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After serving 4 years in the US Army as an officer in the medical service corps, Dr. Destinee Prete transitioned to earn a doctorate in industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology, a field dedicated to finding data-backed solutions to human problems in work and other organizational settings. She has held various positions that have helped transitioning service members and veterans. Not only is she the co-founder of We2AreVets, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to honoring and recognizing women veterans, but she is also a full-time I/O psychology practitioner and the CEO of PG Strategies Group. 

Although Dr. Prete’s transition from the military was several years ago, her experiences during that time launched her toward a career path dedicated to supporting the military community with special focus on women veterans. After giving birth to twins and juggling a dual-military family dynamic, Dr. Prete decided to separate to focus on advancing her education and caring for her twins. Her first job post-military was serving as a career counselor for TAP, a role she credits to fueling her passion for serving beyond the uniform. During this time, she made the decision to dedicate the research for her degree’s required dissertation to the field of transitioning. 

While still pursuing her education and working in various roles, Dr. Prete had the opportunity to interact with thousands of service members. Although the transition journey is unique for each person, one commonality that Dr. Prete observed was how much pressure people put on the first job out of uniform. This is still true today. People want the job to do everything for them; provide financially, be a resume builder, have an impressive title, serve as a built-in family and satisfy their passion. Instead of focusing only on the job, Dr. Prete encourages transitioning service members to explore various opportunities and network. The transition is much more than finding a job.

When Dr. Prete started her research, she found that there was no usable data on the veteran transition experience. Pulling demographic data as a foundation, she observed that women are emerging as the fastest growing group of veterans. She conducted a multiple case study with particular attention given to the post-9/11 women veteran experience. 4 themes emerged from the data:

☑Many women veterans took a non-traditional transition route, meaning they did not pursue education, entrepreneurship, or a job right away.

☑Many women felt a loss in identity once they hung up the uniform.

☑Many women did not feel recognized while serving and experience the same as a veteran. As a result, some women do not self-identify as a veteran.

☑The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) needs a revision that is more inclusive to females.

Her research led her to launch We2AreVets, an organization dedicated to honoring, empowering and recognizing women veterans. Additionally, she seeks to educate and inform organizations, institutions and other entities working with women vets to better support them. 

Head over to the Lessons Learned for Vets YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22 to hear a bonus clip from Dr. Prete.

You can connect with Dr. Prete at https://www.linkedin.com/in/destinee-prete/

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

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After a career in the US Coast Guard, Jason Heering retired from an overseas location which added an extra layer of complexity to his transition. Throughout his military career, he served in several positions related to facility and construction project management. As he weighed his options closer to retirement, Jason made the decision to accept a role with the federal government. Hired as the Deputy Director of Facility Maintenance for the US Space Force at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Jason reflects on navigating the federal job application process.

Jason’s last duty station was in El Salvador, and it was there that he and his family lived during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jason began teleworking during the pandemic and took advantage of virtual networking and informational interviews while working from home. Learning about Vets2Industry during the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), Jason connected with various mentors who gave him career advice. While Jason categorizes himself as an introvert, he successfully built new relationships through networking and always followed up with a personalized thank-you note as a token of his appreciation. 

Two questions that often get mentioned on this podcast are “What do I want to do after the military?” and “What is my why?” While the two are related, they are separate questions. Reflecting on his transition, Jason admits he wasn’t ready to answer, “What is my why?” After taking a few personality tests and reflecting on the results, Jason decided it wasn’t the right time to change career paths and fell back on the skills he had developed during his service. 

Transitioning is a process that should start months, if not years, in advance and needs to include asking and answering those two questions. With enough time, it’s possible to take advantage of education benefits while serving to reskill or upskill. Additionally, it’s important to look at all the factors when considering your next career. For many service members, family plays an important role in determining salary needs and job location. 

Jason applied to 20 jobs both in the private sector and in the federal government. He successfully navigated the federal job process and landed several interviews. With each federal resume he created, he pulled bullets that matched the job description from a master list that included all his positions and accomplishments. Jason was ultimately hired for a role under a Direct Hire Authority (DHA). In this scenario, Jason was selected through a resume review without an interview. As a first-time federal government employee, Jason took the opportunity to negotiate his salary and annual leave hours.

