Strategic Plan Project Portfolio Manager | Project Management Board Member | Master of finding the best solutions | Top Program Management Voice
Ok, so I’m talking today about what not to do when transitioning to a project management career from the military (or other career). ❌ Use the same resume for every project management job. Each job is different and you need to tailor your resume to the specific job. There is likely some industry experience requested. Tailor your resume to what is specifically requested (and nothing else). ❌ Apply blindly to project manager jobs right out of the military. You can be much more effective by joining your local professional organization (I recommend your local chapter of Project Management Institute). Network and develop relationships, volunteer and show your capability (we aren’t usually great at explaining it on a resume right away). Then apply where you have someone that can refer you or provide a recommendation. ❌ Try to transition to project management without certifications. Look, it’s possible to land a project management job without certifications, but if you don’t know the framework that is expected in corporate industry, and you can’t speak the language, you are going to fail. A PMP cert shows you can walk the walk- and studying for it is going to give you a new perspective on how to do project management, teach you the industry language, and provide you the expected framework. ❌ Try for too high of a role. So, I don’t know your actual experience level. But you are going to need to be confident enough in your civilian project management abilities to back up your talk. If you can’t back up the position you are applying to, then you fail and look bad, you may lose your job. Alternatively, you can choose to take a slightly lower position where you are likely to excel and then create a trajectory for your career that will launch you to the moon! Only you know where to start. ❌ Rule out government jobs. Here’s the thing. I totally ruled out government jobs. I didn’t want to work for the federal government (they are slow and bureaucratic) or the state government (maybe I’ll move one day and it looks like they are trying to tax government employee pensions even when they move out of state). Turns out, I only delayed myself from getting hired. I delayed 3-4 months to apply for federal jobs and waited until I was within 2 months of retirement. Then I was ultimately hired for a federal job and I feel like it’s a good fit. Keep your options open. (Also they have great benefits!) Ok, so there’s my list of my mistakes. Do you want to talk specifics? Send me a message. I’m here to help.
Process Manager, Project Manager, VP of Community Outreach - PSPMI
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