MARCH 11, 2022 – Those who are in the military can plan now to make their later transition to civilian life a smooth, nearly seamless one. This is especially true for those who plan to remain in active service for more than 10 years. What kind of planning is necessary? The primary way to get ready for separating from service duty is to choose the right career path.
Fortunately, there are numerous paths a person can select, including jobs in areas that exist in both military and civilian society. What positions top the list? Besides just about any specialty within HR (human resources), excellent choices include logistics management jobs, training and education positions, security and IT duties, and advertising-related capacities. Here are details about the best careers to start building while still in the service.
Human Resources
Government agencies and private industry have one very large thing in common: they both use virtually identical HR software, procedures, and guidelines when preparing to fill open positions. Those who are conversant with the software used to sift through resumes, screen candidates, schedule job interviews, and track newly hired employees are in demand in every developed nation.
Logistics and Vehicle Fleets
Perhaps no other commercial endeavor was as perfectly suited for ex-service members as logistics. Not only are positions in the niche plentiful in the armed services, but jobs in the private sector are always open. For years, there’s been a shortage of skilled management in fleet supervision. To enhance your resume in this skill set, learn how fleet supervisors use GPS technology to track cargo and stay connected to every driver and vehicle in real-time. Not only do GPS solutions within fleet applications keep tabs on heavy equipment, but it also helps prevent theft, locate costly items wherever they are, and generally monitor the movement of a wide range of assets.
Education and Teaching
Consider passing teacher certification tests as soon as you’re qualified to sit for exams. Then, when you transition from military to civilian life, you’ll be ready to walk into the classroom of your choice. It’s wise to get in-class experience even if you don’t work as an instructor. Volunteer and accept internships on bases that offer weekend courses for college prep and high school review.
Security and IT
Security is a way of life in the armed services, and any relevant experience will serve you well later in your non-military career. Whether your skillsets are more along the lines of physical security tasks like law enforcement or IT data management, you will likely be able to land a private sector position with ease. As with other work categories noted above, experience speaks louder than anything else. Keep your resume up to date and list IT as well as guard-related skills in detail.
PR and Advertising
It can be a challenge for uniformed members to get promotion and advertising work while still in service. But you can acquire many of the necessary talents in jobs like public relations, report writing, and human resources. Try to take a few college-level classes in subjects like marketing, merchandising, and online selling.