Retirement

Working Options After Taking Military Retirement

Just after finishing high school there are a great number of people who have no idea what they really want to do with their lives.  The US Military fills that void for those who are unsure of which direction they want to go.  During their first tour of duty a lot of people find it is not the career they desire, but many others stay in for a number of years.  After retiring from the military, most former soldiers are still young enough to join the workforce, but with only one thing on their resume they often are unsure of their working options.  The fact is, many employers love to have ex-military on their payroll.

The job opportunities for those in military retirement are the same as anyone else.  The idea that only having military experience on one’s resume is a hindrance is completely false.  In fact, military experience will often set one further ahead in their job search than someone with an equal number of years experience in the private sector.  Veteran preference is given to many.

Coming out of the military, a veteran is seen as a former federal employee.  When applying for federal jobs (which can be done through www.usajobs.gov), those who have veteran status actually get more “points” than those who do not.  The more points a person has, the more likely they are to be hired for the job.  The government views this as these people have faithfully served their country, and they want to give them the opportunity to continue to serve their country.

Even in the private sector someone who used to be in the military will have a better chance at landing a job than someone who was not.  The military teaches discipline and obedience.  It shows a person that there is a right way, and a wrong way, and that organization and structure are key elements to keeping a battalion (or corporation) running smoothly.  All of these key traits learned in the military, and that are often taken for granted because the veteran focuses on combat, are desirable job skills.

There are a great number of people who use the military as a start to their career.  After they can use the GI Bill to attend school, or they can join the workforce.  While the military does have a great retirement system, it is often not enough.  Using the training and discipline learned during their time of service, these ex-soldiers have a significant advantage over those who have never joined the armed forces.  The key is knowing how to leverage it.  Focusing on the organizational and discipline skills, applying for jobs that give veteran preference, and being confident in one’s abilities goes a lot further than a nice padded résumé of working in the private sector.

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