Becoming a Civilian: Practical Transition Advice for Veterans

Your contract is up. Whether you are separating or retiring, you have a big transition ahead of you. No longer will you don the uniform you have so proudly put on every morning. You are becoming a civilian again. I remember when I first received my discharge orders. I had been diagnosed with a medical condition which rendered me incapable of completing the physical fitness test a few months prior, and the Navy was trying to keep only the best of the best. I was sitting at my desk one Wednesday morning when my Senior Chief walked in and told me to call the Staff Judge Advocate. I was told in December by my physician that I was being recommended for discharge. Now May, I didn't think anything more about the issue. When I called the Judge Advocate the Legalman who answered simply said in a hopeful tone:

"Petty Officer, we need you to come over right away to sign some forms, the Captain has given you authority to separate."

This was a bittersweet moment for me. On the one hand, I was moving back to Pennsylvania to live in my house and see my girlfriend once again. On the other hand, I was leaving some of the best friends I could hope for. It didn't occur to me for another few weeks that there would be one more thorn in my side. I was soon to be unemployed.

When I came home I first applied for unemployment, the very next day I began to job search. I have friends who served in other branches before me. All of them came home to a poor job market and with only offers of menial employment at rock bottom wages. I couldn't accept that. I knew veterans who complained that they were not hired despite them interviewing for the job in their uniform. I had to do something. So I took a gamble and I prepared my resumé on some nice linen paper and bought a civilian suit.

It was a pretty rough start, to tell you the truth. I was applying everywhere, and sent my resumé to as many companies as I could find addresses for. I was beginning to lose hope. After a week, however, the calls for interview came in almost faster than I could handle. I soon found myself employed as a Production Foreman at a local manufacturing company. Two months later, I was promoted to Production Supervisor and I never looked back.

Some of my friends call what happened to me luck. However, I went on 13 job interviews when all was said and done. Of those 13 interviews, 11 companies called me back offering me positions. So I decided to study the situation on my own, find out what I did versus what my fellow veterans have done in the past and have compiled a brief list of suggestions that didn't come up when I went through Transition Assistance.

Prepare a Resumé

Some people see them as unnecessary. I have known veterans who, in lieu of a resumé, have given employers a Verification of Military Education and Training (VMET), or simply their last performance evaluation and a copy of their discharge papers. Know that you are not transferring to another duty station. You are applying for a new position at a new company, treat what you did in the military as great experience, but not the end all of your existence.

Dress the Part

When I went through Transition Assistance they told us to wear a suit for every interview regardless of the position. When I was hired as a Foreman, I found myself hiring employees a few weeks into my new job. The myth of the suit seems to be widespread. I'm certain that seminars in job hunting advocate this as much as our military Transition program. However, I found that my employers were very wary to hire people who arrived in suits who were not applying to management positions. The rationale of my employers was that a man applying to be, for example, a maintenance mechanic who wears a suit could not possibly expect to get dirty during work. As a result, production workers and maintenance mechanics who came in wearing a polo shirt and khakis were often hired over those who wore suits. Generally it is a good idea to dress "one up." That is, if you are applying to be a production worker, wear what you might wear to an interview for a foreman. In that case, I would recommend a pair of khakis and a button down shirt. Just as you can be too casual, you can also be too formal. Executive, management and general office positions are generally safe with a suit or a sport coat. Maintenance or manual labor applicants can often look very professional in a golf shirt and slacks. If this strikes you as too casual for a job interview, consider a button down shirt and pants with no tie. Above all, evaluate the job you are applying for, the company and the general feel of the area. Walking into an interview wearing a tuxedo to become a computer programmer, for a company located in Hawaii that has employees wearing shorts to work, will probably not bear much fruit for you.

You're Not in the Military Anymore

It's a hard thing to do, but you need to start phasing military jargon out of your vocabulary, speaking to co-workers like you might talk to your friends in the service, ordering rather than asking, and above all, cursing. When I first arrived on the job as a foreman I was not well received by a few of the employees. Though I tried to tone down my military demeanor for my new position, sometimes telling an employee to do something came out a bit less polished than it sounded in my mind. If you are going into a supervisory position, this is especially important. No longer do you have the law to back up your orders and people will simply not listen to you if they don't respect you, as a person. Your collar and sleeve carry no authority anymore.

You're the New Guy

Remember, the company was around, you are the new kid on the block. This means if you get a job doing what you did in the military, you need to lighten up and be willing to learn. I know, I know, they don't do things the same way as they did in the Army/Navy/Coast Guard/Marines/Air Force, instead, they do things their way. Go into your new position willing to learn from the experience of your co-workers and be prepared to change some of your ways to conform to new company policies.

They Don't Owe It To You

You served your country and we are all thankful. But now it's over. Now you have to get a job like everyone else. Don't present your military experience as industry expertise that surpasses all knowledge. When you present your experience and qualifications, present them with pride, but show that you are willing to learn new things and adapt to new working environments.

Don't Mail Discharge Papers

I made a major mistake when I was first discharged. I would send out copies of my resumé along with copies of my letters of recommendation, performance evaluations and a copy of my DD-214. First of all, send only what the employer requests. Letters of recommendation and evaluations are helpful but should be presented at the interview. Mailing your DD-214 is a bad idea for a few reasons. First, it contains your social security number. If your resumé and attached documents should be turned down, they will most likely be thrown away, not shredded, don't compromise your SSN. Second, your DD-214 contains your birth date. Regardless of your age you can be subjecting yourself to age discrimination before (or if you ever) walk through the front door. Interviewers are not able to ask you your age or year of birth. Instead, they must focus more on your qualifications, education and experience. It is also a good idea to omit graduation years from your respective schools and colleges, as these can be used to calculate your age. If they want you, let it be because they think you are the best person for the job.

And lastly, don't forget to smile and act like a professional. As much as companies don't want to hire a goof, they also don't want to hire a stone faced Drill Instructor (unless of course, you are applying for certain security positions). Welcome home, we've been praying for you.