Transition is defined as a process or period of changing from one state or condition to another. There may be no greater challenge than transitioning from a life in the military to a life in corporate America. While many of us relish the opportunity and look forward to the change in lifestyle, there are many challenges. There are multiple avenues to take in your transition aside from utilizing a recruiting firm. A solid, simple, and structured strategy will help a Junior Military Officer navigate the complicated and stressful path to a new career. I have read numerous helpful plans on LinkedIn and other publications that have helped me in my transition. Using the knowledge I have obtained from my experiences. I think that these five steps of self discovery, building your corporate knowledge, connecting your knowledge to your unique skills, networking, and targeted job hunting are a blueprint for a successful transition. I hope this article helps simplify the approach a Junior Military Officer (JMO) takes to transitioning and enable veterans to have a smooth, efficient, and enjoyable transition to a new life in corporate America.
What’s the difference between a Corporate recruiter and a Military headhunter? Military headhunters are placement agencies that act as an agent for the military member with Corporate America. The purpose of this service is to place transitioning veterans into the hands of client companies for interviews in hopes of a hire. Headhunters are geared towards Corporate America throughout the United States but also can be region based. Read More
If there is one thing I know after recruiting for over two decades in the private sector and defense industry it’s that military service members are an elite talent pool. A talent pool that is largely overlooked due to a lack of understanding of military culture and its ultimate purpose. In fact, service members can contribute a lot more to businesses success than those who have never served at all. The biggest challenge facing service members today is articulating their skills and experiences to be seen as viable candidates to individuals who make hiring decisions. This is why I have dedicated my career in helping service members find meaningful careers after service. So listen up!
As an HR Director for a growing retail grocery company, I interviewed, hired and worked with lots of people, including several veterans. Each time, I was excited about bringing our shared, time-honored and battle-tested values into my company to help accomplish my company’s mission. When that happened, it was great. However, there were times when it didn’t always work out.
Dmitry Rukhlin is one of our Veterati mentors and is a highly regarded member of the veteran community. His commitment to serving veterans led him to write about his own transition in Leaving Active Duty: Real-life Stories and Advice for Junior Military Officers. Dmitry graduated from the U.S Naval Academy in 2004 and is now the Chief Operating Officer of Kraus USA Inc.
Chad Storlie is one of our super mentors here at Veterati and is a highly regarded member of the veteran community. His commitment to serve veterans in any capacity has led him to write two books: Combat Leader to Corporate America and Battlefield to Business Success. Chad is a mid-level marketing executive and has worked in marketing and sales roles for various companies, including General Electric, Comcast, and Manugistics.
He has been published in over 80 publications including Harvard Business Review, USAA Member Community, Military.com, Businessweek, Forbes, and USA Today. Chad’s 20+ years of service in the infantry, special forces, and joint headquarters units has provided him with a unique perspective for transitioning veterans.
©2024 - Veterati - All rights reserved