Leaving the military and stepping into civvy street comes with a lot of unknowns, salary negotiation being one of them. You’re used to clear progression and pay scales.
Now? It’s the Wild West. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Your Military Experience is Worth Serious Money
First off, remember this: your military skillset is top-tier. Leadership, problem-solving, resilience, these are gold dust in the civilian world. The trick is making sure employers see it that way too. That means knowing the market, knowing your value, and knowing how to sell it.
Cracking the Salary Landscape
- Do Your Homework: Before you even think about throwing out a number, get clued up on salary benchmarks. Check out Glassdoor, Indeed, Payscale, and industry salary reports for your role and location. If you know people in your field, have a chat, but no pressure if they don’t want to share figures.
- Job Titles Are a Mess: A "manager" in one company might be an "executive" in another. Focus on responsibilities, not just titles. Networking can help, people love to spill the tea on what their company is actually like. Check out this article on networking if you need a bit of a push to get going with it.
- Know Your Worth: Combine your research with an honest assessment of your skills and experience. LinkedIn is your friend, see what people with similar backgrounds are doing. From here, you can figure out where you sit in the salary range. That’s your baseline.
- The Whole Package Matters: Salary is important, but don’t forget perks: private healthcare, gym memberships, travel allowances, flexible working. Sometimes, these make up for a slightly lower salary.
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Making Your Military Skills Work for You
- Translate Them: Hiring managers won’t always get military jargon. Be clear. Chat with other veterans in your field to see how they frame their experience. Focus on leadership, teamwork (read this, adaptability, the skills civvies love (and lack).
- Put a Number on It: "Managed logistics for operations"? Yawn. Try: "Oversaw £5M in assets and led a team of 30 under high-pressure conditions." Numbers make your experience tangible.
- Play Up the Military Mindset: Integrity, reliability, resilience, don’t assume everyone in the civilian workforce has these nailed. Highlight them.
The Art of Negotiation
- Aim High (But Be Realistic): Set your target salary slightly above your market value to leave room for negotiation.
- Confidence is Key: If they ask why you deserve that salary, be ready with facts: your experience, market rates, and the value you bring.
- Let Them Go First: If possible, get them to name a figure first, it’ll give you insight into their budget. If you have to go first, aim for the top end of your range.
- Counter offers are Fair Game: If their offer is lower than expected, negotiate. Employers expect this. If salary’s non-negotiable, push for extra perks.
Leverage Your Network
Other veterans who’ve been through this process are a goldmine of advice. Get tips, reality checks, and maybe even inside info on salary bands.
Remember: you’re not just "leaving the military" - you’re bringing a serious skillset to the civilian world. Do your homework, stand your ground, and get what you’re worth.
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