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Make a list of jobs or businesses you might be interested in. Pick one at a time and focus on it for 1-2 weeks. Go to the library, read books about it, and surf the internet for information.

Call several people who are working in these jobs and ask for an information interview by phone or in person. Tell them you’re researching the industry and simply want to ask some general questions. Ask them what the standard salary range is, type of work done, hours, travel requirements, skills required, or anything that’s important to you. Ask them what they like and don’t like about their job. Maybe you could volunteer to actually work in the environment for a short time.

Do NOT use this time for serious job hunting. This is research. You do not need a resume, a portfolio or a blue suit. All you need is sincere curiosity, some enthusiasm and enough courage to make that first phone call!
(Be sure to add the names and numbers of people you speak with to your network. )

Establish 2 files to accumulate and organize all the paper you will be acquiring in the next several months. One file will be for military papers and one will be for collecting information about your follow on plans; job search, resumes, new business start-up, etc.

These can be anything from small accordion files to 1-2 drawers of a file cabinet.  You’ll need space for service, medical, and financial records, copies of letters you’ll be writing requesting various things, and lots of information you’ll gather on Veteran’s benefits, resume writing, job searches, business plans, and more.

The following lists are suggested categories only.  Use whatever titles make sense to you.  The key is to have an organization system you will use that serves you well.

Suggested Military Folders:
AWARDS (Letters & Medals),
CEREMONY (Retirement Party, Hail & Farewell)
COLLEGE (Credits & Transcripts),
DENTAL (copy of Record),
DD214s & SERVICE RECORD (+Statement of Service),
FINANCES (Leave & Earning Statements, W-2, W-4, Allotments),
LAST MOVE (+Travel Claim),
MEDICAL (copy of Record),
MILITARY SCHOOLS (Completion Letters, Certificates, Proof of Attendance),
ORDERS (Permanent Change of Duty Station, Reserve AT, ADT, TDY, PTDY),
PERFORMANCE REPORTS (Fitness Reports, Evaluations, Promotion Letters),
RESERVE DRILLS (Proof of Retirement Points, Diary of Drills Performed),
SECURITY CLEARANCE,
SPECIAL REQUESTS,
TRAVEL CLAIMS,
VA BENEFITS (education, disability compensation),
FINAL TURN-IN (temporary folder to collect papers and records required by Personnel Office prior to releasing your final DD Form 214)

Suggested Civilian Folders:
APPEARANCE (Wardrobe, Briefcase, Pens, Stationary Portfolio lists & ideas),
HEALTH AND DENTAL PLANS (TRICARE, etc.),
INSURANCE (Life, Health, Dental, Long Term Care),
NETWORK (contacts, phone numbers, biz cards),
RESOURCES (Reading List, Websites),
VISION (Goals, Primary Aim),
EXPENSES (Receipts for Tax Deductions),

If planning a job search, add:
INTERVIEWS,
RESUME (Objective, Skills, Job History, Accomplishments)

If planning a new business, add:
BUSINESS PLAN,
FINANCES,
MARKETING PLAN

Don’t stress about trying to find all the paper to fill these folders now. As you come across paper or generate it in the next several months, you’ll have a place to put it.  If you know where you have this information and have been somewhat organized over the years, go ahead and start sorting through it a bit at a time.

I strongly suggest you scan all your papers into your home computer and save them on a CD for long term storage.  It will provide a backup in case you lose any of the original paper files in the future.

Start today keeping all your receipts for any expense you incur during this transition.  Everything from phone calls and new clothes to printing paper and mileage is tax deductible.

This is part of a complete step-by-step military retirement checklist. I’ll be posting weekly action steps here, so please subscribe over in the right-hand column so you’re sure to get each update.

