By Daniel Collins 

(Editor’s note:  Within the military transition community, we consider Daniel Collins as the consummate resource for those who in transition.  that’s why we at MilTRAC want to share this third part of his work with you.)

Mock Interviews. A mock interview is different from the informational interview in that it should be with someone who knows about the company/industry you are getting ready to interview at. A good choice would be the person that may be making a referral for you. A person like this was hired by the company and can share how their interview went and can help you with what would be good questions to ask when this phase of the interview comes up.

Elevator Pitch. While in transition, you need to consider every chance encounter with anyone in your network as an interview for employment. When the say, “How’s it going?” that is your opening to tell them you are in transition and how is it going! You can go here if you need more information on refining your elevator pitch.

Real Interviews. The first interview is normally a screening call by a company recruiter. They have come across your resume or referral and are trying to determine if you meet the criteria of requisition they are trying to fill. If they are calling you, there is a high probability you are in the ball park. In the early stages, do yourself a favor and take all of these screening calls, even if you are not interested in the company. Every call you take is giving you more interviewing experience. You are refining the stories that go with your resume bullet points and gaining more confidence by the call.

 The subsequent interview can be in person, via zoom, or via telephone, with the hiring manager and/or hiring panel. Make sure the company recruiter provides you with the job description, company information, dress code, and the names of everyone who will be participating in the interview. Do your homework before the interview and memorize the information that has been provided. Review the LinkedIn profiles of the interviewers and see if you have anything in common. Make sure you have the clothes the recruiter says are appropriate. At the interview, call people by their names and if you have anything in common, try to work that into the discussion. This familiarity with the people, their attire, and the company will go a long way towards boosting your confidence and having a positive experience. 

Evaluating Offers. The offer of employment will be in writing. You will normally be given 3-5 days to accept or decline the offer. Please take the time to review the offer and if you will need more time to consider the offer, ask for more time if needed. You can go here if you need more information on evaluating job offer letters. 

Negotiating Your Employment Terms. Employment contract negotiation is a process, and, as such, you have to follow the process. This means that when get that first job offer, you need to counter that offer with something additional you would like to see. It is not always additional salary that is negotiated although it is the term that is most negotiated. Recruiters are becoming more accustomed to receiving counter offers and assisting you through the process. You can go here if you need more information on countering the initial company job offer. 

Phase 3: Validation 

So, you have accepted a position and you have started work, is the transition over? Good question! Did you take your current position because it meets all of your employment criteria or did you run out of funds and take a job because you needed the money? Just because you started a job does not mean the job offers stop immediately. If your dream job comes open, do you go on the interview? It doesn’t hurt to talk, especially if it is your dream job. In the end of the day, you should be working where you are most passionate because it is the passion that will lead to superior performance and a successful career. You can go here if you need more tips on how to manage your civilian career after you have left the service. 

I believe it will take at least 6-12 months to validate you have chosen the correct career and job that supports that career. If you determine the career you chose is not right for you, there is nothing wrong with going back to phase 1 or phase 2. 

Continue Networking. Please continue to network using your LinkedIn account. Continue building a brand in your chosen career field. To grow in your career, you should probably choose more challenging jobs every 3-5 years, just like you did in the military. The problem here is that there are only a handful of Amazons or Lockheed Martins that are large enough to support your career growth within the company. So, keeping your network going and establishing yourself as an authority in your industry will make your next transition so much easier. 

 (Note:  This is the second part of this series.  You can find the next part at this link.)