How to Get a Good Job After the Military

Military veterans aren’t necessarily looking in the right places or getting the right training for successful careers. Tech companies need you. What employer wouldn’t want someone who is already experienced in leadership, training, operations, and much more?

Military programs teach valuable computer skills outside the field. Of all the careers out there, cyber security and information technology is the way to go, especially with the rapidly growing demand in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

For example, each branch has at least one technology based Military Occupational Specialty (MOS):

• Army: Corps of Engineer Field & Electronic Warfare
• Navy: Intelligence Specialist
• Marines: Data Network Specialist
• Air Force: Command and Control Systems Operations
• And in every branch, enlisted or officer, schooling and basic training teaches leadership and group cohesion.

What major companies value military experience?

Here’s a quick list of companies who find military backgrounds attractive:

• AT&T
• Verizon
• Microsoft
• USAA
• GE
• Gulfstream Aerospace

Tech companies know about your background when you fill out online applications. Military veterans have experience that transfers to the IT industry.

For instance, Neville McKenzie (Army Reservist), a participant in a military IT interview, stated that “There are a lot of things that happen in the military culture as far as discipline, hard work, willingness to get the job done at all costs and stick-to-it-ness, tough-mindedness that you learn.”

But then there’s training. As any active duty, reservist, veteran, or retired military person knows, it takes training to gain results. Undoubtedly, translating a military career to a civilian career is complicated and difficult.

Robert Griffin (retired Air Force), from the same interview encouraged other retirees to get certified saying that his certification in Lean Six Sigma and project management made him marketable. Quality training in technology fields brings value to any company, especially in an ever-changing business world.

Demand for IT and cyber security jobs continue to grow

Top careers for today are mostly technology related. Web/software developers and information security analysts are in high demand according to Forbes this year.

Security issues are popping up left and right. Corporations couldn’t stay afloat without their IT guys and gals. Keep in mind this is just an example of a possible future for you, but there are so many alternatives to choose from when technology is growing at an exponential rate. For more information, consider these points:

• According to Patrick Thibodeau of ComputerWorld.com, IT Jobs will grow 22% by 2020;
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted a 62% jump in Computer Science related fields; and
• In early 2013, the Wall Street Journal stated that cyber security jobs were booming at 3x the overall job market.