Five dollars. That’s how I started building my relationships once I left the service, finished college, and started pursuing corporate America. Just five dollars at a time.
I’ll admit. I struggled after military service and college. I had high ambitions, a degree that I thought would take me far and I started off with a bang: selling TV sets at Circuit City.
My service to the nation, my studies in college, my great GPA all brought me to my first civilian job: TV salesman.
So I completely understand the challenges that many of you – our veterans – face when building professional relationships in a civilian environment.
Here’s the good news. Your military experience has already equipped you with valuable tools like leadership, communication, and teamwork that can help you build a strong, trust-based network for career success.
You just have to bring those to the surface.
Developing meaningful connections in this new landscape is essential—and possible—with the right approach. It’s why we developed DYPSI. The DYPSI (Discovering Your Post-Service Identity) program is designed to help veterans like you rediscover your identity and build professional relationships supporting your post-service journey.
Four Steps to Build a Strong Civilian Network
- Leverage Your Military Strengths:
Leadership, communication, and teamwork skills are your superpowers. Use them to demonstrate trustworthiness and collaboration in civilian networking. - Join Local Networking Events:
All states, yes, even Washington State, offers a variety of in-person and virtual networking events. These are great opportunities to meet tech, logistics, aerospace, or healthcare professionals and build civilian connections. - Maintain Your Military Network:
While building new relationships, don’t lose touch with your military connections. Fellow veterans can provide valuable insights, mentorship, and support as you transition to civilian life. - Follow-Up to Build Relationships:
After meeting someone new, always follow up. A simple LinkedIn message or email to express gratitude or continue the conversation can turn a casual contact into a long-lasting professional connection.
Here’s where the five dollars will set you apart. Yes, do STEP 4 for sure. But if you want to take it the next level, in that message or email, offer to buy the person a cup of coffee for 30 minutes of their time.
This is how I built my network. One cup of coffee at a time.
A Veteran Success Story
One veteran from Naval Station Everett faced uncertainty about how to network in the tech industry. After joining DYPSI, he learned to translate his military leadership and communication skills into terms that resonated with civilian professionals. He built a robust professional network in Seattle by attending local tech networking events and maintaining connections through consistent follow-up. Today, he’s thriving in a leadership role at a major tech company, thanks to his dedication and DYPSI’s guidance.
Ready to Strengthen Your Network?
Building professional relationships after military service is not just about career advancement—it’s about creating a support system for long-term success. If you’re ready to grow your network, translate your military skills, and thrive in civilian life, the DYPSI program is here to help.
What strategies have helped you build meaningful relationships after your service? Let’s discuss this in the comments.
Register now to start your journey: https://operationmilitaryfamily.com/unite-us-intake-form/.