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Exploring Careers in Higher Education After Military Service
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When you think about career plans after military service, it's easy to dive back into what you already know and how it relates to your military occupation specialty. Some fields, such as computer networking and cyber security, offer skill sets easily transferrable to private industries. Logistics is a broad field covering everything from supply chain to purchasing and property accountability that requires additional education or training on how civilian companies do business. In addition, certifications like Lean Six Sigma and Project Management Professional give military service members credentials that support military experience when applying for civilian jobs. Through my military retirement and job search experience, I found some areas that greatly impacted my search for a second career.
Anticipate a Learning Experience
One of the questions I had to answer was what veterans do when they want to make a significant change and work in a new field. The standard answer is to get an education and work on your resume. It wasn't that simple. I imagined that military experience, education, and a resume would open every door and that job offers would flood my email. I experienced rejection, which is, of course, part of the learning experience. But I was a little shocked when I was not selected for an interview or a position. Even though I thought my resume looked good and I interviewed well, I received several rejection letters and one organization that ghosted me. So, I had to look at what I needed to adjust or change to get a position in the desired field. I worked with several mentors and an organization called VetJobs for resume assistance, which helped change my "military" resume to one understandable and compatible with civilian organizations.
"I Should Have Started Sooner"
Almost all industries have a general specialty built from an entry-level foundation. The finance industry, information technology, higher education, and supply chain logistics are just a few that are great career choices and can be compatible after military service. I started planning for retirement about two years before I wanted to retire, but I should have started sooner. Retirement planning is a lengthy process. If you want to have another career after military service, plan earlier than you think and prepare for the follow-on career you want, not just those that align with your resume.
Consider Staying in Higher Education After Your Degree Completion
The second thing to keep in mind is education. Although I got my bachelor's degree in information technology, I knew that career field was not for me. I continued my education and earned a master's degree and a doctorate, where I found my niche. I love research, discussions, education, and writing. Initially, I didn't consider a second career path in higher education. Still, I loved being part of the higher education community through interactions with my professors and peers in the doctorate program. Throughout my doctoral studies, I looked into higher education positions and how I could leverage my military experience and get hired as a professor or administrator in higher education.
How to Adjust Your Resume for Higher Education
Your resume is the third item that requires time and attention before retirement. Your resume contains a wide range of information about you, your skillset, education, and experience. The question is how to write your resume so it stands out when you apply for positions in a field unrelated to your military experience. The key to your resume is the "who, what, and how" of your career: who you are, your values, work ethic, and skills. The how shows the application in quality and quantifiable results. For example, when applying for higher-education administrative positions, look at your military service through an organizational lens. Military leaders often use leader books to maintain information on soldiers, such as contact information, resources, and training schedules. Did you help write standard operating procedures or implement new training?
If you want to teach, look at what you accomplished through leading your team in training exercises or teaching classes in your military occupation specialty. Leadership skills are essential and highly desirable in any field. Consider highlighting leadership through traits or abilities, how you interacted with those you led on missions or training events, and how those activities can apply in higher education.
Bridge the Gap Between Military Service and Higher Education During Your Interview
One of the questions I always liked during an interview was, "What did you do to prepare for this interview?" Articulating your accomplishments and telling your story in a relatable and understandable way can help you bridge the gap between military service and higher education. Preparation is one of the keys to success and one of the skills the military teaches. Your preparation is evident through your education, skills, resume, and military service. You have one opportunity to shine above all the other candidates during the interview and communicate why you are the best person for the position. In addition, if a faculty position appeals to you, you may need to develop a teaching philosophy. It includes your vision for instruction, your goals in teaching, and how you developed your philosophy and provides supporting examples. Your teaching philosophy should complement your cover letter and resume while illustrating your enthusiasm and passion for teaching.
Many skills military service members learn, plus their experiences interacting with individuals from many cultures and backgrounds, provide an excellent foundation for a higher education career. Skills such as leadership, teamwork, diplomacy, and communication are compatible with higher education, where interactions occur with people from all walks of life.
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