Financial and Career Goal Setting

Leaving the military to become a veteran can be a very disorienting time. Not only does this change mean losing a job, but also a home, in fact an entire way of life. With financial and career goal setting, veterans can make this transition a little easier, and get themselves off and running in their new lives. Which Comes First? Should veterans focus on financial goals first, or career? Shouldn't they worry about having a new career, because this is the first and most viable way to make money? Leaving the military and throwing yourself right into the work force isn't always the best thing for a veteran. Everyone's adjustment time varies, and not all post-military professionals will adapt so quickly to a non-military lifestyle. For some, the first goal setting step to take might be a trip to the unemployment office. Because the military is a branch of the government, veterans can enjoy unemployment benefits with little difficulty. They will simply have to take their post-military separation papers to any local unemployment office and apply. After this initial visit, most are able to request (and cease) their unemployment checks by phone. This is a good way to get a little financial support while waiting to enter the civilian job market. Job Hunting Once some of the financial strain is off, veterans can focus on their career goals. First, post-military professionals should self-evaluate to learn what they want to do now that they're no longer active military. It's very easy to apply skills learned in the service to a civilian job market, and many acknowledge that the military's training is unparalleled. Veterans should have no trouble finding a place in civilian employment. The hardest part of career goal setting is simply the evaluation process, finding out what you want the future to bring. To help you with the evaluation process, ProjectCareer and AnalyzeMyCareer will help you determine your skill set and find you positions that you would enjoy and that you could do. Think about where you'd like to end up, and then think about the steps you can take to get there. Set a new goal each day. Perhaps one day, you'll get your resume updated. Always include military service on a resume, as most employers are quite impressed by this sort of experience. Remember when you get your resume updated, using a resume service like ResumeEdge will help you rise above the competition. The next day, go through the paper or look for jobs online at Monster. When each day is only one small goal, many things get accomplished. The military provides vocational rehabilitation and career help to all its veterans. One-on-one counseling sessions, free of charge, are offered to any veteran who wants help getting back on the right career path. These professionals will talk with each veteran about what skills they have, how they'd like to apply them, and how to complete their individual goals. Financial and Career Goals By focusing on smaller goals, a bigger picture begins to emerge. Think of each goal as a stepping stone, taking you closer and closer to the prize (the big goal) at the end. When you use your military training and benefits to complete financial and career goals, you will succeed. Comments (0) Show/Hide comments Write comment Show/Hide comment form Name Email Website Title Comment Add Comment