As I wrote in last week's column, federal legislation (USERRA, www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra) provides some protections to veterans returning to pre-military employment. But going back to one's old job is just one option.
Like other job-seekers, former military personnel looking for jobs need to consider not only their current skills and past employment but also their future goals and ideal lifestyles. Market conditions also play a part, of course. If your ideal job isn't available in your area, you will need to choose a new goal, relocate or bide your time until the market turns in your favor.
If the veteran has served in combat, the question of mental or physical disability is no small matter. Career planning and job searches in these cases become highly individualized, as each person must create a plan that incorporates both the new skills and the new limitations that resulted from his or her military service.
There are other questions that affect nearly everyone leaving military service:
• Where to live? Depending on the type of service, the veteran may have no permanent address when leaving the military.
• Which skill set to market? Some veterans worked in military jobs that are highly transferable to the civilian workplace, while others performed jobs that have almost no application elsewhere. People in the first category have a decision to make.
• What about retraining? Although the GI Bill can be an excellent support to veterans seeking retraining, the availability of this benefit and its limitations force a decision.
• What about the "default" choices? Default would mean returning to the workplace one left when entering military service or returning to the military. Veterans must make sure they don't take the path of least resistance rather than the path that will help them reach their goals.
Here are some steps to take if you are in this situation:
1. Get a handle on the timeline. Map out dates so you don't miss opportunities. Note the deadlines for returning to a past employer, for using training benefits, for enrolling in school programs, etc.
2. Line up your support team. Whom can you count on to listen and give good advice? This is an essential component of every successful career transition.
3. Figure out where you'll be living, temporarily or permanently. Juggling a job search and a housing search is more than most people can handle.
4. Prioritize your goals. If you don't have a long-term picture in mind, focus on short-term goals, such as housing and cash flow. Then make a plan, such as meeting with a career counselor, that will help you flesh out the big picture. If you have long-term goals, use them to strategize your short-term steps.
5. Take it easy, but not too easy. You need time to adjust, but you also need to develop a pace that will help you reach your goals. The trick will be balancing these two.
- Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecare rservice.com or at 1071 W. Seventh St., St. Paul, MN 55102.
If you're a post-military job-seeker and would like the 30-page booklet "Job Search for Transitioning Military Personnel," send $5 for postage and handling to that address.