How to Land a Civilian Job After Military Service, with Angie Condon

Making the shift from military service to the civilian workforce isn’t easy. According to Find Your Dream Job guest Angie Condon, one of the biggest challenges is letting go of rank structures and moving from a team-first mindset to advocating for your own career growth. Angie highlights common mistakes veterans make when entering the civilian job market, including not preparing early enough, relying on military hierarchy in corporate settings, and struggling to clearly communicate their value to employers.

Her advice is to start your job search at least a year before leaving the military, take advantage of transition assistance programs, and connect with veteran-focused employee resource groups. Angie also stresses the importance of finding an employer whose values align with your own. Veterans may need to accept an initial step down in responsibility, but their strong leadership skills, reliability, and discipline often set them up for rapid advancement. With the right approach, Angie says, veterans can turn their military experience into a powerful advantage — and often rise more quickly than their civilian peers.

About Our Guest:

Angie Condon is the senior military relations manager at Western Governors University.

Resources in This Episode:

• Connect with Angie on LinkedIn

Transcript

Find Your Dream Job, Episode 519:

How to Land a Civilian Job After Military Service, with Angie Condon

Airdate: September 17, 2025

Mac Prichard:

This is Find Your Dream Job, the podcast that helps you get hired, have the career you want, and make a difference in life.

I’m your host, Mac Prichard. I’m also the founder of Mac’s List. It’s a job board in the Pacific Northwest that helps you find a fulfilling career.

Every Wednesday, I talk to a different expert about the tools you need to get the work you want.

Many veterans find it challenging to get a civilian job after serving in the military. The transition isn’t always an easy one.

Angie Condon is here to talk about how to land a civilian job after military service.

She’s the senior military relations manager at Western Governors University. Angie is also a veteran spouse and has deep experience in corporate HR, higher education, and military transition.

She joins us from Port Angeles, Washington.

Well, Angie, let’s jump right into it. What’s the biggest challenge you see that veterans face when they leave the military and look for a civilian job?

Angie Condon:

I think there’s a confidence issue. Oftentimes, they’re kind of stuck with that military mindset, and that they’re so very different than others out there. I really want them to focus –– the veterans, spouses, transitioning service members. I want them to focus on their ability to contribute to the civilian workforce.

They’re not that much different, but they do need to let go of that military mindset. It’s a little, it’s not different, but different.

Mac Prichard:

Let’s talk about that. When you say military mindset, what do you have in mind? What does that look like?

Angie Condon:

Sometimes our military folks are stuck in their rank. And when I say that, you might have someone that’s junior enlisted who feels that they can’t contribute, that they can’t speak up because they need to wait to be asked.

I recommend that they go ahead and be who they are, know that they have the ability deep inside to contribute, and to be willing to speak up.

And the same goes for our senior officers and senior enlisted. Sometimes you need to let go of that rank because you might be reporting to someone that was previously in the military and now they’re a COO and they used to be in the military.

They might have been an E5, which is sometimes hard for our folks. But when you let that go, you’re able to just go ahead and slip in. The strength that our military folks bring is their ability to adapt.

Mac Prichard:

Well, I want to talk more about that as well. You described the military mindset. You also mentioned that a challenge could be a lack of confidence. And that surprises me, Angie, because I would, you know, people who work in the military struck me as very confident. What’s going on there?

Angie Condon:

They’re confident in their roles, but this is completely new. This is completely foreign to them in some cases. And they just need to change that mindset that they’re no longer going to be in the military, but then that kind of puts a little bit of a wallop with regard to their confidence.

They’re feeling that they’re not going to be able to compete. But in reality, when someone in the military might have to step down a little bit in a role, they might have been a senior leader, but now they’re going to come in as an entry-level analyst.

That can be a little bit hard to take, and that can play on someone’s confidence. However, they do need to know that what they learned in the past and what they bring to the table will allow them to advance more quickly than their counterparts in the civilian world.

Mac Prichard:

What misconceptions do you find that the people you work with who are leaving the military have about the civilian workforce?

Angie Condon:

I think they think that it’s completely foreign, that it’s very different, that no one will understand them, that someone that is in the civilian workforce will think that everybody leaving the military has some sort of PTSD. And that’s just not true. There are a lot of our military service members who bring so much to the table.

And employers find that once they hire someone from the military, those people are there. They’re there on time. They’re committed. They’re reliable. They’re self-starters. They’re everything an employer wants.

Mac Prichard:

What mistakes do you see veterans who are looking for work in the civilian sector for the first time make when they’re doing their job search?

Angie Condon:

I think lack of preparation. I think if you’re planning on getting out, say, in a year, now’s the time to start. Start researching. Go to one of the transition assistance programs that are on the military bases. Those folks, the counselors there, are there to help you.

They’re going to get you into some of the programs that are out there that are great, that will give you either a certification, a license, or a skill. There are trade organizations, such as commercial driving schools.

