Some people leave the military with a crystal-clear plan for their civilian career.
Others… not so much.
(I definitely did not).
If you’re feeling unsure about what you want to do next, you’re far from alone—and you’re not behind.
Transition is the perfect time to explore.
The key is doing it with a bit of structure.
Here’s how to start figuring it out 👇
Talk to People Living the Life You’re Considering
It sounds simple, but it works.
Pick a role or industry you’re curious about—whether it’s project management, IT, HR, real estate, or something else—and find someone who’s doing it.
Then ask:
- What does your day-to-day look like?
- What surprised you about this job?
- What do you love (and not love) about it?
- What skills matter most?
Not only will you learn what the job really looks like—you might find a mentor or even your next SkillBridge host.
Do a Test Drive Project
You don’t have to wait for an internship to try something out.
- Curious about tech? Build a simple app or website.
- Interested in content creation? Start a blog, YouTube channel, or write a LinkedIn post about your transition.
- Thinking about consulting? Offer to help a local nonprofit or small business with operations, logistics, or planning.
Mini-projects give you hands-on experience and a great story to tell when you start interviewing.
Pay Attention to Energy
This one’s a bit less tactical—but just as important.
As you explore roles, notice two things:
1 - how energized the person you’re talking to is about what they do (could be a red flag or green flag for you)
2 - what energizes you about what they’re describing
- Are you more excited after a call with someone in cybersecurity?
- Do you lose track of time when helping someone organize a plan or system?
Those moments are clues.
Write them down.
Think in Terms of Skills, Not Just Jobs
Sometimes, you don’t know what the job is yet—but you know the skills you want to use.
Start by listing out what you’re good at and what you enjoy:
- Leading teams
- Problem-solving under pressure
- Analyzing data
- Coordinating logistics
Then search for roles that use those skills.
You’ll often discover careers you didn’t even know existed.
DON’T WAIT for Clarity Before You Act
Here’s the truth: Most people figure it out as they go.
It may seem like everyone else getting out knows what they want to do next. But that is definitely not the case.
It’s OK if you don’t have everything mapped out.
You don’t need to know your dream job before you take the next step.
You don’t need to know exactly what you’ll be good at.
Sometimes figuring out what you DON’T want to do is just as valuable as what you DO want to do.
Exploration is progress.
🔎 Ready to Explore? Try These SkillBridge Internships
- 🔧 Service Now - Home Inspector Entrepreneurship (Multi-location)
If you’ve been looking to get into a field where you can use your hands while building your own business, Service Now is what you’re looking for. They’ll teach you the ins and outs of the home inspection insurance business while teaching you how to stand up your own small business. This is for anyone that dreams of building something great with much lower risk! View Internships
- 💼 Safire - Electric Vehicle Charging - Product Manager
Break into tech while building something awesome. Safire is making electric vehicle charging as convenient as going to the gas station. Help them build the infrastructure of the future while learning what it really means to be in tech. View Internships
The path forward doesn’t have to be perfect.
It just has to be yours.
Keep exploring.
Keep asking.
Keep trying things.
And remember—we’re here to help you figure it out along the way.
Kathy + Andrew Career PCS