The Big Lifestyle Adjustment
By, Barbara Adams, CPRW, CEIP, CMRW, CFRW
www.militaryresumewriters.com and www.careerproplus.com
Finally I Get To Go Home…Maybe
After twenty or more years of service life—including numerous duty stations at different locations around the country and around the world—you may be eager to settle back in your hometown and start a new career. Even if you’ve done just one tour, you’ve been gone a while. The problem is that things have changed back home, and so have you. Even if you’ve returned from time to time or have even been stationed nearby, it’s not going to be the same place you left. Chances are the job you seek or area of work you are most suited for may not align with what’s currently available. You may be able to find something suitable, but more than likely you won’t. Try not to force the issue of insisting on relocating to your hometown only to face difficulty in your career path.
Home Is Where the Job Is
In other words, be prepared to relocate one more times wherever your next career leads you. Many military members have excellent logistics experience, and land lucrative careers with large companies where employers view discipline, leadership, and troubleshooting as prized attributes. Large distribution facilities, warehouse operations, and logistics companies are located around the country. There may even be one near your hometown. Other career paths offer similar situations. Technology is a very robust job area for military folks, and many superior companies are looking for your expertise. They may be located in parts of the country that you hadn’t even considered. Many military members elect to pursue federal employment, taking advantage of their credit for years of service, military preference in applying, and security clearance status, which can be a real door-opener. Many of these jobs are located near Washington, D.C., but there are thousands of opportunities nationwide and worldwide.
Focus on the job you want, find the ideal company or agency, and then decide if it’s a place you’d care to live for some time. You are now in control for a change. Make the most of this opportunity for career, lifestyle, and location options.
Lighten Up, Francis
While adjusting to civilian life, you need to adjust your attitude toward rank and position. It’s no longer necessary (and it can be awkward) to address everyone as “Sir” and “Ma’am.” At the same time, if you are accustomed to people saluting you, standing at attention in your presence, and all the associated etiquette, you need to put that aside as well. Keep the respectful attitude, but ditch the military protocol being sensitive to the prevailing corporate culture. Also, be prepared to have to justify your decisions as never before. Not only your superiors but your subordinates will want to understand your decisions, and know your justification for them. While there will still be situations where “an order is an order,” especially in emergency or life-threatening situations, be prepared to accommodate need-to-know and like-to-know situations, and react to each appropriately.
Your Are What You Wear
Prepare for your new wardrobe as well. Don’t overdress for your job (and make everyone else look bad). You want to consider the phrase, “Don’t dress for the job you have, dress for the job you want.” That may mean a long-sleeve, button-down shirt when your peers are in short-sleeves. It may mean a more business-like tie if shirt and tie is the dress code. For women, it can be more meaningful to observe the culture and attire of the peer group and the promotion-level group, and act accordingly in dress and demeanor. Dress well but don’t go overboard. In the military, it’s easy: put on the uniform of the day, and keep an eye out for stripes, bars, and stars. In civilian life, it’s more subtle. You can hardly ever go wrong dressing up a bit more than the group, but you can definitely go wrong out-doing your boss on one hand or being too casual on the other. Keep your eyes open; look and act like you belong. Continue to be the reliable, respectful leader you’ve always been, and you’ll do just fine.
Barbara Adams, President and CEO of CareerPro Global (CPG), the parent company of www.careerproplus.com and www.militaryresumewriters.com, has been a member of the careers community for the past 20 years. Ms. Adams holds four prestigious industry certifications. CareerPro Global is the only ISO 9001-2008 Certified Career Service in the industry, as well as one of the fastest-growing Military, Federal, and Civilian Resume-Writing and Careers-Coaching companies. The team of Certified Professional Federal and Military Resume Writers at CPG assist thousands of clients in applying for and gaining employment each year. We can help you land your military to civilian job.
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