Drew Schildwächter ⋅ Wilmington, NC Salesforce ⋅ 8 years experience

Brian: I would start networking and researching now for certain. In my case I started sending applications in May, started terminal in July, and began my new job while on terminal. Your networking can lay the groundwork for later applications, but I would be very clear about your availability and probably not send resumes until you're closer to it.

Good luck.

Corey Quill ⋅ Washington, DC SA-TECH INC. ⋅ 6 years experience

Yes, start your networking now. Some companies will allow you to get a resume on file without applying to a specific job, that would be ok. Its fair to start applying when you hit your 90 day window of your earliest available start date. Depending on how long the interview process is, maybe the job offer comes 30 days before you can start, that's fine, you have to relocate from HI so it is expected.

Good luck Brian

Lowell Summers ⋅ Glen Burnie, MD U.S. Air Force, Master Sergeant ⋅ 8 years served

It is not to soon. Professional jobs often take 3-6 months to land. Government jobs can take longer.

Jim Schreier ⋅ Milwaukee, WI 212 Leadership/Career Coaching ⋅ 50 years experience

You've received some great answers -- even a variety of opinions to consider. Here's my thought on one aspect: In a step-by-step approach, preparing your resume and preparing your responses for interviews are the often overlooked steps of any job seekers. There are so many realities of the job search, so many challenges, some of them particular to veterans transitioning, that you should really spend a lot more time than you might think working on your resume and interview prep. I've written a lot about this -- see some of my articles on this site. Also, along with others, I'm more than willing to review your resume. My advice might be a little different from others.

Steven Sablan ⋅ Carmel, CA Northrop Grumman ⋅ 23 years experience

My advice is to start submitting resumes now as a form of networking to recruiters. I submitted my first applications about six months out from terminal leave. I got a response from a recruiter who was interested, but asked me to contact him again when I was four months out. That started a relationship with that recruiter which eventually resulted an a great job offer.

Scott Goldman ⋅ Sudbury, MA KSQTherapeutics ⋅ 10 years experience

Hi Brian,

I agree with all above that you need to start networking yesterday! If you are looking into consulting specifically, you really need to get in touch with some of those companies and learn their hiring processes. Unlike many other businesses, consulting firms tend to hire on a specific cycle related to the academic year and their interview processes are highly structured and unique. You'll need to become very familiar with case study analysis, for instance. PM me for more info you'd like to discuss in further detail.

- Scott

Patricia Magerkurth ⋅ Evergreen, CO InVia Coaching and Consulting ⋅ 40 years experience

Hi Brian,

I agree with everyone that you need to start networking and making contacts. The best way to determine your future is to make a plan. Ask yourself basic questions like where do I want to live? What kind of lifestyle to I want (work/life balance, salary, etc.). What do I really want to do with my work life? What can I really do well and what can't I do really well? Write down your answers. The answers to these questions will help you evaluate the opportunities you are presented as you search for a job.

Next reflect on your experiences in the military and determine how they fit with your preferred career. Use your successes as examples in your job interviews. And stay positive as you transition from the military to the private sector.

Finally, best wishes on your transition.

Brian Von Hone ⋅ Honolulu, HI U.S. Air Force, Captain ⋅ 8 years served

Thanks everyone for your feedback and guidance. I appreciate all of your advice. I am currently looking into consulting. Specifically consulting in the cybersecurity/data privacy world for BCG, Bain, McKinsey, Protiviti or Deloitte. They all have roles available that I would be interested in.

Tom Cal, CFA ⋅ San Francisco, CA Army Veteran, Investment Manager ⋅ 25 years experience

Start talking with people who work in jobs 0-2 levels above the job you want, ideally at employers where you want to work, in he specific career fields you are targeting, ASAP.

What specific career field(s) right now come to mind?
What employers right now come to mind?

Jim Rohrbach ⋅ Evanston, IL ⋅ 22 years experience

Hi Brian! I agree with networking now. To do so, you'll need your resume ready -- feel free to forward it to me and I will review it. Coach@SuccessSkills.com

Also, do you know what job you want? That's important when you're networking.

Jim "Da Coach"

Steven Mathews ⋅ Spring, TX The Boeing Company ⋅ 40 years experience

Most companies want you to start within 2 weeks after you accept a job offer. Considering that there may be as much as 2 weeks before you have the interview, you have about 4 weeks after you submit your application before you may be sitting at your new job.

You certainly should use the time now to do your networking. About 80% of all jobs filled are done through networking - they were not listed in any public forum.

I have a step-by-step process (free) to transform your current resume into a Top 1% resume. People who have used this process often have new jobs within 2-4 weeks. One Naval officer was sitting at a Corporate-level position in a major city 1 week after submitting his application.

slmathews99@gmail.com

Lex Levin ⋅ Northborough, MA Lex Levin, LLC ⋅ 13 years experience

If you are planning to apply to Federal jobs, you should start after you're 120 days out and have your statement of service and your federal resume ready. Feel free to send me your resume and I can give you feedback - I specialize in Vet to Fed resumes.