Tips for Transitioning to Civilian Careers

I was recently asked what I would do today if I were in the military and made the decision—or had the decision made for me—to transition out before retirement. Whether you’re in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, or Coast Guard, my advice is the same. Here’s what I’d focus on to set myself up for success: 1️⃣ Eliminate Debt: I’d make getting out of debt a priority—everything except a mortgage. If possible, I’d pay that off too. Debt limits your options and can force you to compromise on critical decisions. Freedom from financial burdens creates flexibility. 2️⃣ Max Out My TSP Contributions: I’m a fan of Roth, but whether you choose Traditional, Roth, or a combination, the key is to save aggressively. Your future self will thank you. 3️⃣ Leverage Tuition Assistance (TA): If you don’t have a degree, get one. If you have a bachelor’s, pursue a master’s, and focus on something value-added to your goals. For those in tech, chase certifications with the same determination. TA covered 100% of my BA and MS when I was in the Marine Corps—take full advantage of it! 4️⃣ Network Relentlessly: Create a strong LinkedIn profile. Post 3+ times weekly about the field you want to enter—cybersecurity, business, defense contracting, etc. Attend seminars, trade shows, and any networking opportunities available. Respond when people reach out, and always follow up with a thank-you note. Networking isn’t just online; it’s face-to-face too. Build a large, strong network to maximize opportunities. 5️⃣ Document Everything: Complete and document your medical, dental, vision, and hearing appointments. Keep a copy too. 6️⃣ Protect Your Reputation: Finish strong. Nothing is more important than your last name and professional reputation. Stay 100% committed to your assignment. Dropping your pack in uniform will hurt your endorsements and recommendations. Excellence until the end sends a message: you’re someone worth investing in. 7️⃣ Weigh SkillBridge Thoughtfully: This is personal. I wouldn’t choose SkillBridge because I’m not interested in working for free. Instead, I’d save my leave and use those 60+ days to focus on my transition. PTAD/PTDY can also provide valuable time to reset. 8️⃣ Learn from Fellow Veterans: Reach out to those who’ve transitioned successfully. Ask questions, seek advice on resumes, interviews, starting a business, consulting, contracting, or government roles. Follow up and implement what you learn. 9️⃣ Plan Time Off: Whether you served 4 years or 20+, you’ve earned a break. Take time to decompress, reflect, and think clearly about your future. Be proud of your service—it’s a foundation for what comes next. What Did I Miss? This list reflects what I’d do, but I’d love to hear your thoughts. What would you add? Where do you disagree? To all of you who have served: thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Here is some advice I wish I had implemented about a year before I retired from the United States Marine Corps. I know you think you have plenty of time before you transition. You have told yourself; I will deal with that when the time comes. I know, we have all been there and felt that exact same way before. Unfortunately, it's not until you find yourself on the other side that you wish you could have done a few things differently. These things are easy, and some you may already be doing. I personally believe it will only make you more effective in your current role. 1. Join a professional civilian organization in your military occupation specialty (MOS) or the specific industry sector you want to enter after the military. You will learn the language, create connections, and build rapport with people outside DOD. 2. Support a Nonprofit. I'm not saying to drop off a check. That would be nice, but show up and support the mission personally. Please make a point to attend the events and help them carry the message. Again, you will connect with like-minded people who support causes you believe in and build relationships with people outside DOD. (If you really want to donate, USMC MEMORIAL FOUNDATION is a good one to donate too. 😀) 3. Make intentional connections within the community you want to work. If you are a year from transition, try to set an obtainable goal of once a week to have coffee or go to dinner with someone new. You can always start with Veterans in the roles you want to be in. They will always say yes and they will have great advice about things you should be doing or certificates you need (and, more importantly, the ones you don't need). Listen, we (Veterans) are decades behind on building a civilian network that we can tap into for help. These three actions will help you grow your network so it is in place when you transition out of the military. These connections will help you build credibility and trust. It takes time to build the rapport you need to get a job. You can not hold up your retirement certificate and think you will get the job. Genuine connections are how people get jobs, from the referrals of people they know. It is not by uploading your resume into a portal and hoping you hear back. It's from relationships and authentic interactions. These are only a few of the ways you can expand your network into the civilian world before Retirement +1 day. I hope this helps. What are other ways transitioning service members can expand their professional network? What practices did you use to grow your network when you left the military? #marinecorps #navy #army #airforce #coastguard Concierge on Call (COC)  

