The IT Career Transition Toolkit: A Brief Manual for Military Personnel

As the demand for skilled IT professionals continues to surge, there has never been a better time for military personnel to apply their unique skill set in the technology sector. 

We understand that transitioning from military service to the IT world can be both exciting and daunting. In response to this, we present this toolkit to empower servicemen and women like yourself with the knowledge, resources, and actionable steps needed to navigate the intricacies of the IT industry.

Written in the army training style of Tasks, Conditions, and Standards, this article serves as an aid you can reference when making your IT career transition. For more in-depth guidance, check out QuickStart Military IT bootcamps and certification training. In these bootcamps, you will have access to industry-expert mentors who provide valuable insights, guidance, and advice, which can also aid in your transition and open doors to IT opportunities.

From recognizing your transferable skills to acing IT job interviews, this toolkit provides a concise strategic roadmap, empowering you to stride into the IT industry confidently.

Assess and Identify Transferable Skills

Military service endows members with a rich tapestry of experiences. In fact, certain military positions can be adapted or specialized to align with specific IT job requirements.

You can also search codes based on your branch with this website: https://www.onetonline.org/crosswalk/MOC/

That’s why a crucial first step is a thorough self-assessment. This process involves identifying and articulating the transferable skills you gained during your military tenure and understanding their significance in the IT sector.

If you are active duty, check out our guide to overcoming common barriers when pursuing an IT education even before you transfer over into the civilian tech space. 

As you complete this process, you can simultaneously enroll in IT certification training to gain more of the relevant technical skills to fill in any gaps in education while in the military and is appropriate to feature in your resume and LinkedIn profile. 

Self-Assessment of Skills for Transitioning Military Personnel

Leadership Skills

• Task: Create a detailed inventory of your leadership experiences. 
• Conditions: Identify instances where you demonstrated leadership qualities such as strategic thinking, adaptability, and the ability to inspire and guide a team. Recognize how these leadership skills can be applied in IT project management and team collaboration.
• Standards: Highlight your excellent team management, decision-making, and accountability skillsets.

Problem-Solving Skills

• Task: Document situations in which you were required to solve complex problems or overcome challenges in a military context.
• Conditions: Articulate the problem-solving methodologies employed, showcasing your ability to think critically, analyze information, and devise effective solutions. Translate these problem-solving skills into IT troubleshooting and innovation.
• Standards: Analyze the specific challenges, constraints, and resources involved in each problem-solving scenario.

Organizational Skills

• Task: Outline instances where you demonstrated organizational skills to oversee tasks and ensure mission success.
• Conditions: Catalog your ability to manage resources, coordinate activities, and maintain a structured approach to tasks. Illustrate how these organizational skills are relevant for project management and operational efficiency within IT roles.
• Standards: Understand the scale, complexity, and time constraints associated with your organizational responsibilities.

Technical Skills

• Task: Examine your military training for instances where technical expertise played a pivotal role.
• Conditions: Review the curriculum, exercises, and practical applications related to technology within your military training. Highlight specific scenarios or exercises that demonstrate your technical proficiency in areas like cybersecurity, network administration, and data analysis.
• Standards: Present a coherent narrative with concrete examples that effectively communicates the depth of your technical expertise, linking it to tangible experiences in your military training and their role in mission success.

Creating a Tailored Resume and LinkedIn profile

Having laid the groundwork for assessing your military experiences and skills, and after you’ve started to receive the necessary IT training, the next critical step in your IT career transition is the creation of an IT resume and a compelling LinkedIn profile. 

In QuickStart’s IT bootcamps, we provide career support immediately upon enrolling into the program. This is how many of our learners receive job opportunities even before completing their entire bootcamp.  

Essentially, craft a resume and profile that resonates with IT employers while also emphasizing your unique skills and experiences gained in the military. 

1. Translate Your Military Experience for IT Resume

Transform Military Titles

• Task: Turn your military titles into civilian job titles (see your branch MOS codes).
• Conditions: Understand the equivalent civilian positions and industry-accepted terminology in the IT sector. Use clear and concise language that IT employers are familiar with, avoiding jargon that may be specific to the military.
• Standards: The translated roles should accurately reflect your military responsibilities while making the resume easily understandable for civilian hiring managers.

