You’ve started the transition process: medical appointments, VA briefs, Transition Assistance Program briefings, unit out-processing and, oh, if you have the time, trying to find a job.
There’s a good reason separating from the service is called “transition,” as it represents a fundamental shift in lifestyle and culture. Faced with transition, many choose the well-worn path toward federal employment or contract work, performing similar functions or dealing with familiar faces from their days in uniform.
But there is also the road “less traveled by” that Robert Frost once mused about — in this case, corporate America.
There are many good companies with solid reputations, laudable missions and a commitment to values not unlike the service you’re leaving, and they need you. I could write a book on the entire transition process, and others have, but let me instead focus on what many find the most daunting aspect of the job search: the interview.
There are many details, do’s and don’ts to consider during the interview process, from what to wear and how to shake hands to what to order during a lunchtime interview. But here are some big-ticket items to bear in mind.
Talk about what they know. There are many professional writing services, including a niche market that specializes in transition résumés and letters. While I have heard anecdotal positive stories about such services, I believe that writing my own résumé helped me considerably during the interview process. Preparing your own résumé informs you in two key ways: First, it helps you describe your qualifications for, and fit with, the job requirements of the posting. As you tailor the résumé for the specific job posting — essential for each job you apply for — you end up really learning what the job is all about and how your experiences apply.
Second, it’s an important step in dropping the military verbiage. Like most veterans, you’ll go back to your old awards and previous evaluations, cutting and pasting old achievements to build your résumé. This is exactly what I did — and when I was done, there was a clear need for translation. Learning key terms and metrics that are relevant and valued in the civilian world is critical to decrypting your work history into something meaningful, and you’ll need it as much during the interview process as for your résumé.
Talk about what you know. If you’ve made it to the interview stage, the employer already knows from your résumé that you’re coming from a military background. Moreover, there’s a strong possibility this background is one of the reasons you were invited in for an interview. As noted, you need to be mindful about the parlance you use; military jargon can represent a significant barrier to effective communication if the other party is unaccustomed to it. But don’t make the mistake of trying to “de-militarize” yourself. You wouldn’t want to dress up your experiences with business terms and “corporate speak” and hope to pass it off something it’s not.
The interviewer will want to hear the “war stories” in your background that are relevant to the position you’re interviewing for; just resist the urge to discuss a running firefight in Baghdad when they ask you about how you handled a conflict at work. If you’re honest and straightforward about your experiences and capabilities, what you know and what you don’t, you’ll come across as comfortable, sincere and, if the job is the right fit, valuable to the organization. Just remember: No matter how much you know about the job, the hiring manager knows more. Let him or her determine your transferable skills, since modesty might drive you to underestimate your own worth.
Learn everything you can about the company. This isn’t simply an exercise in familiarizing yourself with the company’s quarterly earnings, new products and services or current events (although you should research all of those things). Rather, what it is about the company that drew your interest in the first place? There are a lot of interview questions you should be prepared to answer, including ones that are traditional, behavioral and résumé-driven. But variations on “Why do you want to work here?” may be the most important. You should have a very good answer to this question, as much for yourself as for the person asking the question.
The culture of every organization is unique, whether it’s a shared set of ideals, a belief in their underlying purpose or affinity for a cause. If you can’t see yourself working and prospering in that culture and environment, they won’t see it either. It may seem counterintuitive, but I started my job search by first researching companies that I felt would be a great personal and professional match, and only later looked to see whether they had any positions that fit with my experience. For me, it was about ethics, teamwork and the core values I had come to internalize during my years in uniform. It’s easy to tell them why you want to work there when you really want to work there.
Don’t forget customs and courtesies. After the interview, follow up with a thank-you letter. This is not a small detail. You’ll see this advice repeated over and over in how-to books and advice columns, yet somehow people really do miss it. Your letter, whether digital or on letterhead, is important for a couple of reasons. First, it is simply good etiquette; if someone takes the time to consider you for a position, you should thank them for their time. Second, it gives you an additional opportunity to sell yourself.
During one of my interviews I was asked about how I would strategically approach a specific problem. I thought about it and gave a perfectly acceptable and thoughtful response. Nevertheless, in retrospect I kept thinking about how else I could have answered and other solutions that might work. When it came time to prepare my thank-you letter that evening, I made sure to include my hindsight. Consider your letter an extension of the interview, and put the appropriate level of effort and care into its preparation.
To anyone reading this who thinks, “I’ve spent most of my time in the military, so I don’t have a lot of experience,” throw this misperception aside. You have loads of experience; you just need to repackage it. Know the company, know yourself and communicate in a way that will make the connections clear.
The civilian world is a theater of operations all its own. See you downrange.
Maj. Ryan Kosowsky transitioned from the active-duty Army in 2012 and now serves in the Arizona Army National Guard. He works full time as managing director of talent acquisition for Charles Schwab & Co. Inc., a subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corp., a Fortune 500 company.
