How to Find Direction After the Military

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

The truth is you do not need 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 is what we know:

• Your civilian job will not be identical to your military job, and that is okay.
• It is normal to feel uncertain. Career paths evolve. You are 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 technology.

Ask yourself:

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

This approach helps you identify transferable skills that you have already mastered in the military and apply them to new industries such as IT, logistics, healthcare, or project management.

Watchouts:

• Avoid being too vague. For example, instead of saying “I am a leader,” clarify what kind of leader you are: operations, clinical, or sales.
• Remember that tools change. What mattered ten years ago may not be relevant today, so continue learning through programs like DoD SkillBridge or Coursera.

The Settings-Based Job Search

A settings-based search prioritizes where, how, and with whom you work. Your work environment plays a huge role in your happiness and long-term success.

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: Do you prefer nights, weekends, or flexible hours?
• Company Culture: Do you want a fast-paced environment or a steady, team-oriented one?

Sometimes, the right setting matters more than the job title itself.

Skills and Settings: A Continuum

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

Visualize your priorities like a pie chart:

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

Understanding that balance helps you filter opportunities and avoid chasing paths that do not fit your priorities.

Informational Interviews: The Secret Weapon

No matter your focus, whether by skills or settings, the best next step is to talk to people. Conducting informational interviews can provide real-world insights you will not find on job boards.

• Interested in product management? Ask a PM about their path.
• Curious about nonprofits? Talk to someone already in the industry.

Informational interviews help you test assumptions, refine your direction, and uncover opportunities you might not have considered.

The Bottom Line

Your post-military career is not about finding the perfect job forever. It is about finding the right next step.

• Give yourself permission to adjust 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 does not define the rest of your life. You have got this.

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

Ready to start your transition? Explore veteran job seeker resources or attend an upcoming RecruitMilitary Career Fair to connect directly with employers hiring veterans.