How to transition from military to corporate america
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EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with Joshua David (JD) Elliott, a former military member who is currently a headhunter for Lucas Group, a Korn Ferry Company and a Podcast Host for the podcast The Military Corporate Survival Guide. In this conversation JD discusses his transition from the military to Corporate America and provides advice and strategies to other military members that are looking to do the same. 

QUOTES

“Another struggle I had was the idea that it's okay, if I mess up. Because in the entrepreneurial world, for example, or in the corporate world, whatever's going on, you learn through failure, you get so much more data from failure than you do from success. However, in the military, if you fail, there's a chance someone's going to die.” - JD Elliott

“[When it comes to pursuing further education] it really comes down to what they want to do from a salary perspective. Right now, it's a hot job environment. It really doesn't matter. And when I'm looking at MBAs, for example, unless it's Harvard, Yale, Princeton, I don't advertise you as having an MBA, I advertise your military experience, because there's a lot of people with MBAs, that are just not worth it. That's really what it comes down to.” - JD Elliott

“When I had interviews with, you know, Fortune 100 companies. Looking back, I see now that I came across as a bit on the cocky and arrogant side, which is not okay. Corporations are looking for someone who is teachable, who is hungry, and is willing to learn. So the biggest mistake, and I've had people that have made it to final rounds of interviews, and every one that failed, has come down to the fact that they thought highly of their skill sets more than they should have.” - JD Elliott

TIMESTAMPS

[1:00] Meet JD

[2:19] How JD pivoted from military to Corporate America

[4:26] Challenges that JD faced from pivoting from military to entrepreneurship 

[7:10] How JD’s experience in the military made him more effective in Corporate America

[8:11] Common challenges and fears military members have when they try to get into corporate and solutions to resolve them

[14:47] Discussing whether military members that want to get into Corporate America should go back to school and further their education first

[16:12] Common reasons why military members leave the military to pursue a corporate career

[17:20] Roles military members should look at right away to ease their transition into a corporate career

[19:49] The benefits for military members to use a recruitment agency to land a corporate role

[20:45] Common interview mistakes military members make

[24:51] Why some military members should stay in the military and not make the switch to corporate

[27:37] JD’s experience with the military and why he decided to join

[28:46] Why you should consider joining the military

[30:22] Learning lessons that JD had throughout his career and what advice he would give someone to grow their income and live a more fulfilling life

[33:54] Strategies on how not to overspend

[35:47] A career challenge JD is currently working on, and what he is doing to overcome it to become who he truly wants to be

[36:59] Contacting JD

[38:20] Outro

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

• Military to Corporate The Survival Guide Podcast)

• Chan With A Plan)

• Chan With A Plan Facebook Group)