Lessons Learned for Vets

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we have the privilege of speaking with Bruce Thompson. In the military transition space, Bruce is one of the most prolific veteran advocates and volunteers. Retiring from the Marine Corps 7 years ago, Bruce is now the Executive Director of The ASCEND Collective, the nonprofit arm of Talents ASCEND. This organization not only works with underserved communities to help them become employment ready, but it also partners with employers to educate them on the benefits of hiring these individuals. As an advocate for mental health awareness, he is open with his own struggles. Tune in to hear how Bruce has found success in an unconventional post military career.

Bruce Thompson’s retirement came earlier than he had expected due to medical challenges. Having his identity wrapped up in the uniform and his physical fitness, the transition did not come easy. He was no longer an active duty marine or the stellar athlete that he once was. Bruce left his first job after just 4 weeks because he wasn’t mentally prepared for life outside of the military. For the next 6 weeks, Bruce did not leave the house and fell into a depression. With the help and support of his wife, he applied for 3 positions in the transition space and sought help for his PTSD, depression and anxiety. Shortly thereafter, he accepted a teaching position as an employment workshop facilitator for the Department of Labor. 

Volunteerism has been a very important part of Bruce’s career path and personal growth. He believes that strategic volunteering can be a segue to employment opportunities. Volunteering strengthens your ties to the community and is a way to give back. It also has a positive impact on your emotional well-being. 

Most of Bruce’s employment opportunities post military came about through networking. He credits LinkedIn for his networking success and encourages people to learn how to strategically build a profile to meet their goals. The first question a person needs to ask themself is, “What story do I want to tell through LinkedIn?” Next, a person needs to think through what kind of posted content is best to support their story. Networking events, whether in-person or virtual, should support one’s goals. People need to understand who they are, where they are and where they would like to be to make the best decisions. 

Bruce Thompson is open about his battle with PTSD, anxiety and depression. After working with three or four counselors through the VA, he found one that he feels comfortable sharing his struggles. Bruce wants to blow the door off the stigma surrounding mental health. There are resources on top of resources, but they are only effective if the person is willing to ask for help. People want to be heard and people want to know that someone cares. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22.

You can connect with Bruce on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucethompsonmba/

Explore The ASCEND Collective at: https://theascendcollective.org/

SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this with other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we conclude our 2-part series with Ken Davenport. Author of The Stoic Transition, a Guide to How Veterans can Thrive in their Next Adventure, Ken brings a fresh, civilian perspective to the military transition process. 

Ken encourages transitioning service members to start the process at least 18 months out. While this is common advice, Ken further explains why. There is a massive amount of information that is passed to service members as they exit the military. By starting early, a person has a runway in which to process and think through the information. It’s important to allow yourself the time to decompress, assess and review what it is that you want after the military. Set realistic expectations. In some cases, a person may have to take a couple of steps back to move forward. An O5 or O6 may have expectations of running a private business. Although they are equipped to lead, working in the private sector requires learning a new language, a new system and a new environment. 

Learning to recognize what is within or out of one’s control is helpful in the transition process. It’s impossible for a person to completely control how they will fit into an opportunity given to them. Know that what you bring to the right environment will be utilized and rewarded. If it’s not the right environment, it will be made clear. In such a situation, it will be necessary to pivot to something new. 

The culture of an organization is paramount to having a successful next career. There are certain indicators on the surface such as how people dress and present themselves, but there is a foundation of intangibles that can make or break a culture. For instance, does the company reward risk or value individual opinions? How do you begin to research culture? The best way to understand culture is to network. Find other veterans on LinkedIn who work at the company and ask questions. Be true to yourself and know that there is a culture for everyone.  

Ken talks through the idea of backward planning. In this process, a person plans for different eventualities and makes course corrections based on the feedback they’re getting as they move toward their goal. In general, civilians tend to be reactive. Instead of thinking about how they want to reach their goal, they react to what’s right in front of them and make plans for only the next step. Backward planning is important for achieving the lifestyle that you are looking for while you are still active and productive. 