Jason encourages people interested in a federal job to take advantage of the HR representative information located at the bottom of each job announcement. Search for people on LinkedIn with federal jobs and start networking. 

Recently, Jason joined the Air Force’s Civilian Leadership Development School’s book club. The program is still relatively new but has already inspired Jason with its first three books. He encourages everyone to continue learning and gaining new perspectives through reading. His recommendation list includes:

What Color is Your Parachute by Richard Bolles

Start with Why by Simon Sinek

Crucial Conversations by multiple authors

Make Your Bed by Admir

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

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With a US Navy career spanning 21 years, including 9 years serving active duty and 12 years in the US Navy Reserve, Saquonna Duncan shares her transition story and lessons learned along the way. Saquonna served in different roles during her military career, and it was her position as a career counselor that inspired her to start Advancing by Bounds, an organization dedicated to supporting transitioning service members as well as educating employers on how to target and recruit military and veteran candidates. Her path hasn’t been straightforward or easy, and she candidly shares mistakes she made along the way in hopes of helping others.

Saquonna earned her bachelor’s degree in criminology using Tuition Assistance. Toward the end of her degree, she completed an internship with the California Juvenile Justice Department with a dream of being a juvenile detention officer in New Orleans. Leaving active duty, she moved her family to Louisiana to start her next chapter. Saquonna failed to research the labor market and was shocked by how little her dream job paid compared to what she was earning in the military. Leaving the military can have serious financial implications for some, and a person must do a thorough financial analysis of their situation before leaving to better understand what they need to make at their next position. 

Networking her way to a new role in HR with a law firm, she was set to begin her first day on the day Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Evacuating to Atlanta, she used a temp agency to land a role at Cox Communications in their legal department. Looking back, Saquonna regrets not negotiating a higher salary when her role became permanent. 

While working at Cox, Saquonna served as a reservist and deployed to various locations worldwide. On one deployment, she learned project management skills and was excited at the thought of pursuing project management in the civilian sector. Saquonna admits she didn’t pursue her passion and returned to the safety and routine of her previous position. During her 14 years at Cox, Saquonna continued learning new skills. In fact, she used her GI Bill to earn an MBA and was disappointed that her newly acquired degree did nothing to help her get promoted.

Her realization that a degree alone wasn’t enough to land a better role led her to start her organization, Advancing by Bounds. She counsels transitioning service members that a degree should be paired with actionable experience. Whether a person learns skills through volunteer work, an internship or programs like SkillBridge, employers want to see experience to back up the book knowledge.

At Advancing by Bounds, military veterans and recently separated reservists and guardsmen can access career counseling. Saquonna gives each client personalized service to include Career Mapping. Her goal is to help people do the hard work to find out what they like and what might be a good job to showcase their skills. While it’s unreasonable to expect every person to love their job, she believes that a person should look for work that has likeable tasks. Career Mapping is a starting point, and at Advancing by Bounds, a person can also receive support in other areas like interviewing and learning how to upskill or reskill. 

Head over to the Lessons Learned for Vets YouTube channel at https:

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

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On this episode, James Felts shares his struggles and victories finding purpose, meaning and fulfilling work post-military. His career in the US Army encompassed time served as a national guardsman, reservist and active-duty officer. Having gone through 4 transitions, James shares his wisdom and lessons learned through the valleys and peaks of his post-military career path. 

James started his career in the US Army as a commissioned officer. Separating after his initial enlistment, he became a state trooper and learned quickly that law enforcement was not a good fit. Working in roles that were far below his capabilities, he rejoined the US Army and served as a national guardsman and reservist. Today, he is a real estate agent and the Co-Founder of JTF–214, where he co-hosts the Lounge with Legends show on YouTube and helps businesses market themselves through the power of storytelling. 

Transition is going to happen for everyone. James believes it’s the transformation that so many service members find challenging. Just like many veterans, James has also come to the realization that transformation is a long journey – one that he is still excited to be on.

