.
If you are interested please send your resume to Bianca Nafpliotis, Career Corps Volunteer Program Coordinator at [email protected].
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Six Simple Ways to Connect with Civilian Employers
By: Sidra M., MSEJ Writers Guild Participant
your career. Part of transitioning away from your military identity and into your career-minded identity is to start defining yourself by who you are going to become. In my case, I’ve had to stop defining myself as a PhD student and start talking about myself as a researcher. That small switch can drastically change the course of conversations you have with others.
5.Start talking like a civilian: You knew this one was coming! This is the most difficult, but most necessary change on the list. You have to find ways to discuss your military service that creates common reference points instead of emphasizing divisive technical details. Making this change is literally the difference between getting hired…or not. A good exercise is to find someone who knows virtually nothing about the military (or set an appointment with an employment specialist or military transition counselor) and then talk with them about skills or experiences you want to highlight from your military service. Make sure that person keeps you honest by telling you when they don’t understand something you say and stops you when you use a dreaded military acronym!
6.Build roots in your (new) community: Whether you’re moving to a new community, moving back home, or staying at your last PCS spot—start investing in your community. Not only will this help you get to know your local area, but it’s also a great way to make new civilian friends and network with others. Join community organizations you have an interest in, find a meet-up group (meetup.com), attend local events, or get involved in your local government.
Transitioning your identity is an important part of the transition process that often gets overlooked—it will not only help you process your next career moves, but it will help you build connections with civilian employers that will land you that amazing job you’re looking for!
Sidra is a Navy spouse and Sociology PhD student who researches issues of identity in the military and veteran community. She is currently working on research with Dr. Meredith Kleykamp who studies the experiences of transitioning service members, as well as her dissertation research on the meaning and identity of post-9/11 wounded/injured/ill veterans as “wounded warriors.”
She received a B.A. in Sociology from Beloit College and her M.A. in Sociology from University of Maryland College Park. Outside of her research and work, she enjoys spending time at the beach with her husband and their puppy.