Military to Civilian Career Transition

I had an interview scheduled for my absolute #dream company and role coming out of the Army What did I do? 1 - Searched the company for #veterans on LinkedIn 2 - Sent them connection requests with a personal note stating I was scheduled for an interview there and would love some insight/advice 3 - Every single one of them responded and hopped on a call (or met me for lunch) 4 - They gave me invaluable insight into the process, specific questions to be prepared for, and even did mock interviews with me I went into the interview as prepared as I possibly could be and rocked it!! #quinnsights HireMilitary The point? The veteran community is incredibly supportive - especially of transitioning service members We remember how hard the #militarytransition was and are often willing to help Most companies have Veteran Employee Resource Groups that live for this stuff And we WANT to help you get into our organizations because we know it will make us better YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK Questions? Did you do something similar? Would YOU help a service member if they were scheduled for a interview?

Too many people see that "Open to Work" sign as an easy target to make a quick buck. From paid communities, to MLM-style courses, to folks with minimal experience branding themselves career coaches and charging thousands for their generic advice, folks are often exploiting people's desperation. But there ARE free resources out there: Pay Forward Coaching offers a free 1:1 coaching session as well as a free community with experienced coaches (and no upsell) EarnBetter offers a free AI resume tool and job board. Landed! is my newsletter for jobseekers where I share advice for navigating both job searches and the workplace (and I also share jobs on this page!) Lyft offers free rides to interviews and your first few weeks on the job. CareerOneStop is a free resource with tools for job search, and they have a lot of resources in particular for veterans, justice-impacted individuals, etc. Dress for Success Worldwide, Bottomless Closet, and Career Gear are just a handful of the many organizations that will help you get dressed for that interview or new job, and many offer additional supports to job seekers. I'm dropping a list of these resources in comments, and if you know of other totally free resources (with no upsell!), feel free to share them as well!

Most veterans are switching careers arse about face. They're polishing CVs and firing them into the void. Then wondering why nobody calls back. Here's the reality: your CV is the last thing that matters. The most successful career switchers I know didn't get their breakthrough job from a job board. They got it because someone vouched for them. The game-changing approach: Research first. Really bloody research. Know the industry, the role, the company. Know what problems they're solving and how you can help solve them. Then find people who work there. LinkedIn, industry events, mutual connections. Have conversations. Not pitches. Ask questions. Show genuine interest. Learn. Most people are happy to help if you're not trying to sell them something. Only then do you think about applications. By this point, you're not a random CV in a pile. You're the person Sarah from the leadership team met at that event who asked smart questions about their digital transformation. You're the one who followed up with a thoughtful message about that article they shared. You're not a stranger anymore. And when that role comes up, guess whose name gets mentioned? Stop spraying and praying. Start building relationships. #veterans #careers #military

I was recently asked what I would do today if I were in the military and made the decision—or had the decision made for me—to transition out before retirement. Whether you’re in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, or Coast Guard, my advice is the same. Here’s what I’d focus on to set myself up for success: 1️⃣ Eliminate Debt: I’d make getting out of debt a priority—everything except a mortgage. If possible, I’d pay that off too. Debt limits your options and can force you to compromise on critical decisions. Freedom from financial burdens creates flexibility. 2️⃣ Max Out My TSP Contributions: I’m a fan of Roth, but whether you choose Traditional, Roth, or a combination, the key is to save aggressively. Your future self will thank you. 3️⃣ Leverage Tuition Assistance (TA): If you don’t have a degree, get one. If you have a bachelor’s, pursue a master’s, and focus on something value-added to your goals. For those in tech, chase certifications with the same determination. TA covered 100% of my BA and MS when I was in the Marine Corps—take full advantage of it! 4️⃣ Network Relentlessly: Create a strong LinkedIn profile. Post 3+ times weekly about the field you want to enter—cybersecurity, business, defense contracting, etc. Attend seminars, trade shows, and any networking opportunities available. Respond when people reach out, and always follow up with a thank-you note. Networking isn’t just online; it’s face-to-face too. Build a large, strong network to maximize opportunities. 5️⃣ Document Everything: Complete and document your medical, dental, vision, and hearing appointments. Keep a copy too. 6️⃣ Protect Your Reputation: Finish strong. Nothing is more important than your last name and professional reputation. Stay 100% committed to your assignment. Dropping your pack in uniform will hurt your endorsements and recommendations. Excellence until the end sends a message: you’re someone worth investing in. 7️⃣ Weigh SkillBridge Thoughtfully: This is personal. I wouldn’t choose SkillBridge because I’m not interested in working for free. Instead, I’d save my leave and use those 60+ days to focus on my transition. PTAD/PTDY can also provide valuable time to reset. 8️⃣ Learn from Fellow Veterans: Reach out to those who’ve transitioned successfully. Ask questions, seek advice on resumes, interviews, starting a business, consulting, contracting, or government roles. Follow up and implement what you learn. 9️⃣ Plan Time Off: Whether you served 4 years or 20+, you’ve earned a break. Take time to decompress, reflect, and think clearly about your future. Be proud of your service—it’s a foundation for what comes next. What Did I Miss? This list reflects what I’d do, but I’d love to hear your thoughts. What would you add? Where do you disagree? To all of you who have served: thank you for your service and sacrifice.

