A Smarter Way to Navigate Your Post-Military Career Search

“I don’t know what I want to do after the military.”
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many transitioning service members share this feeling. You’ve built incredible skills in uniform—but narrowing down your job search can feel overwhelming.

The truth is: you don’t have to have it all figured out right now. What matters most is choosing how you want to approach your search: by skills or by settings.

Why This Matters

After years of working with veterans in career transition, here’s what we know:

• Your civilian job won’t be identical to your military job—and that’s okay.
• It’s normal to feel uncertain. Career paths evolve. You’re not committing for life—just the next step.
• Skills and settings give you a framework. Instead of chasing every possible career option, these approaches help you focus.

The Skills-Based Job Search

A skills-based search focuses on what you do in a role: problem-solving, analysis, logistics, finance, leadership, healthcare, or tech.

Ask yourself:

• What problems do I enjoy solving?
• What projects energized me?
• Which technical or strategic challenges kept me engaged?

This approach helps you identify transferable skills—many of which you’ve already mastered in the military—and apply them to new industries.

Watchouts:

• Avoid being too vague (“I’m a leader”). Hiring managers need specifics: operations leader? clinical leader? sales leader?
• Remember that tools change. What mattered 10 years ago may not be relevant today.

The Settings-Based Job Search

A settings-based search prioritizes where, how, and with whom you work.

Consider:

• Geography: Are you open to relocating?
• Work-Life Balance: What tradeoffs are you willing to make?
• Industry Passion: Would you take any role to break into a field you love?
• Schedule Preferences: Nights? Weekends? Flexibility?
• Company Culture: Do you want fast-paced or steady? Large corporation or small nonprofit?

Your environment shapes your wellbeing. Sometimes, settings matter more than the role itself.

Skills AND Settings: A Continuum

Early in civilian life, you may focus more on settings—pay, schedule, and location to support your family. Over time, your skills may open more doors, giving you options that fit both your career goals and your personal values.

Visualize your priorities like a pie chart:

• Are you 60% focused on analytics skills?
• Or 90% focused on staying in one location?
• Or open to any job in an industry you love?

Owning that balance helps you filter opportunities and avoid chasing paths that don’t fit.

Informational Interviews: The Secret Weapon

No matter your focus—skills or settings—the best next step is talking to people.

• Want to explore product management? Ask a PM about their path.
• Curious about nonprofits? Talk to someone inside one.

Informational interviews give you insights you can’t find on job postings. They help you test assumptions, refine your direction, and uncover hidden opportunities.

The Bottom Line

Your post-military career isn’t about finding the perfect job forever—it’s about finding the right next step.

• Give yourself permission to adjust your path as you grow.
• Align your skills and settings with your values.
• Use conversations, not just applications, to guide your search.

The military shaped you, but it doesn’t define the rest of your life. You’ve got this.

Written by Joel Martycz, U.S. Air Force veteran, Healthcare Operations and Supply Chain executive, and veteran career coach.