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RP Members when you transition, keep an open mind about your future civilian career beyond your MOS.
Many military job sites offer MOS translators to help transitioning service members figure out what they should do once out of the military based on what they did in the military. There are two big issues with this.
First, few veterans want to do what they did in the military after they are out. Second, the assignment of a military specialty is largely arbitrary. If the Marine Corps needed truck drivers when you got in, you probably became a truck driver. You may not have wanted to become a truck driver and you may not have been a good truck driver, but the needs of the service always come first.
Many military job sites offer MOS translators to help transitioning service members figure out what they should do once out of the military based on what they did in the military. There are two big issues with this.
First, few veterans want to do what they did in the military after they are out. Second, the assignment of a military specialty is largely arbitrary. If the Marine Corps needed truck drivers when you got in, you probably became a truck driver. You may not have wanted to become a truck driver and you may not have been a good truck driver, but the needs of the service always come first.
It’s Time To Think Beyond Your MOS
Posted from taskandpurpose.com
Transition
MOS
What Would You Do
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 13
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All great points. Your MOS training by itself limits your appeal to civilian industry. They're looking for the sum of all the parts, leadership experience, and the ability to manage resources and be innovative thinkers. This is a different battlefield than we are used to. It is one that benefits from, and seeks the values of, our total experience while in uniform. I did a stint in private industry after retirement as a Director of Logistics. It all starts with a strong resume that clearly articulates your value to a prospective employer. Unfortunately, there are many in transition that do not know how to write a proper resume. Most tend to focus on a laundry list of responsibilities vs quantifiable accomplishments (the meat). If anyone would like assistance with building a great resume, feel free to contact me. And have thick skin. P.s. I do not charge a dime for this service.
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Doug Macdonald
COL Bill Gibson, Thank you for what you are doing. One question I always like to ask veterans that are in transition is "What did you learn in Boot Camp?" The answers can sometimes be comical. At the end of the day, most say, "how to survive". After a little further questioning, they learned and EXPERIENCED several skills that are important to a corporation. As you are aware it's all in the translation.
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COL Bill Gibson
Doug, thank you indeed. Boot camp?? Tthat was almost 37 hrs ago, and 3 months after the fall of Saigon. And boot camp back in '75 was not anything to what it is today. I would say, survival! I am happily retired now, lol.
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During transition, the biggest thing I realized career-related was that being a comms jack-of-all-trades tech wouldn't get me far. I was never passionate about tactical radios. I tell fellow college students the same about IT and suggest they play the field until they find at least three sub-fields they want to progress in.
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Doug Macdonald
SGT (Join to see), You hit the nail on the head. You were never passionate about tactical radios. I encourage you to find that passion.
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Doug Macdonald
GySgt John Olson - Sometimes it's the little things in life. Thank you. This is actually the Textbook available on Amazon for less than a meal out!
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Well I drove trucks for a living in the military. Yes it's good money on the outside but I no longer wanted to drive trucks for a living. I went an got an education and actually landed a job at the same college I attended. I will always suggest a vet if you had an MOS that isn't equal to a civilian job to go educated yourself and make yourself more marketable.
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