There are organizations like the Institute for Veterans and Military Families that will give you a certification, and there are other organizations like Four Block that allow you to meet employers of different corporations and be able to have that intimate conversation. And know that you’re not so different, and know that you have something to contribute.

Mac Prichard:

Let’s talk about how to get that job in the civilian world. You’ve left the military. You’ve done the preparation that you were describing a moment ago. And you’ve got some specific tips that you share with the veterans you work with.

And one you already touched on, but I’d like to dig deeper into it. And that is to let go of the military. What do you mean by that? Say more, Angie.

Angie Condon:

The best thing about the military is the camaraderie. Everybody that enters the military is learning leadership skills from the get-go. So you can be leading your team while you’re in the military. And when I say let go of the military, I mean, you have to focus on the individual now. Focus on the I and not the team.

Everything when you are writing your resume, it’s not a we thing. It’s a me thing now. People are focused on getting the unit to accomplish their mission, their goal, but now you have your own individual mission and goal. And that’s to get a job. And getting a job is a job in and of itself.

Mac Prichard:

What’s your best advice for doing that? Because that’s a big change in mindset, going from thinking about the team to thinking about yourself. What’s one piece of advice you give veterans who might be struggling with that?

Angie Condon:

Talk to your resources, utilize your resources, and get to know them. Attend networking events and network with people that are out there. Ask others that have already separated how they separated and how they entered into the workforce.

Seek when you’re out there looking at companies, find out if they have employee resource groups that are military focused, and you can talk to them. You’ll be able to retain that piece of the military, but start integrating into a civilian workforce.

Mac Prichard:

Another tip you have for veterans who are coming into the civilian workforce after serving in the military is to recognize that military rank doesn’t matter anymore. And you touched on this, how rank can affect people as they come back to work in the civilian workforce.

Why is that important to recognize that rank doesn’t matter when you’re coming back into the civilian workforce?

Angie Condon:

I think that sometimes it might hold like a junior enlisted. It might hold you back when you keep thinking that you’re not equal to somebody else that you’re working with in the civilian workforce. Leaders will often say, “Just call me Matt,” or Mike or Jim, and instead of Sergeant so and so or Colonel, Colonel so and so.

They want you to call them by their first name, let go of the rank, and know that people want to be recognized as people. There’s a really good thing about understanding rank and leadership, but it’s no longer an authoritarian type of organization. It’s so different.

People are working with each other in a different way. Organizational structure, there might be a certain structure, but the organization might be more collaborative in the way that people talk to each other.

Mac Prichard:

Well, let’s pause there, Angie. We’re going to take a break. When we come back, we’ll continue our conversation with Angie Condon about how to land a civilian job after military service. Stay with us.

We’re back in the Mac’s List studio.

I’m talking with Angie Condon. She’s the senior military relations manager at Western Governors University.

Angie is a veteran spouse and has deep experience in corporate HR, higher education, and military transition.

And she joins us from Port Angeles in Washington.

Now, Angie, before the break, we were talking about how to land a civilian job after military service. And we talked about the challenges that veterans face after serving in the military and then coming back into the civilian workforce.

And we also began going through a list of recommendations that you have for people who are making this transition. I want to continue to go through that list.

One that really stood out for me is that you encourage veterans to make their values part of the job search. Why is this important, Angie, and what’s the best way to do this?

Angie Condon:

I think you’ve got to really think about who you are, what’s inside of you, what your values are, what you bring to the table. Knowing your values and knowing who you are will allow you to go to a company and apply to a company whose values align with yours.

And you don’t want to make the mistake of going to a company that may have completely different values. That does have a tendency to have you end up not staying at the company if their values don’t align with you.

And knowing that upfront, knowing what your values are, knowing what you bring to the table will help you. And let me just go in a little deeper with that. For instance, there was a manager that had gone to a corporation, and he found that he didn’t feel like the culture really fit with him.

People didn’t do anything at the end of the week. They didn’t do a team gathering, such as in the military, they might have a barbecue at the end of the week. And he just didn’t feel as connected.

I think he left that role in about six months, at the six-month mark. He did land another role where he felt completely connected to the organization, and he has progressed rather rapidly to beyond a director role in what he was doing.

Mac Prichard:

How do you recommend, Angie, that people get clear about the values that matter most to them, and once they know that, research the employers that are going to offer those values so there’s a good match? What have you seen work well?

Angie Condon:

There was a book that I read several years ago, and it was a Simon Sinek book. And I’m just going to say that knowing it helps you to determine who you are, what your why is.

And when you know what your why is and why you’re searching for what you’re searching for in a different role, it will help you come to alignment with who you are. And to find an organization whose values match yours, whose culture will match yours.

Mac Prichard:

It’s a great book, Simon Sinek’s Know Your Why.

That’s how you can figure out one way to know what matters. But how do you find the employer that’s going to offer what you want?

Angie Condon:

It’s about work. It’s about research. It’s about going to the website and clicking on pages. And I’ll use an example for me. I had retired from my role, and I was looking at different opportunities. And I went to a company and I started digging into that company a little bit more and I found their shareholder site.

