Transition Resource Library

In the military, you are used to setting goals, developing plans, and focusing on accomplishing the mission. Therefore, the job-finding process should make good sense to you. This guide walks you through a step-by-step process of well-defined career planning and job search steps involving investigation, written communication, and employer contact activities.

Successful job seekers learn to implement each of these sequential steps that involve planning, organizational, and communication skills. This section breaks the transition process into manageable phases: self-assessment, goal setting, planning, employer engagement, and follow-through. Each phase has concrete tasks and suggested timelines.

The job market is in a constant state of change. Today, individuals with the right education, skills, and experience are in a better position to find good jobs that should lead to career advancement in the years ahead. Focus on occupations that show long-term growth, transferable skills, and strong employer demand.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides authoritative data on employment trends, wage information, and occupation projections that can help you identify high-growth career paths aligned with your military experience.

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Data and Economic ResearchOfficial
• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Career Profiles and Salary DataOfficial

As with any military operation, it is important to establish a timeline and be disciplined in the execution of your planned activities. Developing a sound yet flexible search plan is critical to conducting a successful employment campaign. The time spent planning and organizing your activities will result in a far more effective job search.

Map out milestones for training, resume completion, employer outreach, and interview preparation.

Before you acquire names, addresses, and phone numbers of potential employers, you should possess the necessary job search knowledge and skills for gathering and using job information effectively. Valuable awareness is gained by examining your present level of job search competency.

You can begin by testing the level of job search information, skills, and strategies you currently possess as well as those you need to develop and improve. This helps prioritize training, networking, and application activities where you need the most improvement.

Many free career transition services are available to separating military personnel. The Department of Defense and Department of Labor provide comprehensive programs designed specifically for service members entering the civilian workforce. These government-backed resources offer career counseling, job search assistance, and skills training at no cost.

• DOD Transition Assistance Program: Mandatory Workshops and Career CounselingOfficial
• TAP Events Portal: Schedule Transition Courses and WorkshopsOfficial
• Military OneSource: 24/7 Support for Service Members and FamiliesOfficial
• CareerOneStop: Find Local American Job Centers Near YouOfficial

The Transition Goals-Plans-Success (GPS) program is a military-wide interagency program for all separating and retiring service members. The program provides a structured overview to help you prepare for civilian life. Attend the sessions nearest your separation date.

Core elements include:

• Transition Overview and Resilient Transitions
• MOC Crosswalk
• Financial Planning for Transition
• VA Benefits Briefings
• Department of Labor Employment Workshop

Each branch of the military offers dedicated transition support through their family and career services programs. These branch-specific programs understand the unique skills and experiences of their service members and provide tailored career guidance, job placement assistance, and family support services.

• Army Soldier for Life: Transition Assistance and Career ResourcesOfficial
• Navy Fleet and Family Support: Career and Family ServicesOfficial
• Marine Corps Community Services: Transition Readiness ProgramOfficial
• Air Force Civilian Careers: Employment OpportunitiesOfficial
• U.S. Coast Guard: Transition and Career ResourcesOfficial

Veteran service organizations (VSOs) have been supporting military members for over a century. These established nonprofit organizations provide career assistance, networking opportunities, benefits advocacy, and community support. Many offer job boards, mentorship programs, and connections to veteran-friendly employers.

• American Legion: Veterans Benefits Advocacy and Career ServicesNonprofit
• Veterans of Foreign Wars: Employment Resources and AdvocacyNonprofit
• DAV: Benefits Assistance and Employment ProgramsNonprofit
• MOAA: Officer Career Transition and NetworkingNonprofit
• NCOA: NCO Career Development and SupportNonprofit
• Wounded Warrior Project: Career Counseling for Injured VeteransNonprofit

As a member of the military you already have an extensive network in place. Let your military colleagues know that you are actively searching for a job. Keep in touch with friends and acquaintances who have already left the military for civilian careers. Fellow veterans are often the best sources of job leads and can introduce you to contacts in their industries.

Professional networking platforms are essential tools for connecting with former service members and building relationships with civilian employers who value military experience.

• VetFriends: Reconnect with Military Buddies and NetworkVeteran
• LinkedIn: Professional Networking and Job Search PlatformProfessional

Expand your network beyond military connections. Join professional associations, attend industry events, and participate in community organizations related to your career interests. Military-focused job fairs connect you directly with employers who actively recruit veterans and understand the value of military experience.

