The Leadership Hangover: Unlearning from the Military to Scale as a Civilian

Follow along for the "From Mission to Momentum" Summer Series, running through September. Designed for leaders committed to growth, this series is a structured opportunity to pause, reflect, and recalibrate. 

Memorial Day is often framed as a day to honor the fallen. But for those of us in leadership – especially in business – it’s also an opportunity to reflect on how we lead the living.

“Lead me, follow me, or get the hell out of my way.”
– General George S. Patton, Jr.

This isn’t just a bold quote. It’s a filter. A challenge. A gut check.

Transitioning from the military to a civilian career is a big step, but your skills – like leadership, discipline, problem-solving, and technical expertise – are in high demand across many industries. The challenge is figuring out the right career path, especially if your  Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) doesn’t have a clear civilian match.

Navigating a job search process after decades in military service feels like starting all over again, doesn’t it? Many soldiers share sentiments that they do not regret service, not at all, nor do not regret the decision to transition out to civilian life, but the pressure to start a new chapter in late adulthood is absolutely daunting. 

The question now is: How do I add value?

They’ve led troops. Handled chaos. Made split-second calls with lives on the line. Veterans understand pressure, mission, and what it means to put people first. But in the civilian world? They’re too often buried beneath assumptions, buzzwords, and broken hiring filters.

You hired a resume. You missed a leader.

For Veterans transitioning into the civilian workforce, finding an organization that values their unique skills, experience, and leadership potential can be a mission in itself. While many companies claim to be "Veteran-friendly," how do you know which ones truly live up to the name? Understanding what it means to be Veteran-friendly and how to identify these organizations can make all the difference in finding your next career opportunity.

“Tell Me About Yourself.”

It’s one of the most common interview questions – and one of the hardest to answer. Where do you start? Your hometown? Your family history? The first job you ever had?

Pause. While your story is important, an interview isn’t the time for an autobiography. The goal here is to highlight your professional journey and what makes you the right candidate for the role.

Why Do Recruiters Get a Bad Rap?

You’ve heard the stories: recruiters who go radio silent, miss deadlines, or seem more focused on numbers than people. For transitioning Veterans, this can feel like just another roadblock — reducing you to a name in a database instead of recognizing you as a skilled professional. It’s frustrating to feel like your leadership experience and operational expertise are being overlooked.