People love to tell you: “𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁.” Cool. Reach out and say what? 🤷♂️ If you’re leaving the military (or changing careers), here’s a simple way to network on LinkedIn without asking for a job. Not “Can you hire me?” Not “Can you refer me?” Not “Can I pick your brain?” Your goal is: 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 and earn the right to keep it going. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝟯-𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵: 1) Connection request (300 characters) Keep it specific, respectful, and low-pressure. 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲: Hi [Name]. I’m leaving the the military this year into [field] and I’m learning from people doing the work. Your background in [specific thing] stood out. Open to connecting? 2) After they accept (the “no ask” message) This is where most people mess up. Don’t pitch. Don’t ask for time. 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲: Appreciate the connect, [Name]. I’m not asking for a job, but trying to learn the landscape. What’s one skill, habit, or credential you’ve seen separate top performers in [role/industry]? 3) If they respond (go deeper, still no job ask) 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲: That’s helpful, thank you. When you were hiring or working with someone new, what would make you say, “This person is ready”? Then: 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, apply what they said, and stay connected. Make sense? Look-- Here's what I've learned from 7+ years on this platform: Most people aren’t active on LinkedIn. So if you message 10 people and 3 respond… 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝟯 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲. Focus there. Build real relationships with the ones who 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦. Networking isn’t a volume game. It’s a 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲. So... If you’re transitioning or pivoting careers: What’s the hardest part of “reaching out” for you? 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆, 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, or 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀? P.S. You can send about 𝟮𝟬-𝟮𝟱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆 on a free LinkedIn account. But it's best to spread them out to stay under the weekly limit of roughly 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀, as LinkedIn monitors for spam. Was this valuable? 💾 Save this for later (...) ♻️ Repost for your network. 🔖 Follow Matt Quick for more Military to Project Management advice. #QuickNote #Networking #MilitaryTransition

For those retiring/transitioning out of the #military, here is the latest version of the Military Retirement Planner. Aside from some new time limitations on DoD Skillbridge Fellowships, not much notable has changed since I last updated it in 2025. As always, this is meant as guide, not for a source for definitive information (all models flawed, but some are useful). Here's what hasn’t changed: You need to figure out what you want to do next and where you want to live. For most, figuring out what you want to do next is a messy process. Building your network, following and connecting with professionals in your fields of interest on #LinkedIn, conducting informational interviews, finding mentors…these are things that will help you determine a vector, figure out any skill gaps, and lift the fog of the unknown.  You are about to swim in open water. Don’t get lulled into thinking your rank, security clearance, or your veteran status is enough to get you a job.  Carve out the time to do a proper ‘mission analysis’ and make a tentative plan so your separation date isn’t the first day of your unemployment. Your first job out of the military won’t be your last. At some point you will move up, move out, or move on. Learn how to network, translate your relevant skills, tailor your resume to a job, interview for a position, and negotiate your salary and benefits. These are all life skills you will need as you enter the civilian workforce. Find a military career transition program or other free resources that can help with these skills (there are many).  I’ve been out of uniform for 8 years so here’s a final thought for those looking to transition from military service and enter the private sector (take this as an observation and a warning): Covid-19 fundamentally reshaped the landscape of work by accelerating the adoption of remote and hybrid work arrangements (not for all, but for many). Looking ahead, the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to further transform the workplace in profound ways. I’m watching this play out now in real time like most of you.  More than any other advice you might receive about getting degrees and certifications, you need to learn how to use AI tools if your job requires a computer.  If you are using a free version of an AI tool like ChatGPT, its capabilities are years behind the paid subscription versions. It’s like using a bicycle instead of a motorcycle. Get beyond using AI as a search engine and merely asking it simple questions.  Learn to feed it info and task it to conduct analysis, write papers and produce products. AI tools will be commonplace in most every work sector you can think of and this is rapidly accelerating.  AI can make you obsolete, or it can make you more valuable.   Hope this helps. For the veterans that have been out for a bit, feel free to drop a comment below. #militarytransition #veteranshelpingveterans #transitioningmilitary

