What the AOG means to me
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The document outlines the author's journey transitioning from active duty in the Air Force to a civilian career, highlighting the importance of networking with fellow graduates. Key lessons learned include the necessity of early planning, financial preparation, and leveraging social media for job connections. The author emphasizes the value of mentorship and the supportive network available through the USAFA alumni community.
What the AOG means to me
- 1. usafa.org bonus content In May of 2012, I had made the decision that I would be getting out the Air Force in the next year. At the time, I was serving in St Louis, Mo. as an AFROTCinstructor.MywifeandIwantedtomove to Seattle, Wash. to be closer to family. The thought of making the transition was heavy, and seemed like such a daunting task. There were stressful conversa- tions and so much uncertainty about the future. I knew that I would need to do a lot of planning to make a successful transition from Active Duty to the civilian world. When I had graduated from the Academy, I had never joined the AOG but I knew that it could pro- vide a network that I could trust as I started to think about my transition so I became a member about a yearbeforeIgotreadytoleaveActiveDutyAirForce. I wanted to work as a management consultant for a small firm in the northwest. I wondered though are there an Academy grads who are doing that? The best suggestion I had gotten was from an ’06 grad, Matt Bader. I didn’t know Matt while I was at the Academy but I was friends with Cameron Schaefer ’06 and he made the introduction. After several calls and emails, I went to visit Matt in Portland while staying with family. As it turned out Matt was doing exactly what I wanted to do. At the time he was a management consultant for a growing firm in Port- land, OR working at a project at Nike Headquar- ters. Matt had left the Air Force after serving as a contracting officer at Hanscom AFB, Mass. As I met Matt for the first time over beers we talked about USAFA, we talked about people we knew and what making the transition was like. It was like talking to an old friend, somebody I could Written by JP Patino ’07 What the AOG means to me How connecting with fellow graduates can help ease and advance your career transition.
- 2. Checkpoints March 2014 really trust and who had just been in my shoes. Later on he introduced me to a few people in his company and even a few people at Nike. He was extremely generous with his contacts and even when I thanked him con- stantly, he always said, “You will pay it forward soon.” Before I left Portland, he gave me another piece of advice. Matt suggested using LinkedIn Group features to look for USAFA grads in the Seattle area who are in management consulting specifically the USAFA AOG groups.Then,reachouttothemviaLinkedIn’sIn-Mail. I began searching for companies that I was interested in and studied those, as well as plugging them into LinkedIn search tools. I found about 10 USAFA grads that were in Seattle and were connected to companies that I was interested in. So I reached out to all of them. That’s how I got in contact with Ben Brown ’01. Ben was working for Caiman Consulting and a member of the Puget Sound AOG in Seattle. On my next trip out to Seattle he offered to meet me for lunch. We talked over burgers and Ben gave me advice on translating my resume and helped me tweak it to connect with the management consulting world. Things like program versus project management and advice on taking the PMP certification. During the week I was in Seattle, Ben introduced me to the head recruiter at his company, as well as a few other senior directors. At the time, I was still three months away from actually separating from the Air Force, but Ben was helping me develop a network in the industry that I wanted to be in as well as in the city. I made two more trips out to Seattle in the following months. With each trip, I would reconnect with Ben and meet another one of his colleagues. I also met other Academy grads as well as West Point and Annapolis grads who I had connected with on social media. The commonality of our Service Academy connections was enough that they were willing to extend a hand and help out a fellow veteran. Finally, on 30 May 2013, six years to the day on graduating from the Air Force Academy, I officially separated from Active duty. My family and I road tripped 2,400 miles from St. Louis to Seattle and moved in with family as I continued my job hunt. The connections I made through Ben and Matt had gotten me several interviews at various consulting firms and then finally in mid-June I was offered a position with Caiman Consulting in Redmond, Wash. Makingthetransitiontoleaveactivedutywasoften times frightening. I thought it was much easier to stay on active then to leave because my next assignment and job was decided for me. The thing that made the biggest difference was knowing that I had a network that would back me up. Utilizing the tools available, I was able to connect to classmates and grads to hear about their transitions. I asked for advice, to review my resume and asked for introductions to others. It was time consuming and taxing but also fun to con- nect and reacquaint with others. Now, I love the fact that there’s a USAFA grad in the company that I work for. There’s a certain camaraderie that we share. Now, having made a successful transition I enjoy passing along my lessons learned to other grads out there. The USAFA network is a tremendous resource and one of the many things I’m thankful for graduating from the Academy. My hope is that whether grads are staying in or as they leave the Air Force they know and trust that there are other grads who care about them and will help hem along the way. For me, that was one of the best surprises throughout my whole transition—learning how many grads are out there who are really willing to help. w one of the best surprises throughout my whole transition—learning how many grads are out there who are really willing to help.