Identify Key Achievements

• Task: Identify critical achievements and projects from your military service.
• Conditions: Select your achievements that display a range of skills, ensuring they are applicable and impactful.
• Standards: Demonstrate your leadership, problem-solving, and technical abilities.

Quantify Results

• Task: Quantify the results and tangible impact of your achievements.
• Conditions: Clearly communicate how your military roles correlate to the demands of IT positions and provide details on how you applied technical skills to overcome challenges.
• Standards: Emphasize your role in leading teams, making critical decisions, and driving mission success.

2. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Include Relevant Keywords

• Task: Include relevant keywords in your LinkedIn profile to enhance visibility.
• Conditions: Choose keywords strategically by identifying industry-specific terms, ensuring they align with the skills and competencies valued in the IT industry to attract attention from IT employers.
• Standards: Ensure that your profile is easily discoverable by recruiters searching for IT professionals.

Choose LinkedIn Photo

• Task: Choose a profile photo that presents a polished, professional image.
• Conditions: Select a high-quality image that aligns with the context of the IT sector and conveys a sense of approachability.
• Standards: Create a positive first impression to instill confidence in potential connections and employers.

Craft LinkedIn Summary

• Task: Write an impactful and comprehensive summary of your professional experience.
• Conditions: A well-crafted summary should highlight military expertise, transferable skills, and the eagerness to contribute to the IT sector.
• Standards: Convey your unique value proposition to align with IT industry expectations.

3. Request LinkedIn Recommendations

Identify Suitable Recommenders

• Task: Identify military colleagues, supervisors, or trainers to write your recommendations.
• Conditions: Select recommenders who can provide detailed and credible insights into your military performance and their relevance to the IT industry.
• Standards: Choose individuals who can vouch for your leadership, teamwork, and technical abilities.

Leverage Military Endorsements

• Task: Use endorsements from military colleagues to enhance your credibility.
• Conditions: Seek recommendations that highlight your leadership, teamwork, and technical prowess, while adding depth and authenticity to your professional profile
• Standards: Accumulate powerful reviews that reinforce your IT-related strengths in the eyes of potential employers.

Expand Professional Network  

• Task: Connect with IT professionals by actively participating in discussions and group activities.
• Conditions: Join relevant groups and engage in discussions to expand your network. 
• Standards: Establish a dynamic LinkedIn presence by connecting with professionals and showcasing your interest in the IT community.

IT Job Interview Preparation 

Now that you’ve assessed your skills and completed your resume and LinkedIn profile, it’s time to prepare for your IT job interviews. 

Beyond receiving resume and LinkedIn profile guidance, QuickStart’s Career Services also helps with your job interview preparation through one-on-one career coaching and mock interviews.

When it comes to the interview process, it’s crucial to practice presenting yourself as a well-prepared and standout candidate in the competitive IT job market. To find out more detailed examples of how to strategically communicate military experience in interviews, see our article on leveraging your military experience to stand out in the IT job market.

Identify Question Types 

• Task: Research common types of IT interview questions, including technical, situational, and behavioral inquiries.
• Conditions: Understand the nuances of each question type and their relevance in the IT interview context.
• Standards: Use these IT interview questions to articulate your experiences and skills confidently.

Practice Mock Interviews

• Task: Participate in mock interviews with peers, mentors, or career coaches.
• Conditions: Treat every mock interview like it's the real thing by simulating the conditions of an actual job interview.
• Standards: Seek feedback to refine your answers and address areas that may need improvement

Project Confidence with Professional Communication

• Task: Present yourself confidently and competently in an IT interview setting.
• Conditions: Be aware of your body language and tone of voice when communicating your military experience. 
• Standards: Feature your military background as a strength in IT interviews.

A Step-By-Step Transition

Planning and executing a successful military-to-IT career transition can be challenging. But with the right tools and training, you can know what to expect in this process.

Armed with transferable skills, a compelling resume, an extensive network, and interview aptitude, military personnel like yourself possess the essential elements for a successful transition. 

As you step into the IT industry, you bring not just your expertise but also your unwavering commitment and discipline. Get a head start in filling the IT workforce voids by enrolling in one of our IT bootcamps or certification courses. Talk to one of our military experts to see the best training for you based on your service expertise and personal interests.