I've been retired from the military for just about a year now, here are my observations (you may or may not already know): - Skillbridge is not guaranteed job placement. If you're able to make it work, awesome! If not, it's a tremendous learning experience. Use it as an opportunity to acclimatize yourself to the civilian world. - Your resume is probably the most important thing about you. Starting on it a month or two before separating or retiring won't do you any favors. Start early and share it! Get as many eyes on it as possible. Don't forget to complete a federal resume, too. You may not be looking for that type of work, but it's not a bad idea to have it in your back pocket. Brock Young is your go-to for any questions regarding federal resumes. - You don't have to keep doing what you were doing while you served. If you want to pursue something new, do it! You don't have to ask permission anymore! - Using LinkedIn, even if you don't understand it at first, is paramount. Network with fellow servicemembers and compare notes. - Your service equivalent transition program (TAPS, TGPS, ABCD, whatever the acronym at your installation is) does not even come close to answering all your questions. Write them down and ask any recently separated veteran what they did. Chances are, they had a completely different experience, but ask those questions! - Attend as many virtual networking events as possible. You'll run into people transitioning at the same time as you and those who have been out for a while. Don't be afraid to make new friends. Network, network, network! Events like 50strong, American Corporate Partners (ACP), and VETS2INDUSTRY are just a few. There's also Veterati, where you can schedule a call with someone who has separated or is in a particular field you're interested in. These are FREE resources. USE THEM! - Your VA claim will likely take a little while to process. Make sure you have a rep you can talk to about the process if you have any questions. Don't rely on hearsay. - The job market will likely be a little hectic at first. Start at the shallow end and gradually work your way into the deeper water. - Certifications trump education in most cases but understand that a lot of jobs are looking for an educational level of at least a bachelor's degree. If you have time to complete your degree, do it. If you have time to complete some certifications or your degree on the military's dime, do it. - Not everyone needs to be a project manager. If that's your thing and you want to do it, cool. PMP and Agile certifications are where it's at. Again, if you can get them completed on the military's dime, do it! Connect with Matt Quick 🏆PM Champion🏆if you have questions. Don't stress over anything. If anything, feel free and connect with me and if I can't help you, I can for sure connect you with someone that can grab the baton and keep you moving forward. #transitioningmilitary #veteranshelpingveterans #veteransupport

12x things I would have done differently if I was transitioning now: 1 - started earlier Should have started 18 months out, but would have loved to had 2-3 years...allowing me to space things out Doesn't mean "I'm getting out & going to job fairs" for 2-3 years Means I'm getting my LinkedIn profile together, growing my network, having exploratory conversations about careers & working on education (if necessary) It took 200+ phone calls & cups of coffee to figure out what I wanted to do...it would have been MUCH less stressful spread out over a few years (instead of 10 months) 2 - take TAP as soon as possible It isn't an amazing course (unless you luck out & get one of the absolute angels that teach it + have experience) But it is designed to give you a FOUNDATION Almost like transition Cliffs Notes 3 - request a mentor from American Corporate Partners (ACP) (14 months) Gives you full year to work with them before you get out Hint: ask your mentor to introduce you to other people if things are going well 4 - work on ethics memo (12 months out) for senior leaders Visit local JAG or ethics office You'll need an ethics letter for many senior defense sector jobs, so better to know now (and maybe even start the cooling off period earlier...while still in) 5 - get free LinkedIn Premium (12 months out) Google "free LinkedIn Premium for veterans" and hit the first link 6 - conduct informational interviews (12 - 6 months out) You ideally start way earlier, but here is where you really narrow down the answer to the question: what do you want to do? I recommend at least 2x calls a week to learn more about what people do, ideally you are doing 3-5x a week 7 - Sign up for USO Transitions (12 months out) Get a USO Transition Specialist that will work with you one-on-one, and they also have some cool webinars 😎 8 - get life insurance quotes (12-6 months out) Do it BEFORE you document everything that has ever been wrong with you for your disability (or get a sleep study) VGLI is #expensive & designed to ensure everyone (even medically discharged) can get it This can save you hundreds a month (easy) 9 - get free cert from Onward to Opportunity (6 months out) Ideally you've done enough informational interviews to choose the best one for your next career (not the automatic PMP everyone says to get) O2O will give you (+ spouse) free training for 1x cert AND pay for the exam They will also give you a career workshop, coaching & help with your resume 10 - take extra TAP classes Visit your transition center & see what else they offer They hold events and have specialized training beyond the minimum required classes 11 - work on resume (4-6 months out) with mentors It doesn't make sense to write a resume until you figure out what you want to do 12 - start applying for jobs (2-3 months from day you can start) Ideally with referrals from your mentors, giving you 11x better odds of getting job) Questions? #quinnsights HireMilitary