• Corporate Gray Job Fairs: Connect with Veteran-Friendly EmployersEvents
• Blue Star Families: Military Family Support and CommunityNonprofit
• Operation Homefront: Financial Assistance and Family ProgramsNonprofit

Follow these guidelines to maximize the effectiveness of your networking efforts:

• Be prepared: Plan what to say ahead of time to help you be concise.
• Research your contacts: Do research before you meet with someone to ensure your questions are relevant. LinkedIn is a great resource for this.
• Respect privacy: Always get permission before you use a person's name as a referral or source of information.
• Reciprocate: Networking should be two-way. Share information you have gained if it can help others.
• Show gratitude: Thank everyone who helps you with leads, ideas, or advice. A quick phone call or hand-written thank you note is always welcome.
• Follow up: Follow up on leads or referrals quickly. Keep your contacts informed of your progress.
• Stay organized: Keep a file of contact information to help you stay organized and in touch with people in your network.

Work-content skills ("hard" skills): They tend to be technical and job-specific in nature. Examples include helicopter repair, programming computers, teaching history, or operating an X-ray machine. Use your efficiency/performance reports to help identify your work-content skills.

Functional skills ("soft" skills): Leadership, communication, problem-solving, and other abilities mainly acquired through experience rather than formal training. These skills are transferable from one job or career to another and are an important bridge in the career transition process.

There are many sophisticated testing and assessment instruments used by career counselors to identify work interests. The Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers-Briggs Assessment are two popular tools accessible through the DOL/VETS transition assistance program.

The Department of Labor provides free career assessment tools specifically designed to help you discover occupations that match your military skills, interests, and experience level.

• O*NET Interest Profiler: Discover Careers Matching Your InterestsOfficial
• O*NET Military Crosswalk: Translate MOS to Civilian OccupationsOfficial
• Free Career Aptitude Tests: Skills and Interest AssessmentsResource

If your self-assessment activities indicate that your abilities and skills are entrepreneurial, you may be best suited for self-employment. Many veterans are successful small-business owners. For more information on entrepreneurship, see Module 11: Starting Your Own Business.

These official government resources help you document your military experience and explore education and career opportunities available to veterans.

• VMET DD Form 2586: Verify Your Military Experience and TrainingOfficial
• VA GI Bill: Education Benefits and Eligibility InformationOfficial
• My Next Move for Veterans: Career Exploration by Military CodeOfficial

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides substantial education benefits including tuition payments, monthly housing allowances, and book stipends. The Forever GI Bill expanded these benefits to include more flexibility and additional programs. The VA maintains comprehensive resources to help you understand and maximize your earned education benefits.

• VA Education Benefits: Complete Guide to GI Bill ProgramsOfficial
• GI Bill Comparison Tool: Compare Schools and Benefit AmountsOfficial

Military Credentialing Advancement Initiative (MCAI) and other programs help you translate military training into civilian credentials and certifications. These Department of Defense programs can fund certification exams and connect you with industry-recognized credentials that employers value.

• DOD COOL: Find Civilian Credentials for Your Military OccupationOfficial
• CareerOneStop: Research Industry Certifications and LicensesOfficial
• DANTES: Free Testing and Education Support for Service MembersOfficial

Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) is a VA program that matches veterans with approved training providers offering high-tech training in fields like computer programming, data processing, and information science. This program does not use your GI Bill benefits, preserving them for other educational pursuits.

• VA VET TEC: Free Tech Training Without Using GI BillOfficial

There are three major types of resumes you should consider:

Chronological Resume: Lists your work history in reverse order. Best if you have a clear career progression.

Functional Resume: Organizes your experience by skill categories. Best if you are changing careers or have gaps in employment.

Combination Resume: Blends both approaches by highlighting key skills while also providing work history. This format works well for most veterans.

1. Contact Information: Your name, address, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile URL.

2. Objective: A job or career objective relevant to your skills and employer needs. It should be employer-centered and incorporate both a skill and an outcome.

3. Experience: Your patterns of skills and accomplishments.

4. Work History: Your job titles and activities performed.

5. Education: Your education, training, degrees, and certifications.

Resume Sequence: What is most important to both you and the employer? Your most important information and strongest qualifications should come first.

Resume Critiquing: Does your resume accurately present your qualifications in the best possible light so that hiring managers will want to call you in for an interview? You should subject your resume to two types of evaluations:

1. Internal Evaluation: Review the Resume Do's and Don'ts guide to make sure your resume conforms to best practices.

2. External Evaluation: Circulate your resume to three or more individuals whom you believe will give you objective and useful feedback. The best evaluator would be someone in a hiring position similar to one you will encounter in the actual interview.