James urges everyone to carefully consider their options after the military and to ask yourself the hard questions of what you want to do and who you want to be. Looking back on his transitions, he admits he didn’t always make changes for the right reasons. In some cases, he took the path of least resistance. In other situations, he didn’t come up with a plan until he was already in the moment.

Reading books and learning from other perspectives has helped James along his life journey. In this episode, he mentions several authors, including Ryan Holiday. James has found the words of these influential authors to resonate with him and help him organize his path forward. 

Although some may want to carry their line of work in the military to the civilian sector, others may want a fresh start. James encourages everyone to take advantage of SkillBridge, internships and volunteer work as avenues to new career fields. 

Although not every job is going to be a passion project, it should be fulfilling in some way and showcase your skillset. You can always pivot and change course. James has found satisfaction as a co-owner of JTF–214 with Marty Martinez. Together, they use the Donald Miller concept of the power of storytelling to market businesses effectively. 

James discusses the similarities of his method of marketing to a jobseeker marketing themselves to an employer. With just 3-4 seconds to make a positive impression, it’s critical to have a clear message. Whether it’s a company using social media to advertise or a transitioning service member using LinkedIn to network, the content must be concise, clear and solution driven. Focus on how you can add value to a company. How can you solve their problem? How can you save them money? How can you make them money? Position yourself as the solution.  

Hope is not a plan. Relying on fate is not a plan. Take time to ask yourself what you want to do and develop goals that align with your dream. Take action and results will follow. And remember you can always pivot and change.

Head over to the Lessons Learned for Vets YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22 to hear

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

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When Adam Getz first joined the military, his plan was to finish his initial enlistment as an Army musician and separate. As his roles changed within the military, Adam decided to serve for 20 years with the goal of having a second career in the private sector.  Adam earned an MBA, PMP and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certifications to prepare him for his next career in project management. When Adam left the military4/2021, he spent a year as a Senior Project Manager in pharmaceutical contract manufacturing. Today, he is a Senior Project Manager in Supply Chain Operations at Indiana University Health. 

Adam finished his MBA earlier in his Army career. Once he focused on becoming a project manager, he completed his PMP and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt closer to retirement. Adam used a full 24 months to prepare for his transition by attending TAP classes, leveraging LinkedIn and networking . 

After using The 20-Minute Networking Meeting book as a guide on how to conduct an informational interview, Adam conducted close to 100 interviews. With each conversation, Adam learned more about project management in the private sector, gained new mentors and ultimately confirmed that he did want to pursue project management. His interactions helped him to translate his Army skills to industry standard terminology. As an introvert, networking did not come naturally to Adam. At first, he felt like he was imposing on people but then realized after a few informational interviews that people are eager to help. 

 Adam reflects on the differences of project management between the military and the private sector. Because rank is not a factor in his current position, it’s not always obvious how to get something accomplished. The job of a project manager is to lead cross-functional teams as an individual contributor and yet influence people to meet deadlines and finish projects. Building relationships and having expert knowledge are keys to being a successful project manager.

Adam discusses how asking questions has earned him respect with coworkers and supervisors in his post-military roles. He learned that people are eager to help and asking questions builds teamwork, relationships and rapport. Adam encourages veterans to check their ego and stay humble. While some people will show appreciation toward a veteran, others are indifferent.

When job searching, many roles do not post a salary range.  Adam discusses how his informational interviews and mentors gained through LinkedIn helped him uncover a desired salary range based on his background and skills. 

Adam and Lori end the podcast discussing leaving jobs in the private sector, sometimes even in the first year. While Adam acknowledges that finding a job that you are passionate about is ideal, it’s not realistic for everybody. He instead encourages people to find jobs that match their skillsets and ones they enjoy in some capacity. When a job isn’t right for you, it’s okay to find something that is a better fit. Sometimes you have to make a change to move forward. 

Head over to the Lessons Learned for Vets YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22 to hear a bonus clip on struggles and surprises Adam has encountered during his first 18 months out of uniform.