- 3. usafa.org 21 Lessons Learned After leaving the Military 1 Startearly. I knew I was going to get out of the military about one year before I even submitted my paperwork and after that I gave myself 9 months to figure out the process. I knew I would need lots of time to really think through this process of leaving the military. There was a lot to think about and not having enough time, really could have cost me money and leave me in a place I never intended. Plan to give yourself 9-12 months preparation time before you are officially out. 2Getonthesamepagewithsignificantother. I had some of the most important and sometimes toughest conversations with my wife about leaving the military. As soon as you know you are going to leave the military, you should let those that are important in your life know about it. Taking a weekend to discuss your goals and write them down will set you up to achieve them. tSave.Save.Save. I learned I needed to do some number crunching early on to figure out my minimum expenses (loan payments, mortgage/ rent, food bills). Once I knew those figures, I estimated that potentially I could be without an income for 6-9 months. This gave me an estimate of how much to save in emergency funds. Also, by having enough savings in the bank I don’t feel pressured to take the first offer that comes my way, giving me freedom to choose a career I can really enjoy. 4Getyourconfidenceback. It took me awhile to believe that my skills would be valued outside the military. Many people have shared with me that they value most the leadership, the ability to work with teams, the communication skills of military veterans. In order to help me with my confidence I started doing things that I really enjoyed again and setting goals for myself to achieve. For me, I began to rock climb and write more and that gave me some of the confidence that I hope to show in front of employers. I recommend attending clubs and volunteer activities that you really enjoy. Who you are in those settings is who you need to be in front of an employer. 5Getclearonyourgoals. This was something my dad, an Air Force Colonel retired and liaison for Army transition program, explained to me. When you are looking at employment without a clear target, every job looks like it could be a good one. This is where it is important to define your criteria (along with your significant other, see Lesson 2). Spend time defining what you enjoy doing, what you are good at doing, and what you hope to do in the future. This will help you narrow choices down and stay focused on what your goals. 6Marketyourselftowardsgoals. Once it became clear what I want to do in the future, I marketed myself towards that in a way that employers understand. It seems that every conversation I had with people in that industry I would learn a new word or term. I began translating my experience using the new language I learned. I recommend taking some courses or certification classes to help teach you the new language of your new civilian job. 7Buybusinesscards. I purchased business cards that marketed the skills that I bring to potential companies and used the language that civilians would understand. You can find tons of creative examples of business cards, but making them translate is key. Once when I handed a business card out, the person immediately turned it over to the backside, which I had left blank. He said, “You are missing out on important marketing space!” I recommend putting a QR code with a link to your resume on the back, this shows you are technology savvy and you don’t waste space.