Letters play a key role in a job search and come in several forms.

Cover Letters: Provide cover for your resume. A short and succinct one-page letter that highlights one or two points in your resume.

Approach Letters: Written for the purpose of developing job contacts, leads, or information. These letters help you gain access to the hidden job market.

Thank You Letters: May become your most effective job search letters because they communicate your thoughtfulness. Send after receiving assistance, following an interview, receiving a job offer, being rejected, or beginning a new job.

The following resume examples represent a broad cross-section of the types of jobs that most transitioning military service members would likely seek. Review these samples to see how military experience translates to civilian resume format.

Your initial search should help familiarize you with job and career alternatives. It is essential to investigate occupational alternatives in order to broaden your perspective on the job market.

It is especially important for you to discover how your military job skills and titles best correspond to specific civilian job skills and titles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics and Department of Labor maintain comprehensive databases of occupational information, salary data, and career outlooks.

• BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Career Profiles and Salary DataOfficial
• O*NET OnLine: Detailed Occupation Information and Skills RequirementsOfficial

Research potential employers to understand their mission, culture, products, and hiring needs. This knowledge will help you tailor your applications and prepare for interviews. Business intelligence resources provide insights into company financials, growth trends, and industry positioning.

• Corporate Information: Company Profiles and Financial DataResearch
• Inc. 5000: America's Fastest Growing Private CompaniesBusiness
• Dun and Bradstreet: Business Credit Reports and Company DataBusiness
• NASDAQ: Stock Quotes and Public Company InformationFinancial
• ThomasNet: Industrial Supplier Directory and Manufacturer SearchIndustry

When considering relocation, research communities carefully. Consider evaluating educational and employment opportunities, quality of schools, community feel, and cultural activities. These community research tools provide cost of living data, crime statistics, school ratings, and quality of life comparisons.

• AreaVibes: Livability Scores and Neighborhood ComparisonsResearch
• City-Data: Demographics, Crime Stats, and Local InformationResearch
• Best Places: Cost of Living Calculator and City ComparisonsResearch
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Local Business Resources and NetworkingBusiness

While the job interview is the most important job search activity, it is also the most stressful. Proper preparation will help reduce the stress level and make a difference in the outcome of the interview.

If you want a job interview, you first need to understand the informational interview and how to initiate and use it effectively. The best way to get a job is to ask for job information, advice, and referrals; never ask for a job directly.

You want your prospects to engage in the 5 Rs of informational interviewing:

• Reveal useful information and advice
• Refer you to others
• Read your resume
• Revise your resume
• Remember you for future reference

Appearance is the first thing you communicate to others. Before you have a chance to speak, interviewers notice how you dress and draw certain conclusions about your personality and competence.

Deciding what to wear on the first interview depends significantly on the nature of the job. When in doubt, dress conservatively and professionally. Research the company culture beforehand when possible.

Prepare for common interview questions by practicing your answers. Be ready to discuss your experience, skills, career goals, and how you handle challenges. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.

One of the best follow-up methods is the thank you letter. In this letter:

• Express your gratitude for the opportunity to interview
• Restate your conversation or anything you wish to further clarify
• Close by mentioning that you will call in a few days to inquire about their decision

Send any additional information to the employer that may enhance your application. You can send an updated resume that better orients your skills and experience to what you have learned is most important to this company.

The government sets military salaries based on rank and years of service. In the private sector you must be prepared to negotiate your compensation based on your projected value to the employer.

Salary is seldom predetermined, and many employers have some flexibility in negotiation. Salaries are usually assigned to positions or jobs rather than to individuals. But not everyone is of equal value in performing the job; some are more productive than others. Since individual performance differs, you should attempt to establish your value in the eyes of the employer rather than accept a salary figure for the job.

Many transitioning service members often undervalue themselves in the civilian work world because they tend to equate salary with base pay. If you have received base housing or a housing allowance, you know this benefit can be considerable. It translates into a specific dollar figure that should be added to your base salary.

For example, if your base pay is $60,000 a year, you should include another 20% in benefits to arrive at a total compensation figure that would be equivalent to a civilian salary, around $72,000.

If you only use your base pay as your current salary figure, you may undervalue yourself to civilian employers. For those receiving "professional pay" or additional money for living in a hardship area, do not forget to include this in your total compensation computations.

