What does it take for a military veteran to translate years of service into a civilian career and what are employers getting wrong? In this episode, Kevin Cameron sits down with Wendi Wray of Beyond the Military, a veteran and career coach bridging the gap between military experience and the civilian workforce.
Wendi breaks down the language barrier veterans face, how to reframe military skills into corporate terminology, and why the "we" to "I" shift is one of the most important changes a veteran can make on their resume and in interviews.
Key Takeaways
Transitioning from military to civilian work is a full life transition, not just a career change. Swap military jargon for civilian language — "compliance" and "risk management" over "maintaining readiness." Shift from "we" to "I" to take clear ownership of your results.
Start your LinkedIn presence at least six months before leaving service. The Hiring Our Heroes fellowship gives veterans a six-month placement with civilian companies before they leave service. Start with what drives you, not just what your experience matches.
Episode Highlights
Why hiring managers struggle to evaluate veterans who haven't translated their experience. How a commander title signals four-plus years of leadership to a civilian recruiter. The difference between enlisted and officer career paths and why it matters for your job search. Why on-site or hybrid work supports a smoother transition. Wendi's intake framework: passion first, then skills, then role match.
Timestamps
00:01 — Introduction: Wendi Wray and Beyond the Military
00:58 — Is the job market just as tough for veterans?
01:08 — The civilian adjustment and the language barrier
03:58 — How Wendi helps veterans translate their experience
09:31 — Military terms and their civilian equivalents
11:00 — Removing jargon and adding measurable results
13:07 — The "we" vs "I" problem in resumes and interviews
13:51 — How employers can read an untranslated veteran resume
19:41 — The six-month transition window and talent pipelining
20:40 — Hiring Our Heroes: the fellowship programme
25:25 — Wendi's intake process and first 30-minute call
30:11 — Interview prep: building a story toolkit
34:43 — Wendi's why
Connect With Wendi
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendiwray/
1-1 Clarity Call: https://womenveteranscareercoach.com/claritycall
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Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/
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