5 Tips for Transferring Your Military Board Interview Skills to the Civilian Sector
When interviewing for civilian jobs, it can often feel intimidating if you are just starting your job search. However, as a student veteran, you likely already have a similar experience in your service background: military board interviews.
Below are five ways to apply that know-how in helping to land your next job.
Get Advice Beforehand
Military Board Interview:
Get advice from superiors who have gone through the process before.
Civilian Interview Transfer:
Reach out to your network of veterans who transitioned already and learn from them how they made the
Have an expert review your resume or cover letter. Career Services offers this service.
Talk with people at the company or within the industry you're seeking to join to gain helpful insights.
Prepare
Military Board Interview:
Prepare the logistics and your appearance. Determine what office to show at, driving directions or time to travel, and understand your reporting procedure. Check your ribbon rack, dry clean your uniform if necessary, and groom accordingly with a fresh haircut.
Civilian Interview Transfer:
Check the format of the interview. Is it in-person or on Zoom? Factor in if you need to travel to a location, park, or get childcare coverage.
Set up your Zoom account and the area where the interview will occur. Ensure you have a non-distracting background and a strong internet connection.
Determine what is appropriate to wear based on the organization's culture and the position level.
Learn a bit about the person or team who will interview you. Who will they be? What are their positions? What values and principles help guide and determine the organization's decisions?
Anticipate Questions
Military Board Interview:
You anticipate that some questions will revolve around leadership, working on a team, what you know about the next role, job expectations, and any questions you may have.
Civilian Interview Transfer:
Be ready with examples of these same questions, including being prepared to answer about a time when you failed and how you learned or grew from that experience.
Remember STAR, situation, task, action, and result if you get stuck on how to answer a question about your experience:
S - the difficulty of the SITUATION
T - the complexity of the TASK
A - the significance of your ACTION
R - the success of the RESULT
Use O*NET OnLine to prepare ahead of time a concise way to translate military actions into a civilian context.
Maintain Composure
Military Board Interview:
It is normal to feel nervous and stressed, but overall you can exude confidence and composure based on your thorough preparations.
Civilian Interview Transfer:
Remember that increased preparation can lead to increased confidence. Your training kicks in the moment you need it.
Exude professionalism. Maintain eye contact, speak slowly and clearly, keep your phone put away and free from distractions, and smile.
Visualize the Process
Military Board Interview:
You may have trained for mission planning, dry runs, or emergency conditioning by visualizing the details and contingencies regarding every phase. You may have used this helpful technique for a board interview.
Civilian Interview Transfer:
Close your eyes and envision the last board interview or interview you had in a military setting.
Describe it in your mind to the most significant detail possible; let it sink in.
Identify what you did well, what you didn't, what was easy, what was difficult, and how you handled the stress.
Write down what you can learn from that and transfer it to your following interview in the civilian sector.
Before you interview, make sure you’ve built a compelling resume.