The transition from the military to the civilian workforce can be intimidating for many veterans. Source: U.S. Veterans Magazine.
When looking for a civilian job after serving as an infantryman, it may be unclear where to start. Yet, soon enough, you’ll understand that many of the skills you gained while serving are useful in many careers, and the world can open up. In fact, you might end up having a harder time narrowing things down once you see how employable you really are.
Transferable Skills from Being in the Infantry
One of the biggest hurdles to face when searching for civilian jobs for 11B veterans is understanding your transferable skills. By eliminating military jargon and seeing that what you’ve learned as an infantryman can suit a variety of jobs, it will become easier to lock down the best position for you.
Some of your transferable skills might be:
- Ability to perform well under stress
- Exceptional physical and mental fitness
- Works well on a team
- Flexible in a changing environment
- Technical skills like handling firearms and first aid
Performing well under stress is a highly-coveted skill, especially for management positions and those that experience danger on the job. You’ll be able to explain in an interview how you dealt with a crisis situation during your time in the military and how you could relate these skills to a stressful day in a civilian job.
Many of America’s workforce sits at a desk all day long and struggles to get proper exercise. Often, that’s not the case with infantry veterans since your level of physical fitness can be a matter of life or death. On top of that, the mental toughness it takes to be a soldier is something many companies are after. Look into jobs for 11B veterans that require physical and mental strength and use these qualities you already have to your advantage.
Working together is the main purpose of the military. The whole idea is that the unit is more important than the individual. You understand that your mistakes are the mistakes of your entire team and you’re probably more capable of taking responsibility for an issue than others. Working on a team isn’t something everyone can do, so snagging jobs for 11B veterans means talking up your ability to work with others.
Spending years in the military means you’ve moved countless times, you were unsure of your next posting until the very last minute, and you had to change gears at a moments’ notice in times of unrest. You’re not afraid of change and you’ll be capable of flexibility when things don’t go to plan.
As an infantryman, you also learned technical skills than many others in the workforce don’t have. Being able to handle a gun, perform basic first aid, having the ability to maneuver complex machinery, and understanding blueprints are just a few of the technical skills you might have that will help secure a job.
Common Jobs for 11B Veterans
Now that you can see how many transferable skills you’ve picked up during your time as an infantryman – and there’s bound to be more if you think hard enough – there are a few common jobs for 11B veterans you might want to check out right away.
- Police Officer
- Mechanic
- Security Guard
As a police officer, all you need is a high school diploma. While there is a bit of training involved, you’ll be able to use your weaponry skills and show off how well you can handle stress in crisis situations. Plus, with many duties in a police force that aren’t necessarily in the line of fire, there are a lot of jobs for 11B veterans in the law enforcement field.
Mechanics identify issues and solve problems. Especially if you have a good handle on the operation of machinery like the ones you might have used during your time in the service, becoming an auto or airline mechanic is a great option.
Another job that many military men are attracted to is in the security sector. Security guards need to be physically fit and should be used to being on the alert. It’s important to know when to attack and how a gauge stressful situations. Firearm training is a plus, too. You may need a degree for some higher-level security positions but with military experience, you should be able to get in the door.
Read our tips for writing a resume as a veteran, and get yourself out there!
