Why did I take this job?
Frustration.
Anger.
Stress.
These are just a few of the feelings that your might be experiencing at your new job. Working in the civilian world is very different than working in the military world. In fact, it might leave your questioning why your ever left the military and joined this alternate universe in the first place. When you have this big of a career change, it’s easy to feel depressed about leaving your military career behind. The military transition is hard.
First and foremost, being prepared for your military transition is key. If you’re currently enlisted in the military and will be soon making the transition to the career world, here are a few things to keep in mind, as well as how to overcome them:
- Working on a civilian team is different than working on a military team. If you take a job in an office or otherwise, you might be required to work on a team. However, whereas in the military your team was responsible for the well-being of the entire unit, in the civilian world, teams have more of an “every man for him/herself” mentality. You can’t always trust your team members to have your back. In a perfect world, this would be the case, but the sad fact is that because the situation isn’t life or death, many people simply look out for themselves.
A solution? You’ve heard the saying “When in Rome…” right? Basically, if you can’t beat them, join them. You don’t have to be cutthroat, but in order to have success in a business world, you will have to put your personal job before the success of the team. If you truly have problems with this type of thing, talk to your boss or manager.
- You won’t always have huge responsibilities. If you’re used to making huge decisions, you may feel a bit insulted if you aren’t given these same responsibilities in your civilian career. Don’t take it personally. Some jobs just don’t have the opportunity for these kinds of responsibilities, and in some cases, it’s simply a case of seniority.
A solution? Prove that you can handle it, and more challenging tasks should come your way.
- Most jobs don’t require you to start the day with a three-mile run. Once of the most rewarding parts about being in the military is the great physical shape your body is in. When you make the military transition to the civilian world, this won’t usually be the case. You might feel lazy sitting at a desk all day or even find that you’re gaining weight because you aren’t as physically active.
A solution? Many corporations offer gym discounts or even free memberships. You can also do simple things like walking to work, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and getting up early to run before work. Once you get to know your coworkers, you can even ask them if they’d like to work out with your or join you can join a fun workout class together.
Not every job is rewarding. Sometimes, you have to do what you have to do in order to make ends meet during your military transition. This is especially true if your have a family. However, if you are truly unhappy, it is important to be actively looking for a job that will make you happy. Your dream job is out there if you look hard enough!