How can I transfer my military experience to the commercial IT world?
Question:
I'm qualified for an IT position beyond entry level, but because I've been
in the military for 21 years, I get the impression that employers don't
view military experience as being equal to industry experience. I can
certainly see why this happens: Most military personnel (in my experience)
don't plan ahead for the "real world."
Fortunately, I'm not in this position. When I was commissioned as an
officer seven years ago, I was assigned an IT job in logistics. It didn't
take me long to decide that this was the industry I planned to stay in even
after I retire.
But I've been offered nothing but entry-level positions. A few recruiters
have told me that spending all this time in the military has been a big
disadvantage and it will hurt me. I could see if I had done nothing to
prepare, but I earned my bachelor's degree and two graduate degrees. I'm up
to date with my industry, I'm almost finished with two professional
certificates from a university, and I'm also pursuing technical
certifications. I can sit down with any hiring manager in my industry and
answer The Four Questions(TM) from your book.
Now I'm starting to rethink the situation, and I may consider taking an
entry-level position. The companies on my list are huge and the growth
potential is there. I've heard that some companies groom entry-level hires
for better positions (and more pay) within one to three years. I'm just
concerned that I would be shortchanging myself if I took something less..
Reply:
This is a tough call. Before taking an entry-level job, you might consider
discussing this with a manager who's already interviewed you and declined
to hire you for a higher level job. Select one with whom you had a good
rapport and ask him or her for advice about the decision you need to make.
I'll bet one of these managers will take a minute to advise you.
There is indeed a presumption that military people are different from the
rest of us?but I know some very business-savvy military folks (one who just
retired from the Pentagon) who are unfairly tagged.
No matter how savvy you are, it's likely that your approach to business
carries some military baggage. This difference in style often confuses
civilians, and they're not ready to take a chance on you. They're worried
you won't "get it" in a difficult situation and that you might create a
problem. The most common manifestation of such "problems" that I've seen
have to do with jargon. Military folks have a hard time letting the jargon
go, and that puts them at a disadvantage.
That said, I think you need a mentor in the business community who can give
you a no-holds-barred critique of your style, your knowledge, and your
skills. I'd try to find someone like that and get an assessment before you
submit yourself to an entry-level job. (By assessment, I do not mean a
psychological test or some sort of goofy career counseling quiz.)
Starting at entry level isn't the worst thing in the world, as long as
you've selected a top-notch company that's going to move you up as quickly
as you deserve.
No matter how "ready" you think you are, it's critical that you get
feedback from seasoned businesspeople as you move into your new career. My
guess is you've got some "military artifacts" in your presentation that are
making interviewers think twice. But I'm also betting that if you can
answer The Four Questions(TM), you're ahead of most military people in
making this transition.
Cheers,
Nick Corcodilos
Ask The Headhunter(R)