PLEASE STOP CALLING THE MOST DURABLE SKILLS “SOFT” A perfect example of the power of language to confer status and cement hierarchies is the long-standing distinction between supposedly “hard” and “soft” skills. That distinction appeared in the early 1970s when a team of behavioral scientists working for the U.S. Army made the distinction as part of their effort to better measure and increase job performance. Defining “hard” skills as “those job functions about which we know a great deal,” and “soft” skills as “those about which we know very little,” the distinction was not meant to claim hard skills were superior. The choice of words, however, made it easy for a hierarchical perception to quickly take hold. The more empirical sciences, for example, started to label themselves the hard sciences, while sociology, psychology, and others were deemed the soft sciences. “Hard” now meant more valuable and more worthy of resources. “Soft” meant something was easier and less worthy of status or investment. I’ve always hated these terms. It’s been clear to me – just as it is to so many successful senior leaders – that it’s poor interpersonal skills, not lack of technical skills, that spells disaster. And that it’s the “soft” skills that are far harder for people to develop. Recently I’ve been thinking about how the emergence of artificial intelligence might finally reverse this destructive ranking of skills. Nearly everything I read says AI can and will readily replace huge swaths of what we consider “hard skill” professions. It’s true in computer science, accounting, finance, econ – you name it. It’s true for much of the technical work people in managerial roles do. What will we be left for us, even professionals? The “soft” skills. The interpersonal behaviors and interactions that define what’s uniquely human. And yet, sadly, I’d wager that the average MBA graduate still grows their quantitative skills more than their interpersonal skills during their time in the program. In that vein, I was thrilled to read about the notion of “durable” skills – a relabeling of what have traditionally been called soft skills to recognize that it’s these skills that will endure. Kudos to the folks at durableskills.org of America Succeeds (Tim Taylor) for this reframing. We can all be proud to admit we value DURABLE skills!

Starting a New Career: The Landscape of Opportunity This post is designed to pass on career advice to retiring servicemembers. This is for NCOs and Officers of all grades who are retiring- I've seen NCOs and Officers succeed in all of the areas that I list below. I started preparing for retirement about 2 ½ years before leaving military service.  I don’t call it Retirement, I call it Leaving Military Service- as I want to keep working, and retirement sounds like you hang out in a rocking chair at home. I built a Word document and titled it Operation Inherent Danger- because all transitions are inherently dangerous.  I started making phone calls- I considered each one to be an informational interview- and took notes during each call. Informational Interviews are key, and they are enjoyable because there is no pressure.  2 ½ years before retirement I started to schedule about two informational interviews a week.  You are not asking for a job. You are learning. I outline how I did it in the attached pdf. Everyone’s journey is different, and mine is continuing, but at the end, I saw my Realm of Opportunity as: Professional Speaking Engagements.  What do you want to speak about?  Who will your audience be?  Will you arrange your own engagements or use a speaker’s bureau? Consulting.  What do you want to consult on?  How can you establish your brand now while you are in uniform?  How will you get business? Starting your own Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business.  Lots of opportunities here if you have the courage to be an entrepreneur.  Small Business Administration is a great place to start. Buying a small business.  There are many small businesses out there trying to find a succession plan.  This can be incredibly lucrative, you can get financing from the current business owners, banks, etc.  You can borrow millions and start making the same. Working in the start-up ecosystem.  Venture Capital?  Start-up advisor?  Board member?  You can be paid in salary, equity, or both. Board Work.  Join the National Association of Corporate Directors, the Private Directors Association, and BoardProspects. Corporation.  Join a company. I work at USAA, where I still am today. The company's leadership, culture, and mission all align with my value set, and I enjoy every moment there. I decided to take the opportunity because it would expose me to the profit/loss world and fill in the gaps that I had in my skill set, making me more useful in the future as a speaker, consultant, board member, or entrepreneur. Portfolio Career.  This is what I found to be most appealing- it’s really a combination of the above- consulting and speaking engagements go hand in hand.  You can start a small business at the same time. As you develop this landscape of opportunity, you can take steps that will open doors to where you want to go, as shown in the pdf. What advice would you add? #career #opportunities #informationalinterviews

