Nobody Goes it Alone

In the past year, I’ve spoken to dozens of young veterans about the civilian job search, and I’ve noticed a disturbing trend: Many veterans believe they must succeed on their own and most don’t see themselves as worthy of success.

Let me debunk this once and for all: 

·      You’re not a burden because you need support.

·      Earning your way is not the same as going alone.

·      Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness.

·      Failure is a part of the process.

I get it. Where we came from, personal failures can negatively impact the mission. Additionally, the worst thing you could be labeled is a Blue Falcon.[1] While personal accountability and being a team player make us valuable to civilian employers, it can also hold us back. The civilian and military environments are fundamentally different, and successful transitions require a deliberate shift in mindset.

 First,

what you are experiencing is NORMAL. Switching careers is tough for everyone, and it’s especially hard when transitioning from military service to the civilian labor force. On top of the normal challenges, veterans have two additional obstacles:

Skills and Experience Gap.  

While you were in the military, your civilian peers were:

 ·      in the labor force gaining industry credentials,

·      building their reputation on the job, 

·      strengthening their network of mentors, and 

·      figuring out which careers paths were the best fit. 

This is your job-search competition. The good news is that your time in uniform built invaluable skills like discipline, leadership, and accountability. The bad news is that these traits don’t translate well on a resume. Simply put, you are starting the job search behind the power curve.

 Culture shift.  

Military service is unique. Through good experiences and bad, there is never a question that your efforts as a service member had meaning, even if it was supporting your teammates through adversity. It’s hard to overstate how easy it is to take this for granted. The sense of camaraderie that is inherent to wearing the uniform is rare in the civilian workplace, and most of us don’t truly grasp this until we are already out of the military. Regardless of rank or experience, every veteran will experience a sense of loss as they enter the civilian workforce because our reference point for daily purpose is so much higher. 

Second,

the military makes a lot of decisions for you. As a civilian, you are the ultimate decider which is both positive and negative. It’s good to be in control, but you’re probably out of practice. If you enlisted out of high school, then leaving the military may be the first time you’ve ever managed all 24 hours of your day. Meanwhile, your civilian peers have been learning through trial and error in the real world. I cannot stress this enough: it is normal to feel overwhelmed by the laundry list of tasks like insurance, medical care, housing, banking, grocery shopping, utilities, etc. This doesn’t reflect negatively on you as a person; it’s a normal part of the process and there will be a learning curve. Navigating your way through life as a civilian requires practice. No one gets it right the first time and everyone benefits from support.

Outlaws Inc. provides support for your unique situation. If we don’t have the answers, we will find someone who does. Our bet is that by easing the stress of transition, we will unlock the best that veterans have to offer for the benefit of society.

[1] Blue Falcon is Army slang for “Buddy F*%!er,” or someone who takes care of themselves at the expense of their teammates