For veterans and transitioning military members, the shortcut to another high-impact leadership job seems simple. All you gotta do is liberally dash the words led, lead, leader and leadership all over your resume like sriracha on scrambled eggs. That will spice things up on the job market and get you a great leadership job after the military, right?
I wish it worked that way. The fact is that the leadership gene that steered you into the military and kept you here so long is one of your best, most marketable traits. That said, it is your leadership gene that makes hiring managers tremble in their $600 shoes.
They are not afraid of you. They just doubt the ability of someone like you to have enough patience to stick around long enough to be useful. They are not wrong.
Still, you can't afford to bury that leadership gene forever. In my experience as the transition master coach for Miltiary.com's Veteran Employment Project, I see how that leadership gene in so many of you keeps poking up like a bone in an episode of "Dateline." Leadership does not rest quietly.
How Do You Get a Leadership Job After the Military?
Knowing that your leadership gene is planning to rise up no matter what you do, how do you manage the mid-ground of your first job after the military? How do you position yourself to make the most of your best trait?
Looking for a job in leadership? Catch up on what you need to know by watching our FREE master class, "Positioning for Power: Jobs in Management and Leadership for Veterans" now.
I think the best way to make room for your leadership gene to grow back in the civilian world is to give up the use of the word leader right now. Instead, break down what you really liked about being a leader into specific work behaviors.
To help you out, I've identified eight parts of leadership that can hint at which job you should start at following the military. I'm not going to be including C-Suite executive jobs or jobs as a vice president at this point, but these jobs help you start in that direction.
8 High-Powered Jobs for Leaders After the Military
Taking the time to identify how your leadership gene works is a powerful path to your next high-impact job in leadership.
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