Fear is prevalent when facing the unknown. If you are facing fear, try getting out of your head and freeing yourself from overanalyzing the situation. Take a break and a step back. Reach out to a mentor to gain new perspective. Ken encourages people to create their own board of advisors. Find people who know you and support you. Find people who will give you unfiltered advice in the area that you are seeking. Find a person who may be able to open doors for you in your chosen industry. 

Ken talks about the concept of memento mori. Don’t put off for tomorrow what you could do today. Realize that nothing is guaranteed in life other than this very moment that you are living right now. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22.

You can connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kgdavenport/.

Explore The Stoic Transition at: https://www.amazon.com/Stoic-Transition-Veterans-Thrive-Adventure/dp/B0BLM7CCV1.

SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this with other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!

Send us Fan Mail

We are pleased to welcome Ken Davenport to the microphone on this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast. For more than a decade, Ken has provided mentorship to military veterans in their transition to the civilian world as a board member for the Travis Manion Foundation, instructor for Boots to Business at the Institute of Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University and FourBlock. As an entrepreneur, he is the founder and CEO of Mission Edge, a social impact organization in San Diego that provides operational and strategy support to nonprofits and small businesses. Ken is the author of The Stoic Transition, a Guide to How Veterans can Thrive in their Next Adventure, which is the focus of today’s session. 

As a long-time entrepreneur, Ken was looking for new opportunities to serve people in meaningful ways. In 2010, he began volunteering at the armed services YMCA at Camp Pendleton. He soon found the purpose he was looking for through mentoring young marines. For over 10 years, Ken has been teaching the transition process from a civilian perspective. Ken believes civilians bring wisdom to the military transition and can help service members understand what employment is like in the private sector.

Ken challenges each transitioning service member to ask themselves what they want to do and the why behind it. While nothing can replace one’s service in the military, it’s important to find a position that brings satisfaction. Ask yourself: Who am I? What do I want? What kind of thing do I want to accomplish in this next story telling period of my life? You have choices in this next chapter. If you choose something that is not the right choice, that’s okay. You can choose again. Take the time to reflect and think about what makes you happy. 

Your career will be made up of many transitions. The military transition is the first of many throughout the rest of your life. In The Stoic Transition, Ken lays out tools that will empower you to make thoughtful choices during all your future transitions. Stoicism refers to an ancient philosophy that is still relevant today. Practiced daily, this philosophy builds resilience and self-empowerment. At its core, the focus is primarily on positive emotions and how to frame the challenges and obstacles that a person encounters.

The 4 main stoic virtues are Wisdom, Courage, Temperance and Justice. The goal is to react to everything in life with one of the 4 virtues. Each virtue dovetails together to form a roadmap on how to address the world. Interwoven with these four virtues are 3 stoic disciplines. These disciplines of desire, action and ascent are the foundations to living as a stoic. In The Stoic Transition, Ken divides up the book by the 3 disciplines. The first question asked is what do you desire? From there, the book dives into discovering the why behind your desires, learning how to think about your transition as an individual and focusing on what you can control. 

Over the years, Ken has noticed that many veterans are introverts. For these people, networking can be a challenge. Ken believes that networking is about making real connections, even friendships. His mindset is quality over quantity. Remember that you are more than your MOS and the military. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22.

You can connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kgdavenport/

Explore The Stoic Transition at: https://www.amazon.com/Stoic-Transition-Veterans-Thrive-Adventure/dp/B0BLM7CCV1.

SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this with other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!

Send us Fan Mail

On this week’s episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, we are pausing our traditional format to bring you an episode focused solely on nonverbal communication. Did you know that only 7% of how you communicate with the world is from the words that come out of your mouth? This means that 93% of how you engage with the world is through nonverbal communication. This term includes your grooming and how you’re dressed, your body language and your tone of voice. 

People make impressions of you quickly. Your professional image is so much more than what you wear. It’s a head-to-toe consideration, and it can be powerful. Consider that you make a first impression in the first 7 seconds of meeting someone. It will take 7 more meetings to erase a bad first impression. Whether you think that statement is fair or unfair, right or wrong – it’s just true. Managing your image is an art form, and it takes planning how you look and act to get the desired reaction. This applies to in-person and video interviews, networking situations, social media videos you share of yourself and even phone interviews. If the only factor in landing a job was your qualifications, people would be hired based on resume alone. The resume gets you an interview. The interview itself is based on how the interviewer feels about you. There are 5 key factors to your image: Impression, Movement, Attitude, Grooming, Etiquette. Your image – the way you present yourself to the world – is always within your control. 