- 4. Checkpoints March 2014 8Getfamiliarwithsocialmediatools. The access that we have utilizing social media now is incredible. I have learned to use my network on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, to reach out to people as far as possible. I began to join groups on LinkedIn and then write people within the groups that were in the industry that I was interested in. From there, I asked if they would be willing to chat for 15 minutes with me. Look for people via Facebook and LinkedIn in the geographic location or industry you want to be in, and then don’t be afraid to reach out to them. 9Looksharp. After serving on Active Duty for six years I got used to wearing a uniform every day and didn’t even own a suit. I knew I was going to have to be up to date in my clothing if I wanted to make a good first impression. Acquire clothing that is appropriate for the industry that you plan to enter. When you go shopping take somebody that has a good sense of style or ask the store clerks for help. If you plan it right, go when there are sales. Know the style that is worn at the office you want to work and dress one step above that for the interview. 10TakeGoodPhotosofYourself. I asked a friend/co-worker with a Digital SLR to take a few photos of me in business casual attire. I had a couple of changes of clothes because I wanted a few photos to choose from. Then, I used these on my social media sites. The key is to present a good image everywhere and having a friendly looking photo is makes for a good first impression. 11AskforFeedback. I went through several resumes before I found a style and format that fit the industry that I was looking at. It took time and it took asking for lots of feedback. I learned to never be afraid to ask people in the industry you want to work in to give you feedback on your resume. Some feedback is more valuable than others, but getting lots of feedback will help you tighten up your resume and marketing of yourself. 12AsktobeIntroduced. Countless times I have asked, “Would you be willing to introduce me to.....” or “Could you introduce me to your contacts at (name of firm)?” Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t but more times than not, people are willing to help. Don’t be afraid to ask. 13Listen. Listening seems like such as basic skill but it must be practiced more and more with every person you meet. I have found that I have to stop the chatter going on in my head (do they like me? does my breath stink? etc. ) and really focus on the person stand- ing in front to me. As a result, really listening helps me come across as personable, approachable and sincere. All characteristics that people want to work with. Spend time really listening to others and not solely focusing on your agenda. 14Share. Share your goals and your hopes with anybody that is willing to listen. Share what type of work you hope to be in. Share about yourself, your hobbies, what gets you excited about life. I have found people look for ways to relate and connect and your shar- ing gives them an insight to make connections for you. But be sure to practice listening too! (refer to lesson 13). w
- 5. usafa.org bonus content 15Userecruiters…ordon’t. There are a number of recruiting firms out there for transitioning military members. I’ve learned that you must do the research first. Does this firm match based on geographic preference? Have they worked with companies that you are interested in? Do they work with industries that interest you? I did a lot of research to find out if the recruiting firm is going to line up my goals before I went with them. Most recruiters are great people, who really want to help veterans find a good career. Using recruiters is neither good nor bad, but you have to decide if they move you closer to your goals or not. 16TakeNetworkingtrips. If you are planning to move to a different geographic area plan to take 2-4 networking trips. For three months, every month I have taken a trip to the location I plan to move to. The objective of the trip was solely to meet people and expand my network in that area. I set 3-5 days aside during a week and fly out, stay with friends and go meet people. Before going, I set up informational interviews so that I had an agenda for the week. I kept my week fairly open in case other meetings pop up, and they did. Afterwards I wrote thank you cards and asked to be introduced to more people. This has proven to be a great ways to expand my network, share my story and learn about the job market that I plan to enter. 17Spendtimewithfamily. Transitioning from the military is demanding work. One of the goals my wife and I set was to plan quality time with the family during our transition. We knew it was important to take time away from the job hunt and have conversa- tions that are not just about finding work. I’ve learned to plan quality time with friends and family every now and again to get my mind off of the job hunt and take a step back from the stress. 18Nevertoolatetoapologize. Over time it may become necessary to reach out to contacts who you are not sure where you stand with. I have found it is never too late to apologize or own up for any wrong-doing. Allow any grievances to pass, you wouldn’t want to miss out on a great opportunity because you couldn’t reconcile the past. It’s never too late and holding onto those grudges could cost you more than those grudges are worth. 19Stayorganized. It is so important to stay organized through the process. Keep a good filing system for your resumes and applications and write down who you have spoken to and where you have applied. I have seen that as more opportunities come into the picture, keeping track of which tailored resume I sent them and what my marketing pitch was is important. 20It’sagame. The process of transitioning from the military is exciting and can open new doors and opportunities. I have found that it is easy to put pressure on myself to find the right job but really this is just a game. I’ve learned to play hard and have fun with it. 21Payitforward. I have been so grateful for the times that people are willing to introduce me to somebody else. I recognize that it takes effort and that they don’t have to. As I’ve continued to network, I’ve learned that I really enjoy paying it forward and helping others along the way. 21LessonslearnedAfterleavingtheMilitary