According to the Department of Defense, roughly 200,000 military service personnel make their way to civilian life each year.
In celebration of Veterans Day, we want to highlight some of the military skills that can seamlessly transfer to the tech industry and help you stand out as a member of any development team.
Whether you served in the Air Force as an aircrew flight equipment technician or in the Navy as a logistics specialist, these skills can potentially help you find some overlap between your military duties and a successful career in tech.
1. Communication
A team of tech professionals is only as good as their communication, which means individuals with incredible communication skills are a welcome addition.
Military personnel are trained to communicate effectively and clearly with people from diverse cultures and demographics.
The ability to share ideas, listen attentively, converse, and ideate with other team members can ultimately make a team and the work environment much more productive.
2. Leadership
Leadership is of the utmost importance in the military. It helps bring groups closer together while forging the structure needed to function productively.
Whether you held a position of authority in the military or helped lead newcomers to your group, you know the value of leadership and how it can be used to take teams to the next level.
This type of experience is sought after by hiring managers and recruiters across tech and may be instrumental in helping you land a job in the industry.
3. Working Under Pressure
If you are a military veteran, there’s a big chance you know exactly what it’s like to work in high-stress environments for extended periods of time.
While the pressure you may encounter in tech will likely differ from what you’re familiar with, knowing how to work under pressure is a great skill to have under your belt.
Tech companies want individuals who can keep up with the demand for output even when facing stressful deadlines, project roadblocks, and everything else in between.
If you can keep your cool and continue to work efficiently, you’ll be a hit at your first job in tech.
4. Adaptability
In tech, things don’t always go according to plan.
Ideas may shift, due dates can bounce around, and goals can change in a split second.
As someone with military experience, who knows how to adapt to adversity and figure out different ways to get the job done when things don’t go as planned, a tech team will have a place for you.
Not to mention, your experience in problem-solving and conflict resolution would make you an attractive candidate for tech recruiters.
5. Teamwork
A tech team is composed of engineers, developers, designers, and other industry professionals who bring their best to the table in order to achieve their common goal.
If your military career has provided the opportunity to enhance your teamwork skills, allowing you to collaborate efficiently with any team member, you’ll have no trouble putting this experience to use in tech.
In fact, you can be an integral part of creating and nurturing a healthy work environment based on productive collaboration.