Let’s unpack the differences between verbal and nonverbal cues that influence how you are perceived. Verbal cues include language and your tone of voice. It’s the attitude you project when you speak. It’s your rate of speech and your enunciation. Your nonverbal cues are your overall appearance, your posture, your facial expressions, your clothing and your hair. Studies show that people notice a person’s shoes and their fingernails right away. A positive image is the result of careful planning, preparation and an honest assessment of your image. Remember that 93% of how you engage with the world is through nonverbal communication. 55% of this is through body language and 38% is through tone of voice.

The way you dress communicates volumes. What people see on the outside reflects how they perceive you on the inside. Your dress is an indicator of your confidence, your organizational skills, your soundness of judgement and your reliability. Dress for the position for which you are interviewing and dress one step above how you would go to work every day. If you have no idea how people dress at the organization for which you are interviewing, do some reconnaissance. Learn about the company culture, do some informational interviews internally or even park outside when people get off work to see how they are dressed. Dress conservatively for the interview. At the end of the day, you don’t want them to remember what you wore. You want them to remember you as a candidate. 

To go from wanting something to having something, you must do something. You have complete control over your nonverbal communication. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22.

You can connect with Lori on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorinorris/

SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this with other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!

Send us Fan Mail

Having served in the United States Marine Corps as an infantry officer, Jesse Gemberling-Johnson uses skills he developed in the military as the Director of Talent Recruitment and Development for MCFA, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business and consulting firm. With 15 years of project leadership and human capital strategy experience, he works with both public and private sector clients in the architecture, engineering and construction industries. He recently published a thesis, “An Organizational Guide to Leveraging Military Veteran Human Capital,” that highlights how nontechnical skills developed in the military translate into the civilian workforce. 

When Jesse left the military, he decided to stay in Southern California. With no family obligation or mortgage, Jesse lived day-to-day and enjoyed his unstructured life. Within 2 months, Jesse realized he needed a plan and moved back to Philadelphia to rely on his network of family and friends. Jesse believes that if you are adaptive and willing to take opportunities that are presented to you, then you will find your way. While his first job out of the military was not a good fit, Jesse learned from the experience and moved on to a sequence of better opportunities. He encourages other service members to focus on the next chapter of their life, not necessarily the next 20 years. Research, gather data and make a decision that will serve you and your family for the foreseeable future. You can always pivot and change directions. 

The transition is more than checking the J-O-B box. For many people, the military is an integral part of their identity. It’s important for veterans to figure out what their connection and affiliation with their military service is going to be when they leave the military. Although it took Jesse many years to identify what is important to him and what drives him, he encourages every transitioning service member to take time for introspection. Since leaving the military, Jesse has noticed that people are motivated in the workforce by one of three things: the mission of the organization, the technical skills they utilize or the relationships they build while at work. 

Jesse recently wrote a graduate thesis that focused on utilizing veterans and their skills in the workplace. After interviewing 106 working veterans from all branches, ranks and 9 industries, Jesse was able to identify 5 nontechnical skills that veterans bring to the workplace: Creativity & Collaboration, Adaptability & Resilience, Servant Leadership, Effectiveness under Pressure, Visibility into Diverse Work Teams. Jesse encourages veterans to market these skills to potential employers. On the flip side, employers should make it a goal to focus on the unique abilities of their employees, especially veterans. 

Through his research, Jesse has identified 4 common mindsets that veterans approach the transition with. Each of them has its own challenges. 

Ø  The Overestimator: The civilian workforce owes me for my service.

Ø  The Underestimator: I don’t think I’ll succeed outside of the military.

Ø  The Student Veteran: I will seek out education after my service ends.

Ø  Searcher: I have no idea what to do next.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22.

You can connect with Jesse on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessegj-leveraginghumancapital/.

Explore Jesse’s thesis at: https://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1137&context=od_theses_msod.

SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this with other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!

