There are rules of engagement when networking or job searching in the civilian world that service members are just not privy to while supporting the armed forces. It’s a new game, a new challenge, and a new battlefield as they are seeking employment following their military transition.
This episode of ClearedCast focuses on the military transition and a few reasons why it’s important to get things in writing from recruiters and hiring managers while navigating the job search. Clarence Dingman is our guest, and he is a U.S. Army veteran and current executive with a certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). We discuss his journey, transition tips, a few guidelines he has for some lessons learned he gathered through his own transition into the private sector, and how he was able to move up the ranks as a boomerang employee.
TIPS FOR TRANSITIONING OUT OF THE ARMED FORCES
The military transition – everyone’s is different, and some people thrive in one facet over another, whether it be getting logistics tied up like moves, financial planning, obtaining a job, or networking well with recruiters. Dingman shares about how challenging the first year out of the military was for him, and how that is a common theme amidst the veteran community. Advice for service members as they are reaching out to recruiters:
- Be honest about timelines and share available positions with service members in your network that better fit the timeline – so you can have an “in” with the company in the future or showcase your added value bringing a candidate to this company.
- Build you network: have a multidisciplinary group of mentors to help you navigate the transition and be a sounding board when you run into challenges.
- Close the education gap as you are networking for a job in corporate America or defense contracting. TAP does a great job reaching many veterans but seek out resources that are more specific to your needs or goals (i.e., utilize financial planning assistance that some banks offer military veterans).
- Get everything in writing: whether it be for a compensation package for meeting operational goals at a current job, or as you are negotiating terms with a recruiter, get everything documented so you aren’t left in the dust.
- Don’t burn bridges. After not getting something in writing for one defense contractor, Dingman called an old colleague to discuss the challenges he was experiencing. A coffee meet-up turned him into a boomerang employee accompanied by a lucrative job offer, all because he didn’t burn the bridge.
How can you move up the ranks within one organization or moving around in this space? Tune in to this episode of the Security Clearance Careers Podcast.