You can connect with Adam at

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

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After spending 20 years as a US Navy Flight Officer, David Nava was ready for a new challenge. He started preparing for his transition four years in advance with a goal of landing a role in project management. After earning his MBA, PMP, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Scrum Master certification, David realized he did not want to be a project manager. A mentor introduced Salesforce (SF) to him, and he immediately began utilizing their free resources. After gaining hands-on experience through volunteering and using the DoD SkillBridge program, he landed an internship which led to a full-time role as a Solutions Architect. Even if you have no interest in the tech industry, keep listening. Dave shares his wisdom on how to define your military skills, translate them to an employer and find career fulfillment. 

Dave discusses how volunteering not only helped him test-drive different roles within Salesforce but also gave him work experience to leverage with his soft skills, education and training. While informational interviews hold immeasurable value, volunteering is a way to determine what role best fits your goals and personality. Just three months into a year-long free SF program for transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses, Dave volunteered for FourBlock using his skills as a Salesforce Systems Administrator. Wanting to learn faster, he also reached out to Merivis and began volunteering for them as a SF Consultant. 

The SF Military program provides free certification, courses and training vouchers to the military community. To get started a person signs up for a free profile and chooses one of 18 learning paths. After completing the guided learning path through Trailhead, a course voucher and eventually a certification voucher are issued. To date, Dave has earned 14 Salesforce certifications and has paid $0. He believes his certifications were more than enough to establish him in the SF ecosystem and be successful in his roles. Providing not only certifications, SF has also built a community of 40,000 like-minded individuals from the military that form a powerful support network. 

The Salesforce Hiring Alliance is a partnership that includes 300+ companies that guarantee a first-round interview for military trailblazers that have earned at least 1 certification. This opportunity is a great way to get your foot in the door and provides instant relationships. 

When David was preparing to leave the military and the field of aviation, he knew he would need to leverage his soft skills while he was learning new hard skills. He believes the military community can be successful in any environment given their ability to learn quickly, adapt to various situations and pivot when necessary. He challenges people to not overlook their work ethic, flexibility and critical thinking skills when writing their resume and during the interview process.

Each week, David offers Trailblazer office hours for the military community. Current SF employees, in a variety of roles, are interviewed by David with a goal of providing collaborative mentoring to a large audience. It’s a great place to start researching SF and the positions available. Plus, the office hours are recorded and housed on David’s YouTube channel. 

Head over to the Lessons Learned for Vets YouTube channel at https://tinyur

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

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This week, I will be leading you through a solo episode focused on career fair and networking event success strategies. Preparation before the event will give you confidence during the event and increase your chances of success after the event. Whether events are in person or virtual, my tips and tricks will set you up for success.

Before the Event 

Ø Prepare a results-focused resume that showcases your unique value. Your resume should be targeted to a specific industry. 

Ø Find out what companies are attending the event. 

Ø Research the companies and their openings. Do an analysis of each company’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. 

Ø Focus on 5 companies. You may need to adjust your resume for each company. 

Ø Pre-register online if offered.

Ø Prepare questions you will ask employers. Think through how you will start conversations. 

Day of Event

Ø Bring plenty of copies of your resume. Remember you may have different resumes for each targeted company. 

Ø Dress to impress. Do not wear your military uniform. You want the employer to see you as a potential employee, not a service member. Dress as though you are interviewing. For some roles, a 3-piece suit is expected. In other positions, a collared shirt and a pair of slacks are appropriate. A good rule is to dress a notch above what you would wear every day on the job. 

Ø If you are attending a virtual event, consider your background. The area visible in the camera should be free of clutter. Choose a quiet area. 

Ø Meet the recruiter for each of your targeted companies. Get their name, business card and connect with them on LinkedIn at the event or shortly after. Ask your prepared questions and let them know your unique value proposition. Be respectful of their time. 

Ø Even though you are targeting certain organizations, network with all recruiters and be open to new possibilities. 

Ø You should leave the event with contact information, notes and details about your new contacts, company information, a better sense of your options and confidence. 

Ø Remember it’s unlikely you will be offered an interview or a job at a career fair. In most cases, the recruiter may look at your resume and ask you to apply online. 

After the Event

Ø Follow up with all recruiters through LinkedIn, voice mail or email. Thank them for their time and sharing information with you about the organization. 