• DOD Regular Military Compensation Calculator: Total Pay ValueOfficial

You should be well prepared to deal with the question of salary during the job interview. Based on your research and networking activities you should know the approximate salary range for the position you are seeking.

These authoritative salary research platforms provide compensation data, industry benchmarks, and geographic pay variations to help you negotiate from an informed position:

• Salary.com: Compensation Data and Salary Surveys by PositionResearch
• PayScale: Personalized Salary Reports and Market DataResearch
• Indeed Salary Search: Real Salary Data from Job PostingsJob Board
• Glassdoor: Employee-Reported Salaries and Company ReviewsResearch
• BLS Wage Data: Government Occupational Wage StatisticsOfficial

The question of salary may be raised anytime during the job search. If the question comes up in application forms, cover letters, and telephone screening interviews, try to delay the discussion of salary by stating "open" or "negotiable."

The ultimate purpose of your job search activities is to demonstrate your value to employers. You should aim at establishing your value in the eyes of the employer prior to talking about a salary figure.

Most frequently employers will talk about salary during the employment interview. If at all possible, keep the salary question open until the very last, and remember to refer to your total military compensation rather than your base pay.

USAJOBS is the official job site of the U.S. federal government, where all competitive federal positions are posted. Veterans have access to special hiring authorities and preference programs that can significantly improve their chances of federal employment.

Federal Government Job Portals:

• USAJOBS: Official Federal Government Job Search PortalOfficial
• OPM Veteran Employment Program: Agency Directory and ResourcesOfficial
• DOD Careers: Civilian Jobs in National DefenseOfficial

Military Branch Civilian Careers:

• Department of the Navy: Civilian Career OpportunitiesOfficial
• U.S. Army Civilian Careers: Employment OpportunitiesOfficial
• Air Force Civilian Service: Career OpportunitiesOfficial
• Coast Guard Civilian Jobs: Employment InformationOfficial

Federal announcements contain specific information you need to understand:

• Series Number: The classification code for the position
• Grade: The pay level (GS-5 through GS-15 for General Schedule)
• Position Type: Permanent, temporary, term, or career
• Specialized Experience: Required qualifications for the role
• KSAs: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required
• Application Instructions: How and when to apply

Read announcements carefully and tailor your responses accordingly. Federal resumes are typically longer and more detailed than private sector resumes.

As a veteran, you may be eligible for veterans' preference in federal hiring, which gives you an advantage over non-veterans. The Office of Personnel Management administers these preference programs that can add points to your application score. There are two categories:

• 5-Point Preference: For veterans who served during wartime periods
• 10-Point Preference: For disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, and certain family members

• OPM Feds Hire Vets: Veterans' Preference Eligibility and ApplicationOfficial

Starting a business requires careful planning, market research, and financial preparation. Consider these key questions:

• What product or service will you offer?
• Who is your target market?
• How will you finance your business?
• What is your competitive advantage?
• Do you have the necessary skills, or will you need partners?

The Small Business Administration (SBA) and Veterans Administration provide comprehensive support for veteran entrepreneurs. These programs can help you develop a business plan, understand financing options, and learn effective marketing strategies. Many community colleges and universities also offer entrepreneurship courses that can be funded through your GI Bill benefits.

• SBA Office of Veterans Business Development: Entrepreneurship ProgramsOfficial
• Veterans Business Outreach Centers: Free Business CounselingOfficial
• SCORE: Free Business Mentoring from Experienced EntrepreneursNonprofit
• VA Office of Small Business: Procurement OpportunitiesOfficial

Getting certified as a veteran-owned small business (VOSB) or service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) can open doors to federal government contracts and preferential treatment in the bidding process. The federal government has set-aside contracts specifically for certified veteran-owned businesses.

• SBA Veteran Contracting: Set-Aside Programs and ResourcesOfficial
• SDVOSB Program: Eligibility and Certification ProcessOfficial
• VA Verification Program: Verify Your Veteran-Owned BusinessOfficial

Franchising offers a path to business ownership with an established brand, proven business model, and ongoing support. Many franchise companies recognize the leadership and discipline veterans bring and offer significant discounts and special financing programs for veterans.

• VetFran: Franchise Discounts and Incentives for VeteransNonprofit
• International Franchise Association: Research Franchise OpportunitiesIndustry
• FranNet: Free Franchise Consulting and Matching ServicesConsulting
• Entrepreneur Franchise 500: Rankings and ReviewsMedia