Career Paths for Former Military Recruiters

I'm interested in recruiting and wondering about the civilian career options for people who have served as military recruiters. Do the skills gained in this role align with certain industries or job functions?

While military recruiting is a unique line of work, the skills developed in this role are transferrable and valuable in a variety of civilian occupations. Here are a few paths that former military recruiters often follow:

1. Corporate Talent Acquisition: Many of the responsibilities and skills of a military recruiter align with a corporate talent acquisition role. Experience in sourcing candidates, conducting interviews, and managing the candidate pipeline are all directly applicable to a civilian recruiting or HR role.

2. Sales: Military recruitment is largely a sales role, where you are positioning the military as an attractive option for your candidates. Your ability to sell a vision, negotiate, and close a deal can transfer well into a sales career across industries such as pharmaceuticals, technology, or financial services.

3. Career Counselor: Your experience in guiding potential recruits toward a career path that suits their abilities and interests can be beneficial in a career counseling or academic advising setting. For instance, you may work in a high school, college, or career center to help individuals determine and accomplish their career goals.

4. Consultant or Independent Recruiter: Some former military recruiters open their own consulting businesses or become independent recruiters. They can contract their services out to companies who may not want a full-time recruiter on their staff.

5. Public Speaking or Training Roles: A lot of recruiting involves presenting the benefits of military service to large groups and explaining complex concepts in a simple, compelling way. These skills are valuable in training, education, or public relations roles.

Your military experience can provide you with unique skills that are valued in the private sector, such as working under pressure, leadership, and committing to a high standard of integrity.