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Transitioning from Military

We understand that transitioning from military to civilian life can be difficult. Come talk to us about how to take your skills, talents and military experience and apply them to the mission-critical programs ENSCO supports. We look forward to helping make the transition professionally satisfying and personally stress-free for you and your family.
 

Tips for Transitioning Service Members

1. Try to plan your transition earlier rather than later. The more time you give yourself to prepare, the more confident you will be exiting military service.
    
2. Manage your expectations. You may apply to dozens of jobs that you think you are perfectly qualified for, but unless you have hard to find, in-demand skills, the market is competitive. Do not get discouraged if you don’t immediately receive a call back. Keep at it, eventually your hard work will pay off.
    
3. If you don’t have LinkedIn, set up a profile. Start making connections to peers and potential employer companies. This is a prime searching platform for employers and recruiting agencies alike. LinkedIn even provides special deals and bonuses for military members.
    
4. Find a resume builder tool to help you craft your resume. Be sure to highlight your education, experience, and skills.
    
5. Take advantage of the services offered at your career one-stops such as resume writing and plotting transferrable skills.
    
6. Tailor your resume for each job you are applying for. It is useful to review the required qualifications for your desired job to ensure they are highlighted in your resume, along with applicable experience you have. If you are putting your resume on a job board, feel free to post a longer resume than you would when applying for a particular position. It can contain a lot more detail than a tailored resume, which will allow recruiters to find you for multiple roles.
    
7. Try to minimize military jargon. If you use acronyms write them out so even individuals who aren’t aware of the acronym know exactly what you are referencing. This will help when recruiters perform resume searches, as they may not know or use the acronym you include on your resume.
    
8. You can use your G.I. bill for a lot more than traditional college. Certain vocational schools, apprenticeships, and other providers can accept the GI bill, which may help with any skills gaps you need to fill. There are usually G.I. bill representatives on military bases that can assist with different resources available to you.
    
9. Network. Having a good network of professional associates and co-workers is very valuable to finding a job as well as your future career aspirations. This is important even after landing your dream job.
    
10. Don’t burn your bridges in the military. Whether or not you value your military service, it is hard to beat the support and rapport you’ve likely been part of while serving. The military community is very close knit and those individuals you used to work with may remember you if they see a job for which you would be a great fit.
     
11. Accurately explain what you were responsible for in the military on your resume. Do not sell yourself short, and remember, it’s not bragging. Some recruiters have no idea what you may have been responsible for while serving, so be sure you let them know! Make sure you highlight the skills it took to do the job, not just the tasks you performed.
     
12. Know your worth and research salary in your desired area, keeping in mind the following:
    • Your skills and education
    • Your clearance (if applicable)
    • Willingness to travel
    • Your desired benefits
       
13. Don’t sell yourself short. The experience and knowledge gained while serving can transfer over outside of the military. Learn how to translate those skills, so others can understand how great you are.
     
14. If you are married, and your spouse is also looking, encourage them to:
    • Decide if you want to be full-time, part-time or temporary.
    • Your volunteer work counts as experience, ensure you include it on your resume!
    • You can always seek out reputable temporary/staffing agencies in your desired area and sign up.