How difficult is it to transition from a military MOS to civilian jobs, and which roles are easiest to adapt to civilian life? I'm curious about how skills and experiences transfer after service.
Transitioning from military life to civilian employment can indeed have its challenges, but it's certainly not an insurmountable one. Generally, the degree of difficulty varies for each individual depending on their specific Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), the length of service, and personal circumstances.
Medical, logistical, technical and engineering roles are often cited as being more directly transferable to civilian jobs due to their highly specialized and practical nature. For example, a health services officer could transition smoothly into a healthcare administration role in a civilian hospital, and a satellite communication systems operator could look for opportunities with tech firms or telecommunications companies that deal with similar equipment.
Keep in mind that soft skills acquired during military service like leadership, discipline, project management and teamwork are highly valued in the civilian workforce too. Regardless of what your MOS was, these transferable skills could offer an edge in sectors such as operations management, consulting, and sales.
One of the key challenges would be to 'demilitarize' your resume. This involves translating military jargon into civilian language - for instance, instead of using acronyms like MOS or terms like 'battalion', use general terms like job, role, or team.
There are several resources to assist veterans during this transition, such as the U.S. Department of Labour’s Veterans' Employment and Training Service, which provides resources to help understand how your skills translate to civilian roles and assists with finding job opportunities. It might also be helpful to reach out to a career counselor or coach specializing in military-to-civilian transitions for personalized advice.
Remember, different companies and industries value different skills and experiences. It's beneficial to research and understand the job market you're interested in, and tailor your resume and job search tactics to match what is most desired in those fields.
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