I've been retired from the military for just about a year now, here are my observations (you may or may not already know): - Skillbridge is not guaranteed job placement. If you're able to make it work, awesome! If not, it's a tremendous learning experience. Use it as an opportunity to acclimatize yourself to the civilian world. - Your resume is probably the most important thing about you. Starting on it a month or two before separating or retiring won't do you any favors. Start early and share it! Get as many eyes on it as possible. Don't forget to complete a federal resume, too. You may not be looking for that type of work, but it's not a bad idea to have it in your back pocket. Brock Young is your go-to for any questions regarding federal resumes. - You don't have to keep doing what you were doing while you served. If you want to pursue something new, do it! You don't have to ask permission anymore! - Using LinkedIn, even if you don't understand it at first, is paramount. Network with fellow servicemembers and compare notes. - Your service equivalent transition program (TAPS, TGPS, ABCD, whatever the acronym at your installation is) does not even come close to answering all your questions. Write them down and ask any recently separated veteran what they did. Chances are, they had a completely different experience, but ask those questions! - Attend as many virtual networking events as possible. You'll run into people transitioning at the same time as you and those who have been out for a while. Don't be afraid to make new friends. Network, network, network! Events like 50strong, American Corporate Partners (ACP), and VETS2INDUSTRY are just a few. There's also Veterati, where you can schedule a call with someone who has separated or is in a particular field you're interested in. These are FREE resources. USE THEM! - Your VA claim will likely take a little while to process. Make sure you have a rep you can talk to about the process if you have any questions. Don't rely on hearsay. - The job market will likely be a little hectic at first. Start at the shallow end and gradually work your way into the deeper water. - Certifications trump education in most cases but understand that a lot of jobs are looking for an educational level of at least a bachelor's degree. If you have time to complete your degree, do it. If you have time to complete some certifications or your degree on the military's dime, do it. - Not everyone needs to be a project manager. If that's your thing and you want to do it, cool. PMP and Agile certifications are where it's at. Again, if you can get them completed on the military's dime, do it! Connect with Matt Quick 🏆PM Champion🏆if you have questions. Don't stress over anything. If anything, feel free and connect with me and if I can't help you, I can for sure connect you with someone that can grab the baton and keep you moving forward. #transitioningmilitary #veteranshelpingveterans #veteransupport

15 years since my DD214. 10 applications submitted. 13 companies interviewed me. The math doesn't work unless you understand the unlock. Every interview that wasn't tied to one of those 10 applications came from the same place. Someone in my network put my name in a room I wasn't standing in. That's the part TAP doesn't teach. Veterans spend a decade-plus building the highest-trust network most professionals will ever be part of. Shared hardship. Shared mission. Shared standards. Then we transition, and the first thing most of us do is pretend that network doesn't exist. We open Indeed. We have AI rewrite the resume for the eighth time. We submit into the void and wonder why nothing comes back. Meanwhile the job we actually want is being filled by someone who knew someone. Here's the reframe. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲. Three moves to start this week:  • List 10 people from your service who already work in the civilian world. Reach out to one a day. No ask. Just reconnect.  • Stop sending resumes to strangers. Start sending introductions to friends of friends.  • Build visibility before you need it. Post once a week about what you actually know. Make it easy for people to remember why you're worth recommending. I have not submitted an application in years. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯. Not because I'm above it. Because the network works, and I trust it more than I trust an algorithm. If you're transitioning, the network you already have is bigger than you think. Use it. #VeteranHiring #MilitaryTransition #CareerTransition #NetworkingTips #VeteranEmployment #VeteranLeadership #JobSearchTips