Looking into civilian contractor roles after my military service ends. What should I be focusing on to make this move successful? Any certifications, skills, or insights on how military experience might ease the transition?
Transitioning from military service to a civilian contractor position is a common path taken by many veterans. Let's look at few steps that could help you with this shift.
1. Self-Assessment: Analyze your military experience and identify the skills and competencies you've acquired during that period. These could include teamwork, problem-solving, discipline, or even specific technical skills, depending on your military role.
2. Certification: Depending on the civilian contractor job you're targeting, certain certifications may be required or beneficial. For example, Project Management Professional (PMP) certification could be useful for project-based roles, whilst certifications like CompTIA Security+ could help in IT-related jobs.
3. Job Search: Websites like USAJOBS and Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) career portal often list jobs for civilian contractors who typically work with government and military organizations. Also, consider using job search features on networking sites like LinkedIn.
4. Tailored Résumé: Develop a job-specific résumé that highlights your skills, training, and experience. Remember, terms and acronyms that are commonplace in the military may not be commonly understood in the civilian world. It's important to translate these into civilian business language.
5. Network: Leverage your connections in the military to network with ex-service members who've transitioned into civilian contractor roles. This could provide invaluable insight into the roles, interview process, expectations, etc.
6. Interview Preparation: Like any job, a thorough preparation is key. Work on demystifying the military jargon in your speech and hone your ability to elaborate on how your experiences translate to the civilian world.
7. Continued Education: Depending on the nature of the contractor job, consider pursuing additional education to boost your knowledge in that field.
You might find that your experience in the military is highly valuable in the world of civilian contracting, as it can bring leadership skills, discipline, and understanding of the military culture, which can be beneficial when dealing with defense contracts.
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