When you’re in the military, things are very clear cut. You have a specific occupational series and for the most part, you stay in your lane. But once you leave the military, choosing your next job is completely up to you. Did you know that two out of every 10 Americans love their jobs so much they’d do them for free? Why not find a job you’re that passionate about, but still get paid? Whether it’s to pursue your love of baking, the outdoors or exercise, these five tips will help you step out of your military comfort zone and into a new civilian job you’ll love.
1. Find Yourself
The longer you’re in a specific job, the more likely you are to use that job to describe yourself. You’re not Greg. You’re Greg, the Army engineer. But if you want to find a new job that you’re passionate about, you may need to shed that persona. Who are you outside of your uniform? What do your hobbies look like? What are you good at? What makes you curious? Answering these questions will point you in the direction of a new civilian career that you can enjoy. Also, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. It may be too late to become a professional athlete, but that doesn’t mean you can’t work in the sports industry. Consider taking on a supporting role by doing marketing for your favorite team, taking those high-speed action photos or protecting industry data in a cybersecurity position.
2. Test the Waters
Committing to a new career isn’t something to take lightly. If you’re in a position where you can do an internship or volunteer first, do it. This will give you an opportunity to see if you enjoy the work. If you don’t have the time or financial stability to volunteer or do an internship, consider doing some informational interviews. These interviews are done with professionals in your desired position and gives you an opportunity to ask questions about workload, career paths and how to get your foot in the door. Keep in mind, informational interviews are not the same as hiring interviews. Your sole purpose is to gather information, not to give your best “hire me” pitch. Once you’ve spent some time doing research on the job itself, you should spend some time looking into different companies to see which one best matches your personality.
3. Find the Right Company Culture
Company culture, which is a fancy way of saying ‘how things are done around here,’ is a huge component of being happy where you work. Before you sign on with a new company, ask yourself these questions. Would you prefer to work in a family-friendly organization or one that’s strictly business? Does the company’s stance on environmental issues matter to you? How about the way communication is handled within the company? Some people prefer to see the CEO make announcements in person while others are fine with a trickled down email. If you want to be happy where you work, make sure your personality and values line up with those of the company you’re interested in.
4. Create a Stellar Resume
If you want to land your dream job, your resume needs to be on point. Most companies use software to initially weed out candidates and only the best matches are sent to the hiring manager. To ensure you make the cut, put as many relevant keywords as possible into your resume. A great place to find keywords is in the job description, with special emphasis on required skills, location and the actual job title being used. Also, don’t forget to include unpaid internships or volunteer work on your resume, especially if this will be your first job in your new career field. Finally, make sure you have someone review your resume for errors. You can never be too careful when it comes to grammar and spelling.
5. Don’t Compromise
We’ve all taken jobs we didn’t love so that we could pay the bills – that’s life. But if you’re in a place where you can financially wait for your dream job, take advantage of your situation and wait it out. Take the time to write out a priority checklist and hold firm to what you want. Items on your checklist should include topics like salary, benefits, vacation time, company culture, location and work style (individual versus team). Keep in mind that everyone’s priority list will be different. For example, someone retiring from the military may not need to put salary at the top of the checklist. Instead, they may focus on having flexible hours or working at a location close to home. Whatever you decide, don’t compromise your future happiness by settling for a job you won’t enjoy.
Overall, these tips should help you on your quest to find a job you’ll love. And in the meantime, make an effort to fall in love with your current job all over again. Because you never know, you may leave the military and find that Greg, the Army engineer, is perfectly happy being Greg, the civil engineer.