Send us Fan Mail

Jennifer Jones is wrapping up her 20-year career in the US Air Force as a paralegal manager who trains and develops 350 other legal professionals. Jennifer is in the process of transitioning and is contemplating roles in the human resources, data analytics or financial fields. On this episode, Jennifer asks questions to help clarify the actions she needs to take for a successful transition. 

I have heard it said many times that superintendents are "jack of all trades, master of none.” How do we market ourselves to show our expansive experience? 

You should not market all your skills unless they are relevant to the position that you are applying for. If you list all your skills, you risk watering down and diluting the value of the relevant skills. If you are changing career fields, relate and translate your military skills to your next career field. Your goal is to help the employer understand the value you can bring to their organization. 

I have many interests and am struggling with how to proceed in the job search process. Do you have recommendations to help me clarify my future? 

There are 3 key steps that will help you find your focus.

>  Self-Reflection: Focus on your values and preferences. What makes you marketable? What are your salary needs? What transferable skills do you have? 

>  Research: Use resources like O*NET and labor market research to gather data on the industry you are targeting. Take note of any requirements or certifications you may need. 

>  Informational Interviews: Ask people, veterans and non-veterans, about a day in the life of the career. When talking with veterans, ask them what skills did they bring from the military that are most important.

Remember your post-military career is not permanent. You can always shift, pivot or change gears entirely. Research shows that adults change careers 7-9 times.

What are the most desirable skills to showcase on a resume and in an interview?
According to an article released by Indeed.com in 2/2023, the top 11 skills employers value most are: Communication, Leadership, Teamwork, Interpersonal, Learning/Adaptability, Self-Management, Organizational, Computer, Problem-Solving, Open-Mindedness and Work Ethic. 

In 3/2023, Indeed.com also released a list of the top 10 core competencies that employers value. These are the attributes and inherent aspects of personality that you either naturally possess or have built over the course of your career. They are: Accountability, Ambition, Communication, Conflict-Resolution, Decisiveness, Delegation, Flexibility, Initiative, Stress Management and Teamwork. 

Note that all these skills are learned effectively in the military.

What are key factors to consider in an interview?

Your qualifications are only 10% of your success in an interview. Your responsiveness to questions is 40%. Your nonverbal communication is another 40%. That last 10% is the elusive factor – for example, maybe you were invited to an interview because you know someone in the organization. Knowing that your qualifications are what they are, consider that 80% of your success is within your control. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22.

You can connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-jones-mba-hr-501a68239/

SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this with other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!

Send us Fan Mail

Leon Thomas wrapped up his Air Force career as the Airman Leadership School Commandant. Retiring in 2022, Leon is now in a learning and development role with Allstate, a Fortune 100 company. Though he landed a great role that provides well for his family, he has experienced some challenges along the way. 

As a veteran with an impressive career in the military, Leon believed he would have multiple job offers when he retired. Over the course of 3 months, Leon applied to 30 jobs and was fortunate to receive 11 interview invitations. However, none of the interviews turned into a job offer. Leon was feeling pressure to find a job quickly. When Allstate expressed interest, he jumped at the opportunity. Accepting the position as a learning facilitator, Leon went straight from retirement to his first position – something he does not encourage others to do.

A few months into his new role with Allstate, Leon began to feel frustrated that his role did not offer him the ability to make strategic decisions for the company. As a senior NCO, Leon had the freedom to make decisions that impacted his organization. As an individual contributor with Allstate and not in a managerial position, Leon has had to shift his mindset. He enjoys the culture, the work is stable, the salary meets his needs and he appreciates his boss. Reflecting on his job search, Leon realizes he could have done more to market himself, particularly on LinkedIn. While he is teaching leadership skills at Allstate, Leon knows that he can also lead. Leon is looking forward to leveraging his military experience and the skills he is acquiring in his current position to land a leadership role in the future.

Leon ultimately left the military because he had been passed over for promotion and knew his skills would be better appreciated in the civilian sector. Experiencing a series of misfortunes in the military that prevented him from being a strong competitor for promotion, Leon still struggles with the feeling that he did not achieve his goals in the military. He strives to continue working on his mindset and encourages people to look at the job for what it is, as opposed to what you wish it was. Leon has taken the approach to viewing his life in terms of winning and losing. Winning means different things to different people. Winning might be having work-life balance or financial security. For Leon, he knows he is winning in life right now.

