Post-military, you might be feeling a little lost and confused about what your next step is — especially if you didn’t have a military career that directly translates to a job in the civilian world. For example, if you were a mechanic of any sort, you’re probably going to go right into that field after you’ve served your time in the military.
But if you’re like me, a former infantry member of the Army, you might not know exactly how your military experience transfers to a job in the civilian world.
After I served four years in the Army, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do — but I did know what I was looking for: community, stability, growth, a steady income.
I bounced around a bit before I found my place at Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), where I currently lead a team of logistics sales professionals. I’ve thrived in this career path and I want to help you do the same thing.
To help you on your career path, I’ll cover:
- Skills learned in the military that translate well to a civilian career
- Fields to go into post-military
- What to look for in a company
Skills You Learn in the Military (That Transfer to the Workplace)
You learn a lot of skills in the military, but the ones that most notably translate into the civilian world to help you succeed as a skilled professional include work ethic, discipline, accountability, leadership, coachability, and communication.
Work Ethic
In the military, you have to be able to grind and get through a lot of the “suck,” as we often call it. Getting through it is always better than complaining, so you learn to put your head down and grind.
The mentality to dig in and get through it serves you well in the workforce too. It helps you work through those long, grueling days. It gives you the endurance you need to finish tough projects. You’ll soon learn that the worst days in the civilian world don’t come close to those of the military.
Discipline
I often tell my team something that was instilled in me during my time in the Army: “Motivation gets you going. Discipline keeps you going.” There’s a big difference between motivation and discipline. Motivation only goes so far and when it dries up, discipline carries you through.
There were plenty of times that I didn’t want to do a 12-mile run at five in the morning, but discipline got me out of bed and lacing my boots.
Of the same accord, you might not be particularly motivated every day at work, but you’ll have that discipline instilled in you to get the job done — and done right — because you hold yourself to a higher standard.
Accountability
You learn accountability early on in the military. It’s often easier to hold yourself accountable than to have others do it for you — which doesn’t always end up being a fun experience.
Accountability helps you set a good baseline of how to plan and get in front of things before they become a problem. That’s helpful in the workplace because you’ll be very good at planning out your day, tackling issues before they become major problems, and conquering your to-do list in a timely manner.
Leadership
In the military, you’re learning under some of the greatest leaders in the world. (You also get a glimpse at what bad leadership looks like too.) This allows you to see a lot of different styles and perspectives of leadership. You’ll learn what you do and don’t like.
Early on in your career, you’ll see how your leadership style is influenced by what you picked up from different leaders you served with in the military. You’ll likely think about how you were treated, what you liked, what you didn’t like, and adapt your style accordingly. You’ll understand what it truly means to lead from the front.
Coachability
More than anything, you learn how to be coached in the military. You’re often told what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. It ties in closely with work ethic and leadership.
When you’re coachable, it means you’re willing to ask critical questions, listen to that (sometimes tough) feedback, and use it to improve. It’s your job to soak up the knowledge and use it to your advantage to be proficient and proactive.
This skill will serve you well in a civilian job by helping you consistently improve and grow.
Communication
One of the great things about the military is that you serve with people from all walks of life. Everyone has a different perspective. I served with one man who’d never had a soda and then I served with another guy who’d come from the swamps of Louisiana and had never seen a skyscraper.
The diverse perspectives you encounter give you the chance to learn how to talk with everyone and listen to their opinions. It gives you a huge advantage when it comes to your communication skills. Further, you learn how to communicate in some of the most stressful situations and how to do it efficiently.
I found that, for me, this translated especially well to the sales industry. It makes you an effective communicator with both your teammates and customers.
What Field Should I Go Into Post-Military?
These are some of the fields a lot of military professionals go into and succeed in following their time in the service.
Public Service, Police, or Corrections
You may not have served as military police (MP), but you learn a lot of helpful skills that translate well to this field, including situational awareness and public relations. You also learn how to handle a firearm and react under pressure.
Logistics Sales
The communication skills, work ethic, and discipline you learn in the military translate well to the sales industry — specifically, logistics sales.
With logistics sales, it’s not a one-and-done sale. You have to build strong, trusting, lasting relationships with customers so you can continue to do business with them for years. There’s a lot of complexity to it and it requires a lot of planning and strategy.
Because your success is determined by your work ethic, you get out of sales what you put into it. The constant grind and busyness of the role means you won’t have a lot of downtime to sit and twiddle your thumbs. It keeps the career exciting and new each day.
Physical Labor
A lot of people get into physical labor or blue-collar jobs post-military. This is, again, where the job you did in the military translates directly to what you do outside of the military.
For example, a career as a mechanic, electrician, construction worker, or aviation technician might be a good fit for you.
Management
The leadership experience you earned in the military translates well to a career in management in multiple industries. For example, you could work in sales management, project management, supply chain management, or human resources (HR) management.
Personal Trainer
As a personal trainer, you’ll help individuals come up with fitness goals and slowly work toward those goals — building discipline along the way. You’ll coach them on proper technique and monitor their progress. In the military, physical fitness is a big part of the job, so your experience will translate well to personal training.
Truck Driver
You have to work both as a team and independently in the military, so a career as a truck driver could be a good fit for you. Some people even drive trucks in the military, so they have some direct experience and knowledge of safety standards and regulations.
What to Look for in a Company
Everyone looks for something different when they leave the military, but there are a few things you should look for out of a company. In particular, there may be some things you crave following the military, like stability, a close-knit team, and job security.
Stability
You don’t have to think about job security in the military because it’s already there.
When you search for a job in the civilian world, look for something that will provide you with stability and a good income.
You don’t typically make a ton of money in the military unless you serve for a long time, so a lot of people are excited to make good money when they leave. This shouldn’t be the only thing that drives you, however.
Growth Opportunities
Look for an employer or position that has a growth plan you can follow. When I was looking for jobs, growth was a big thing. I wanted somewhere where I could work hard and make myself and my family proud.
Find a company that is determined to help you grow as a person and in your skills so you can continue to evolve.
Good Culture and Team
There’s a sense of family and brotherhood in the military, and a lot of people appreciate the military for this reason specifically.
Seek out an employer that offers you that sense of community and feeling that you’re all working together toward a common goal.
Related: How to find a good work culture
Greater Purpose
Everything you do in the military has a greater purpose. It’s really easy to see how each and every workout or training mission ties back to preparing you for deployment or a specific role.
That can be missing from your life when you leave the military. Search for a career that you know makes a difference or gives you a greater purpose.
Reserve Force Support
If you’re still in the military reserves, you have to do periodic training sessions that will take you away from work. Talk to future employers about how they support reserve military members. Make sure the company aligns with your needs and that they will accommodate you accordingly.
Find a Meaningful Career
Transitioning from military service to civilian life can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach, your skills can be a powerful asset. Whether you're seeking stability, growth opportunities, or a sense of purpose in your next career, the military has equipped you with valuable traits like work ethic, discipline, and leadership that translate well into a variety of fields.
Take the time to explore industries where your skills shine, and prioritize finding a company that values your experience and offers a strong community. With these guiding principles, you’ll be well on your way to a rewarding and successful civilian career.
Check out this article to see exactly how your skills translate to the sales industry and find out what it’s like to work in sales at ATS.
As a veteran-friendly employer, we’ll give you the hero's welcome you deserve.