Ø Create a focused resume for each role and apply. Follow up again with the recruiter and let them know you applied. 

Ø Take time to ask yourself what went well and what areas need improvement for the next event.

The purpose of creating your networking value proposition is to start a conversation with a potential employer. It’s an opportunity to explain to someone who you are and how you can add value to their organization. Keep your proposition relevant to the company you are targeting. Focus on where you are going, not where you have been. For example, you will want to avoid introducing yourself with your title in the military. Only talk about where you have been with how it relates to where you are going. Remember to smile and make eye contact. 

Head over to the Lessons Learned for Vets YouTube channel at

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

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Amber Kulesza served 12 years in the Air Force and Air Force Reserves. Her transition was unexpected, and she wasn’t given much time to plan. Despite these challenges, she navigated through the transition with the help of a robust network and leveraging certifications to upskill. After working in human resources for the State of Florida, she took a year to travel, decompress, explore career possibilities and position herself for her next chapter. The transition process is just that, a process. It doesn’t happen overnight and isn’t complete once you land your first role. Most veterans will tell you they are still transitioning in some way or another. 

When Amber made the decision to continue her service in the reserves, she was given the opportunity to attend the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Like so many service members, she created her LinkedIn profile and let it sit, untouched. Six years later, Amber began the process of separating from the reserves and was not able to attend TAP again. She took it upon herself to begin aggressively connecting with people on LinkedIn and having intentional conversations. Her transition occurred pre-COVID and certain technology, like Zoom, was not commonplace. Living in California with a goal of relocating to Florida, it became apparent Amber needed to move to Florida to continue the job search process in person. 

Amber earned her B.S. in Social and Criminal Justice with the intent of pursuing law enforcement. Injuries prevented her from continuing that path, so she made the decision to learn about human resources in the civilian sector. Having worked in HR for the Air Force, Amber thought it would be a smooth transition. After conducing informational interviews, she realized HR in the military versus HR in the civilian world were very different. Amber connected with Onward to Opportunity to learn more about the industry and earned her PHR certification.

After 16 months in an HR position and realizing the industry wasn’t right for her, Amber made the decision to take one year and travel across the country with the intent to decompress and plan her next chapter. She engaged her network once again and met many connections in person during her travels. Although she didn’t necessarily know the job title she wanted, she identified the skill sets she wanted to use and relied on her network to help her plan next steps.

Amber reflects on the mental shift of leaving the military. She felt the loss of her military family and their support. After Amber was separated and building her network through LinkedIn, she found a new support system in programs like Veterati and American Corporate Partners. These groups offered her a safe environment to ask questions, learn about careers and focus on her unique value. She checked her ego and opened herself up to listening and learning. Amber discusses the importance of learning how to ask for assistance during the transition process.

Many people are afraid to take big risks and make big changes. Amber acknowledges that she was fortunate to have the opportunity to take a year to travel and explore. Having a space of time between your next career and the military is important – even if it’s just 2 weeks. Give yourself time to decompress and recalibrate. Amber stresses the importance of having a solid network to lean into and reminds people that your job, wheth

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

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After serving 10 years as active duty Air Force, Jeremy Montgomery, who goes by Monte, served an additional 12 years in the Air National Guard. When he retired in 2020, he used LinkedIn to grow his network and ultimately land a role with Fusion Cell as their business development manager. Although hired right away, Jeremy reflects on his transition and shares his mistakes and offers advice to ensure a smoother transition for others. Monte is a visible presence on LinkedIn and a fierce advocate for the veteran, transitioning military and spouse community.

When Monte made the decision to retire, he was unaware of the resources available to him. Although the Transitioning Assistance Program (TAP) was valuable, it also lacked the depth he needed to fully navigate his transition. He admits he believed he would be able to transition without the aid of others. Looking back, he realizes his decision to isolate himself led to mistakes which could have been avoided and prevented had he reached out for assistance. How do you overcome not knowing what you don’t know? You network. Using LinkedIn to network exposes you to an environment that will teach you what you don’t know. 