Working remotely for Allstate, Leon has experienced the challenges of working from home. He misses the camaraderie that came from working in the military. As a social person, Leon struggles with the silence of his home office and the lack of opportunity to engage with coworkers. Focusing on the positives, he does not have a commute, is more rested and is able to wear pajama bottoms while working!

Leon realizes that regardless of what type of role a person chooses after the military, there is a strong likelihood that the person will feel isolated. Find ways to connect with fellow veterans, like volunteering. Find people with common interests and know that you may have to step out of your comfort zone to meet new people.

Leaving the military will require a shift in your mindset. Leon has learned and is still learning how to change his perspective to be the best version of himself.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22.

You can connect with Leon on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lk-thomas/.

SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this with other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!

Send us Fan Mail

William Wunschel is currently in the process of retiring from the United States Air Force as a senior maintenance officer. Over the course of his 20 years in the military, Bill has held leadership positions at the tactical, strategic and headquarters levels. He began his terminal leave in early February, with an official retirement date of June 2023. Over the past several weeks, Bill has narrowed his search to program management positions and tailored his resume accordingly. In addition, he is an active contributor on LinkedIn and continues to build his network. 

Until recently, Bill has always had a small, close network of people that he relies on and trusts. His close relationships worked for him prior to joining the military and while he was serving in the military. Bill assumed that the same, small network would work for him after the military and help him land a new career. He believed that jobs would come to him based on his military leadership skills. During TAP, Bill completed his LinkedIn profile and let it collect dust. It wasn’t until former bosses reached out did Bill take their advice and start leveraging LinkedIn for his career search. In a short amount of time, Bill has interviewed for several jobs and received multiple job offers.

Bill recounts his first interview experience and shares his lessons learned. Assuming his military experience would be enough to carry him through the interview, Bill failed to prepare. He did not research the company or have examples ready to back up his skills. When the panel asked him, “Tell us about yourself,” he had not taken the time to craft a statement that showcased his value. Since this experience, Bill has learned to prepare for the unexpected and has talking points and examples ready.

Having gone through the negotiating process, Bill encourages everyone to always counteroffer. Research the company and use resources like salary.com to educate yourself. Think beyond the salary and consider extra PTO or fringe benefits. Know your worth and know what you need. Consider the cost of living for the location you are targeting. When you leave the military, it is up to you to manage your next career path. 

To end the episode, Bill asks Lori 3 questions to help him smooth his own transition. 

When it comes to applying for jobs, what percentage of qualifications should someone be aiming for?

If you meet 80% of the basic requirements, you should apply. Think about a job posting like a recruiter’s wish list. They know that it’s highly unlikely that someone will meet every qualification. 

What are some common pitfalls that veterans experience during the interview process?

Lack of preparation. Remember the interview is not about you – it’s how you can help the organization. 

The more information you can learn from informational interviews and research, the more targeted you can make your presentation. 

How can someone prepare for a transition into the civilian sector after living a certain culture?

All servicemembers are taught to adapt to new cultures and environments. Know that it will be different. Approach your new workplace with an open mind. You are not expected to know everything, and there will be a learning curve. Have patience with yourself as you adapt to a new culture. If your company has a Veterans Resource Group, consider joining or starting one if there is not one already in place. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22.

You can connect with Bill on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-wunschel/

SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this to other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!

Send us Fan Mail

Retiring from the Army in 2021, Shirley Baez went directly from the military to her first job. Like many veterans, Shirley left her first role for a better fit within a year after retiring.  Learning from her own transition, Shirley encourages servicemembers to take time for introspection and learn how to shift from a military mindset to one that focuses on the future. She is passionate about advocating for veteran entrepreneurship and volunteers with Action Zone, an organization that is dedicated to helping veterans, military spouses and dependents build their own businesses. 

Shirley was intentional about her transition. She leveraged the resources available to her, including networking with other veterans. From her conversations, she was able to predict future roadblocks and plan accordingly. She admits that networking was a challenge at first but recognized the importance of networking to her transition success. As an introvert, Shirley knew she needed to step out of her comfort zone and put herself first when it came time to managing her next career. The more informational interviews she conducted, the more natural it became. 

