facebook twitter instagram linkedin google youtube vimeo tumblr yelp rss email podcast phone blog external search brokercheck brokercheck Play Pause
Using Informational Interviews to Plan Your Career After Your Military Retirement Thumbnail

Using Informational Interviews to Plan Your Career After Your Military Retirement

Transition

Authored by Joseph Brown, PhD

Transitioning out of the military can be a scary prospect after spending over 20 years in uniform! As you begin to think about what comes next after your time in the military informational interviews are a powerful tool you can use to ease your transition and find the right civilian career.   Not sure what an informational interview is or how to schedule and participate in them, don't worry - we've got your back.

Determine What’s Important

First things first, let's talk about what's important to you in your next career. Do you value job security, work-life balance, or the opportunity for growth? Maybe you have other priorities that are unique to your situation. Looking back at the best parts of your military career and what you really enjoyed doing in those jobs can help you zero in on what is important to you. Take some time to jot down your "must-haves" and "nice-to-haves" for your next job. Think about the salary range you want to achieve, how much time you want to dedicate to work, and where you want to live. This list will help inform the questions you ask and give you a yardstick to measure the career fields you are exploring against.

How to Setup Informational Interviews

Now, let's talk strategy. Networking is key, and one powerful tool in your arsenal is the informational interview. This is your chance to have a candid conversation with someone who's already working in your desired field. Don't be shy about reaching out to people on LinkedIn or through your personal network - you'd be surprised how willing people are to help.   Fellow veterans are a great place to start, and you should also not worry about asking others to help too.  

Here's a tip: When you reach out for an informational interview, be clear about your goals and respectful of their time. Here's an example of what you might say:

 "Hello [Name],

I hope this message finds you well. My name is [Your Name], and I'm currently transitioning out of the military. I'm interested in [industry], and I came across your profile on LinkedIn. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to learn more about your experience in this field and any advice you might have for someone in my position. Would you be available for a brief informational interview at your earliest convenience?

Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

 Best regards,

[Your Name]"

Prepare for the Interview.

Remember, the key is to be genuine and respectful. And don't forget to prepare some thoughtful questions for the interview. If you need inspiration, we've put together a list of questions to consider asking during informational interviews [To download list, click here].

A word of advice based on experience: there a couple of questions/statement I love to wrap up with at the end of the informational interview.

  1. What else should I have asked you? (Or put another way “Is there anything I am missing?”)
  2. Is there anyone else you can think of that I should talk to?
  3. If you hear of any opportunities that you think I should explore I hope you will keep me in mind.

Follow up is key!  

Remember someone just donated their time to helping you and the least you can do is send them a thank you note.  I prefer handwritten notes.  If you get their business card during the meeting it is very easy to do since you will have their mailing address.  The note only needs to be three sentences!

Dear Expert,

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me. A personal anecdote from the meeting that you found particularly helpful.   Again, thank you for your time, your assistance in making my transition to a civilian career is greatly appreciated.    

Respectfully,

Your Name

Start planning your transition today! Figure out what you want, network like crazy, and don't forget to take advantage of all the resources available to you as a veteran. You've got this!

Military Finance are Different.

Transitioning out of the military is a process that most financial advisors/planners don’t understand.   In addition, they aren't aware of the many financial differences between an Active or Retired Senior Military Officer or NCO has compared to his or her civilian peer. That's why we think you should work with someone who deals with your issues each and every day. Use the button below to schedule a free initial consultation to find out how we help people like you.

If you found this article useful, you might like the following blog posts:

Leveraging a Third-Party Contractor to Land "The" Job


Finding a Home in Academia


From O-6 to SES



Disclaimer
Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by C.L. Sheldon & Company, LLC ), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this blog will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. C.L. Sheldon & Company, LLC does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to C.L. Sheldon & Company, LLC website or incorporated herein, and C.L. Sheldon & Company, LLC takes no responsibility therefore. All such information is provided solely for convenience, educational, and informational purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this blog serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from C.L. Sheldon & Company, LLC . To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing. C.L. Sheldon & Company, LLC is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no portion of the blog content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of the C.L. Sheldon & Company, LLC ’s current written disclosure statement discussing our advisory services and fees is available for review upon request. DISCLAIMER OF TAX ADVICE: Any discussion contained herein cannot be considered to be tax advice. Actual tax advice would require a detailed and careful analysis of the facts and applicable law, which we expect would be time consuming and costly. We have not made and have not been asked to make that type of analysis in connection with any advice given in this blog post. As a result, we are required to advise you that any Federal tax advice rendered in this blog is not intended or written to be used and cannot be used for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by the IRS. In the event you would like us to perform the type of analysis that is necessary for us to provide an opinion, that does not require the above disclaimer, as always, please feel free to contact us.