Monte’s experience with going through it alone isn’t unique. In his current position as Director of Business Development at Fusion Cell, he has mentored hundreds of people through the transition and job search process. His biggest advice – do not go at this alone. While you may have valuable experience from the military, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be translated in job applications without you networking alongside.

Monte discusses the different seasons of LinkedIn. In the inaugural season, people build their network and form relationships to assist them with getting a job. Once hired, many people abandon LinkedIn only to resurface when they are looking for another job. Monte encourages people to stay active on LinkedIn when happily employed. During Season 2, network with people who have similar roles with different companies and expose yourself to new and different ideas. Become a subject matter expert in your industry and start researching your company’s competitors. In Season 3, reach out to others and help them through the transition process. As a subject matter expert, you have a lot to offer. 

Be Genuine. Be Deliberate. Be Consistent. When posting on LinkedIn, follow this formula to build organic content. Post something that is meaningful to you and don’t get caught up in the approval ratings. At Fusion Cell, Jeremy has found his own voice and style on LinkedIn after regularly posting and engaging on LinkedIn. 

Fusion Cell seeks to pair military veterans and spouses with meaningful careers with companies who support the military community. Companies are vetted before they become partners to ensure their dedication to hiring and retaining veterans and military spouses. One of the programs near and dear to Monte is Mil/Vet Spouse Mondays. After reviewing the data for underemployed and unemployed military spouses, Monte created this virtual opportunity to highlight this community and share resources and opportunities. Monte challenges all military service members to acknowledge the sacrifices their spouses have made in support of their service. 

Head over to the Lessons Learned for Vets YouTube channel at https:

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

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Having served 7 years as a US Army intelligence officer, Sarah Ostrowski decided she was ready for a new challenge. Her transition plan included going back to school, however, when the acceptance letters started to arrive, her gut was telling her to go in a different direction. Today she is the Manager of Global Intelligence and Threat Analysis for the Walt Disney Company. Her job search was full of mistakes and blunders, but she used informational interviewing, networking and an engaging, open and honest communication style to ultimately land her role at Disney. Sarah discusses how she showcased her military skills in her interview and as an employee, who was promoted during her first year.

For the first four years of her military career, Sarah served as a field artillery officer before moving into the intelligence field. During her service, Sarah noticed the need for better access to quality mental health services. Her interest in pursuing a PhD in the psychology field spurred her toward military separation. During her last deployment with Special Forces, she applied to schools. When the acceptance letters came in, she realized she wasn’t 100% sure this was the right path. She made the decision to defer school and seek out other opportunities in the private sector. Her first stop was LinkedIn.

As an intelligence officer, Sarah used her intelligence skills to gather intel on LinkedIn. However, you don’t have to have a background in intelligence to utilize all the functions of LinkedIn for your job search! She relied heavily on the algorithms already built into the platform during her searches. For example, she searched military intel officer and analyzed the profiles to learn what military intel veterans are doing. If a person continued to work in the intelligence community, she poured over the profile to learn the civilian intelligence language. Her next step was reaching out to individuals for informational interviews. 

During a late-night job search session on LinkedIn, Sarah came across an intelligence analyst role at Disney. At this point, she didn’t have a civilian resume but also knew job postings don’t stay live for long. She pulled together a resume that was far from perfect. Knowing her resume was not going to be enough to capture the hiring manager’s attention, she did a search on LinkedIn for Disney global team members. She cold messaged every single one of them and was pleasantly surprised at the 50% response rate, including one from the hiring manager himself. Through her conversations, she learned the job posting was intended for an internal candidate but that didn’t stop her from asking questions and learning and understanding the company’s needs. Not long after, she received a phone call for an interview.

Sarah highlights the importance of asking questions, listening and learning how to be a solution for an organization’s problems. Through her informational interviews, Sarah formed relationships which overcame her weak resume full of military jargon, acronyms and even a misspelling. 

Sarah discusses how she identified transferable skills and pitched them in her interview. Skills she cultivated in the military such as building teams and understanding systems and processes felt like soft skills when she applied and wrote her resume. After progressing in her career at Disney, she now realizes the value of those s

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.