Are you planning on retiring from the military soon, but you aren’t quite ready to retire from working all together? You may think that since you have had a career in the military that you don’t have any skills that can translate to other jobs. But, you may be surprised to find out that a lot of the things you learned in the military can be used in just about any type of job on the planet. You just have to figure out how you can turn your military skills into a corporate career. Here are a few tips to help get you started.

Start Making the Transition

Before you can use your military skills in a new job, you need to start making the transition into civilian life. Anyone can switch gears and do something completely different from what they are used to, as long as they do it right. The first thing to do is think about the types of jobs that you think you would be interested in doing. Then, take a look at your talents and skills and decide if those jobs would be the right fit for you.

The next step is to create a resume that places more emphasis on your talents and skills than your experience in the military. Yes, you will need to highlight this, but it is better to show potential employers what you are capable of doing. The skills you list on your resume should apply to the type of work you want to do.

Know Your Resources

You should also check out resources that are specifically for military veterans. For instance, Monster has a military job website called Military.com, and there is a section with jobs for veterans. This is a free site that you can use to help you figure out what jobs you are best suited for, and it can match you with the right job opportunities as they become available. There are also resources offered by the military for veterans who are making that transition to civilian life.

Keep an Open Mind
You have been doing pretty much the same thing for several years, so you really don’t know if you are suited for other types of work. You may have to try out a few different jobs until you find your perfect niche. Keep an open mind, and be willing to try just about anything. Something that may not seem the least bit interesting to you now may actually end up being something that you really enjoy, and the perfect job for you. But, unless you are willing to be open-minded and try new things, you will never know what could have been.

Learn How to Sell Yourself

“One of the most important things you need to do when transitioning into civilian life and the corporate world is learn how to sell yourself. This is why you need to go back to looking at your various talents and skills. Once you know what you are capable of, this is what you are going to need to sell,” says a military veteran from Sports Injury & Pain Management Clinic. For instance, you may have worked as a pilot in the military. If you aren’t applying to airlines for pilot jobs, there are still many skills you have taken from this line of work that can be applied to other jobs. Sell the fact that you are able to take on responsibility, have strong coping skills, etc. If you were a leader in your platoon, sell that, because it shows that you are able to manage a group of people. All of your skills can translate to the corporate world. You just need to look for ways to make it happen.