One of the programs that kick-started her transition was the Leader Transition Institute. Their 3-day intensive program helped Shirley transition her mindset from “we” to “me.” Shirley also utilized Four Block, The COMMIT Foundation and The Honor Foundation for transition guidance and mentorship.

For many servicemembers, the focus of the military transition is the J-O-B, and rightfully so. However, the changes that need to occur within your own mindset to transition successfully is an equally important focus. Take time for reflection. Shirley journaled, listened to podcasts and created a vision board. The introspective journey is a path that a person must walk alone – no one else will have your same needs or goals. However, there are other parts of the transition that will be much more difficult if you walk them alone. She reached out to mentors, both veterans and civilians, and used them for advice and sounding boards.

Shirley admits that it was out of fear that she took the first job that was offered to her. The job wasn’t a good fit, and she fell into a depression. Watching out for her best career interests, Shirley left the position. Only after leaving did she realize the importance of taking the time to decompress after leaving the military lifestyle. By leveraging the network that she had deliberately built, she quickly found a better role that played into her strengths.

As a volunteer for Action Zone, Shirley assists veterans who are interested in taking the business ownership path. As she considers starting her own future business, Shirley is also going through the program. For anyone considering entrepreneurship, seek outside perspectives and coaching. The transition is all about mindset. You can choose to be fearful or look at it as an opportunity or challenge. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22

You can connect with Shirley at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirley-baez/

Need to kick-start your transition? Explore these programs:
Action Zone: https://www.actionzonetampa.com/
Leader Transition Institute: https://www.leadertransitioninstitute.org/
Four Block: https://fourblock.org/
The COMMIT Foundation: https://www.commitfoundation.org/
Honor Foundation: https://www.honor.org/

SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this to other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!

Send us Fan Mail

When Keith Cassant retired from the U.S. Army in 2019, his intention was to transition straight into a role in law enforcement. After learning he was physically ineligible, Keith had to find a new focus. Since retiring, Keith has held four different roles. His current position with Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is a great fit, and Keith shares the lessons he learned along the way. 

Like many veterans, Keith made the initial mistake of putting all his eggs in one basket. After being denied the opportunity to serve in law enforcement, Keith was faced with an unknown future. Keith leveraged every available resource, including Onward to Opportunity (O2O). Thinking he would pursue his Project Management Professional certification, he changed his mind after hearing an O2O briefing about the field of Human Resources. Realizing that he wanted to be in the “people business,” Keith successfully landed his first role with Fleet and Family Support. Within a year, Keith began a new position with Wells Fargo as a branch manager. Having a desire to work again for the federal government, Keith leveraged his connections and accepted a role with the U.S. Coast Guard. Using his network once again and clearly communicating what types of roles he was interested in, Keith found a job with CISA.

With an extensive employment history in just under 4 years, Keith encourages people to think about the following 5 things when considering a job: Money-Hours-People-Location-Type of Work. From this list of 5, prioritize your top 3 considerations. Initially, Keith assumed that the type of work he pursued wouldn’t be a factor in his overall satisfaction but through his job experiences, he realized it was indeed very important to him. 

Another lesson learned is the idea that casting a wide net will yield many options. The truth is, applying to different industries and different roles within those industries decreases your chances of landing a job. Take the sniper’s approach instead; study and focus your target and then take calculated shots. Tailor your resume to each industry and role. It’s okay to have a couple of different focuses but understand that they will need different approaches. Remember companies are hiring for a specific need with a specific role that needs to be filled. 

Failure is part of the process. Your first resume may be ineffective at showcasing your skills. You may not advance beyond the application process. That interview you land may not lead to a job offer. Be mentally prepared for rejection and have a resilient mindset. Find healthy outlets to recharge yourself. 

Network. 3 out of the 4 jobs that Keith has held began with his network. The veteran community is a large network, so reach out and schedule conversations with your connections. Know that, in some cases, you may need to take a step back to gain knowledge and expertise in a new career field. Remember that your ability to adapt and learn will propel you forward in your next career. 

You are not alone in this transition. Leverage every resource that’s available to you. Find at least one mentor. And don’t give up!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22.

You can connect with Keith on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithcassant/

SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this to other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!