I was recently interviewed about my transition by another veteran who runs the site, After the DD-214. It was a pleasure and honor to be on the other side of the interview mic and answer questions about what I've learned. We talk about what I would do looking back, where I would start, how I would prepare myself mentally, and much more. Check out some excerpts below and find the link to the full article.
"There are so many things to learn during your transition – skills that you need that you might not be aware of, a whole new language of communicating and verbalizing your prior experiences, and just being able to have a clear grasp of what you want out of this new life, because there is no clear path now. Self-reflection and self-awareness have been key to my transition and what just about every guest that I have had on SuccessVets has mentioned."
"...your mindset affects your behavior, affects your actions, affects your results."
"It's funny how people try to categorize you based on what you've done and how they perceive you. That's human nature, it allows us to easily “figure out” the world. What you need to do is to tell a story or paint a picture that gets people seeing you in the roles that you want them to see you. In this way, you're using the natural tendency of people in your favor, rather than the other way around."
"What I would tell myself is that the transition is scary because the future is unknown, but it is also one of the few opportunities when you can truly reinvent yourself. Going the normal route is just as risky and yet, you might not be any farther in your mind in where you want to be in your life. So why not go for it while you can. I would also caveat that. Following your dreams or passions is not an excuse to put off what you should do. Skills like networking, sales, and negotiating are life skills, not just when you're looking for a new job. Work on these skills along with following your passions, and you will have the ability to maneuver through transitions successfully at any time in your career, not just once or twice."