And I looked at their shareholder site, and I found out that this company had the same values about financial literacy and their financial wherewithal. They were conservative. They were really strong in how they handled their finances.

They actually merged with a company, and they called it a merger, but they actually bought the company. And how they handled their finances, they took a stewardship role in that aligned with exactly where I was coming from.

Being a good steward of your shareholders’ dollars, your employees’ dollars, and that aligned very much with me. So, it really is just basic grassroots-type digging and looking at the company and finding out what organizations or what employee resource groups they have.

What are their values about sustainability? What do they give back to the community? If that’s important to you, it’ll be in there.

Mac Prichard:

So know the values that matter most to you and then do the homework to find the employers that align with those values so there’s a good match.

Another one of your tips for veterans who are coming into the civilian workforce is to be clear about what you offer civilian employers. How do you figure this out, and why is this a challenge for veterans?

Angie Condon:

You know, I don’t know that it’s so much of a challenge, but it’s just getting yourself into that mindset that you need to let people know they don’t know who you are. And so you’re going to have to take a pen and paper and start writing down all of the things that you’re interested in, all of the things that you’ve done and what you can bring to the table.

There’s leadership. There’s teamwork, there’s collaboration, there is being a self-starter, there’s taking initiative, not waiting to be asked to do something. There’s punctuality, that is so important. And showing up, our military folks show up, they’re committed and they’re there on day one, and they will always, they’ll be there.

Mac Prichard:

Something you touched on in the first segment, I want to return to Angie, that’s as you transition after leaving the military, you might have to take a step down.

How do you coach people on this about how to manage that and make the right choice? So you see, while you may be moving into a less responsible role, you can be confident that it will take you to where you want to go. What works when you’re coaching people?

Angie Condon:

There are so many examples of the people that I’ve worked with in the past that they’ve had to take a step down from their leadership role and enter as a generalist or an analyst in what you would call the first grade of a pay band, so to speak. And I’ve watched them advance so quickly within six months.

And I’ll use an example of a captain who had gone to this corporation, and he went in as a technology analyst, and within six months, he got promoted. And then in another six months, he became a section manager, so to speak. And then I think within two or three years, he was leading that corporation on a global project in China.

And he then became the director of the technology area for that company. So he’s a really good example. He moved quickly because he brought with him all of his experience, his commitment, all of the things that transition well into the civilian workforce.

Mac Prichard:

What would you say to somebody who might worry,” Gosh, if I take a step down or even two or three, I might not have that result. I might get stuck in a junior position and never get out.”

Angie Condon:

I think that you just have to remember that if someone were leaving, let’s say someone was a senior leader at Microsoft, they had a senior role, and they wanted to go into the military. I would ask that soldier, sailor, or airman, where would that person start? Where are they gonna start?

They’re either gonna start as an O1 or at the very beginning if they’re enlisted, if they go in as enlisted because they don’t have all of the training or the standards that the military might think they require.

So it’s kind of the same thing. You’ve got to start at one in order to advance. And as you demonstrate your ability to learn quickly, your ability to take responsibility, you’re going to advance.

And I’ve watched it time and again that the people that have gone into those roles and let it go and are willing to learn, learn the job, learn what your responsibility is, learn your unit’s responsibility or goals for the unit, and know what the goals are for the company and how all of those relate to each other.

Mac Prichard:

Terrific. Well, it’s been a great conversation, Angie. Now, tell us what’s next for you.

Angie Condon:

Well, I fly out today, actually. I’m going to be going to Colorado to an education fair at Fort Carson and just getting back on a plane.

Mac Prichard:

Terrific. Well, I know that listeners can learn more about you and your work with veterans by connecting with you on LinkedIn.

When you do reach out to Angie on LinkedIn, I hope you’ll mention that you heard her on Find Your Dream Job.

Now, Angie, given all the great advice you’ve shared today, what’s the one thing you want a listener to remember about how to land a civilian job after military service?

Angie Condon:

I think that you, as an individual, need to stay true to your North Star, your compass, and be willing to bring that to the organization. You have a lot to offer, and you’ll shine. Trust me, you will shine.

Mac Prichard:

Next week, our guest will be Tanya Romaniuk.

She’s a career counselor at Portland State University.

Tanya helps students discover their passions without sacrificing their personal health and well-being.

Looking for a job can feel overwhelming.

Especially if you think everything has to be perfect before you begin.

Giving up perfectionism not only helps you get started, it also can build your confidence, and help you find the work that fits you best.

Join us next Wednesday when Tanya Romaniuk and I talk about how to practice imperfection in your job search.

Until next time, thanks for letting us help you find your dream job.

This show is produced by Mac’s List.

Susan Thornton-Hough schedules our guests and writes our newsletter. Lisa Kislingbury Anderson manages our social media and creates our transcripts.

Our sound engineer and editor is Matt Fiorillo. And our music is by Freddy Trujillo.

This is Mac Prichard. See you next week.

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