Most of my clients call me while they’re still on active military duty. They’ve contacted me to help them find a job. Many times they’re hoping to find a job doing the same thing they were doing in the service. Our initial conversation usually goes something like this:

Client: I have a buddy who works for “XYZ” company and he said all I need to do is shoot him a resume and I’m as good as hired.
Coach: Does your buddy have hiring authority?
Client: No, but he’s good friends with the boss.
Coach: And has the boss asked your friend to solicit resumes for an open position?
Client: Well, no, but he says I’m a shoe-in.
Coach: What is the job he thinks you’re a shoe-in for?
Client: I don’t know exactly, but it would be doing the same thing I‘m doing now.

You get the idea…

Here’s the problem: My client is not clear about what they want to do, what qualifications they have, what jobs are available, and who has the power to hire them. In the military, we never had to search for or apply for a job. So it’s understandable why we don’t know how to do it. The good news is that it’s a skill that can be learned. Here are 5 basic tactics for Job Search success:

1. Treat your job search as a full time job.
Schedule time every day to work on your resume, make phone calls, set up interviews and visit companies that interest you. Your job search is an investment in you and your future; it deserves your best effort. It’s a job that can’t be delegated or procrastinated and be expected to succeed. If you’re on terminal leave, treat your job search as if it was your full-time job – work on it 8 hours a day!

2. Know exactly what your career objective is.
As with any goal you set in life, the clearer and more specific it is, the more likely it is you’ll achieve it. Have a specific answer to the question, “What type of job are you looking for?” People are usually eager to help you, but they need a clear picture of what you want to do. They can’t read your mind, so help them help you. Instead of responding with “Oh, I don’t know. I think I want to work with airplanes. I can do almost anything”, answer “I have 12 years of experience coordinating aircraft maintenance schedules. I plan to pursue a career as a Production Manager in the Aircraft Manufacturing industry.” See the difference?

3. Network, network, network!
Not just with military personnel or people in your office. Start adding civilians and other professionals to your address book. As your personal circle of contacts expands, your network increases exponentially. If you know 100 people and they each know 100 people, you have a network of 10,000 people! Some of your most powerful connections won’t be the people you communicate with regularly. Your most powerful connections will be with the people you know only as a brief acquaintance; Those folks who are on the fringes of your social and professional circle. The people you associate with regularly usually share the same experiences, beliefs and knowledge as you. They know what you know. People you barely know will tend to have new, different ideas and contacts. They will be the ones to provide access to the resources you need to expand and grow.

4. Practice interviewing before you go on one.
Interviews are similar to stage performances. They go a lot more smoothly if you’ve had a dress rehearsal before going in front of a “live audience”. You’ll be much more relaxed and confident during your actual interview if you practice! Ask a friend to role-play with you. Give them a list of questions that might be asked during an interview and have them play the role of the employer. Then you answer the questions as you would during an actual interview. This exercise is even more powerful if you schedule a specific time for it. Get dressed in the clothes you plan to wear to the actual interview. Then be on time for your mock appointment.

5. View rejection as a positive opportunity to learn.
When you’re rejected during your job search, understand that it’s not a personal rejection. It’s not that they don’t want you, they don’t even know you. Being passed on for a job opening simply means that your skills and talents didn’t match the position description. If you believe that you had the right skills for the job, then ask yourself why the employer didn’t think so. Could your resume be clearer? Did you confidently articulate your accomplishments during the interview? Is there anything you could do differently at the next interview to highlight your strengths? Maybe you truly weren’t a good match for the job or company. If that’s so, then you wouldn’t have wanted to get it anyway!

View rejections as opportunities to tweak your resume, polish interview skills and maybe even reevaluate what types of jobs you’re seeking.

Identify additional skills you want to learn or upgrade in preparation for your future. Any license or certification will give you an advantage over competition during a job search. Today, knowing how to navigate common computer software applications is required in almost any job.How confident are you in creating slide presentations or using a document editor? Perhaps taking a business management class would increase your qualifications. If a technical certification would be valuable, is it possible to complete that in the time you have left in the service? Make time today to take charge of your future.