the civilian workforce who have jobs or work at companies you might be interested in).

Work on the plan for your future.
 

Want a civilian job:

• Search companies like Bayer that have a good reputation for hiring veterans and find out what benefits they offer.
• Connect with recently retired or separated veterans about the companies they’re 
• working for.
• Using platforms and job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed, compile a list of companies that might be able to use your skills.
• List your talents, skills and knowledge.
• Check your lists with several people who know you well.
• Use your information to begin building your resume.
• Determine if you need more education or training.
• Research the skills needed for careers you might want to pursue.
• Determine which of those skills will require additional education or training.
• Find out about military educational benefits you may be eligible for.

Polish your story.

• Review your talents, skills and knowledge and identify companies that could use them.
• Review your perfect job and identify companies that meet those criteria.
• Look at companies that have facilities in the places you want to consider living.
• Begin translating your talents, skills and knowledge into civilian language.
• Ask someone in your network to review your civilian descriptions.
• Practice describing yourself in civilian language to someone in your network.

Take a closer look at the details.

• Check which benefits you’ll have to replace, including medical and life insurance, direct savings plan (TSP) and banking services.
• Understand your options for medical and dental coverage.
• Finalize your resume.
• Check your resume with people who have not been in the military.
• Ensure your resume and list of skills are written in civilian language and use relevant language from job postings.
• Make sure you’re comfortable describing yourself in civilian language.
• Conduct practice interviews with people in your network.
• Identify positions you’re interested in and start applying for those positions to ultimately get interviews.
• Identify positions at local companies for which you can interview.
• Get tips on informational interviews.
• Attend career or hiring fairs.

Finalize your transition details.

• Double check your resume for spelling.
• Make sure to include military experience, critical accomplishments and keep it succinct.
• Ask individuals in your network to review your resume and make suggestions.
• Adjust your resume to specific jobs you apply for.
• Be ready to complete job applications.
• Interview with companies in the area where you will live.
• Be prepared for the interview and dress appropriately.
• Practice how you would sell yourself.
• Check out resources that will help a military spouse find a job, go to school or get a certification for a new career.