Transitioning from the military can be an unsettled and challenging time. This course will help transitioning military members, and their spouses, transform their post-military experience by designing the life they truly want. In this course we will talk about common transition pitfalls and walk you through the process of analyzing your personal motivations, prioritizing your career pursuits, and creating a career journey map. You will also evaluate your personal priorities, learn to utilize your network effectively, and select the best opportunities for employment and growth for you.
This course is built in partnership with Coursera and the USO Pathfinder Transition Program. The USO Pathfinder Program extends the USO experience to active duty, Reserve, National Guard, and military spouses by offering professional development services throughout the duration of the service member or military spouse’s career, as well as when they transition out of the military and settle into their new communities. As part of the program, USO Transition Specialists help you develop a personalized Action Plan while also helping you take full advantage of services and resources that are the best fit for you. Throughout this course, we'll share USO Pro Tips to highlight key points that'll help accelerate your transformation.
No matter where you are in your transition process, this course will help you ease the transition and accelerate your transformation by assisting you in focusing your efforts and creating a plan that works for you. By the time you finish this course you will have a plan to make your military transition a transformation.
Welcome to Making Your Military Transition a Transformation, you are right on time! This course is built in partnership with Coursera and the USO Pathfinder Transition Program. The USO Pathfinder Program extends the USO experience to active duty, Reserve, National Guard, and military spouses by offering professional development services throughout the duration of the service member or military spouse’s career, as well as when they transition out of the military and settle into their new communities. As part of the program, USO Transition Specialists help you develop a personalized Action Plan while also helping you take full advantage of services and resources that are the best fit for you. Throughout this course, we'll share USO Pro Tips to highlight key points that'll help accelerate your transformation. Let's get started!
In this module we will discuss the purpose and benefits of this course and meet your instructor, Cory Boatwright. Then we will move into discussion of potential pitfalls during military transition.
Avoidable Transition Pitfalls: Not Having a Plan and Flawed Confidence•5 minutes
Avoidable Transition Pitfalls: Having a Closed Network•3 minutes
Avoidable Transition Pitfalls Summary•1 minute
4 readings•Total 45 minutes
Welcome to the Course!•5 minutes
Turn Limiting Beliefs into Empowering Beliefs•20 minutes
The Importance of Planning Your Transformation Journey•10 minutes
Measuring your confidence•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
Module 1: Knowledge Check•15 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 20 minutes
Meet and Greet•10 minutes
Pitfalls •10 minutes
Transformation Part 1: Understanding Self
Module 2•4 hours to complete
Module details
In Transformation Part 1: Understanding Self you will spend time in self reflection. We will discuss some of the topics that are important to understanding yourself and then you will engage in activities to help you identify your core values and beliefs, create personal mission and vision statements to guide your transition choices, and better understand your purpose and what makes life meaningful to you.
A special message from the USO: As you embark on your transformation journey, we want to take a moment to thank you for your service and sacrifices for this country.
Introduction to Transformation Part 1: Understanding Self•1 minute
Identifying Core Values•4 minutes
What are Your Beliefs?•4 minutes
Determining your Purpose•3 minutes
Introduction to Transformation Part 1: Understanding Self Summary•1 minute
2 readings•Total 160 minutes
Core Values, Personal Mission and Vision Statements•150 minutes
Determining Your Purpose•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Mission and Vision Statement Review•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 15 minutes
Mission and Vision Statement Process•15 minutes
Transformation Part 2: Understanding Occupations
Module 3•5 hours to complete
Module details
In Transformation Part 2: Understanding Occupations you will get an overview of the civilian workforce by comparing organizational roles in military and civilian communities, differentiating titles and levels across industries and companies, determining the opportunities most aligned with your values and beliefs, and discussing tasks and skills necessary for success.
Introduction to Transformation Part 2: Understanding Occupations•1 minute
Functional Roles Within an Organization•5 minutes
What Kind of Professional Do You Want To Be?•8 minutes
Titles and Levels •5 minutes
Compensation•6 minutes
Military Industry and Defense Contracting Opportunities•4 minutes
Civilian Workforce and Entrepreneur Opportunities•4 minutes
Do what is meaningful to YOU!•3 minutes
Know what you need to Know•3 minutes
Transformation Part 2: Understanding Occupations Summary•1 minute
5 readings•Total 210 minutes
Functional Roles•10 minutes
Titles and Levels•10 minutes
Compensation•10 minutes
Figuring Out What You Want to Do•120 minutes
Assessing Hard Skills and Soft Skills•60 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 3 Knowledge Check•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
New Discussion Prompt•10 minutes
Transformation Part 3: Understanding How
Module 4•5 hours to complete
Module details
In Transformation Part 3: Understanding How you will explore the pathways of an employee, student, and entrepreneur, and the pros and cons each. You will also discuss a hybrid option using two or more paths at the same time.
Introduction to Transformation Part 3: Understanding How•1 minute
Potential Paths•6 minutes
Entrepreneur and Hybrid Paths•2 minutes
Supercharge Your Skills•4 minutes
Recognize Your Strengths•3 minutes
Identify your Limits•2 minutes
In's and Out’s of Education•3 minutes
Alternatives to Degree Programs•3 minutes
Transformation Part 3: Understanding How Summary•1 minute
5 readings•Total 180 minutes
Employee Path•10 minutes
Student Path•10 minutes
Entrepreneuer and Hybrid Paths•10 minutes
Assess, Hone, and Obtain Skills•30 minutes
Your Career Journey Map•120 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Career Journey Map•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Capabilities and Constraints•10 minutes
Transformation Part 4: Understanding Where and When
Module 5•6 hours to complete
Module details
In Transformation Part 4: Understanding Where and When you will be doing some research about "where". Where do you want to live? Where do you want to work? Which industry? Which company/organization? Where do you want to go to school? Which institution? You will evaluate your priorities by examining your geographical constraints, discussing opportunity and environmental considerations for decision making, and identifying considerations for choosing your separation date, the "when".
Introduction to Transformation Part 4: Understanding Where and When•1 minute
Location, location, location!•2 minutes
Timing is Everything•4 minutes
Transformation Part 4: Understanding Where and When Summary•1 minute
2 readings•Total 270 minutes
Researching Location•240 minutes
Timing•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Refining Your Career Journey Map•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Location and Timing Discussion•10 minutes
Social Strategies for Transformation
Module 6•4 hours to complete
Module details
In Introduction to Social Strategies for Transformation you will get tactical tips and best practices on effectively leveraging your network by developing successful strategies for career conversations, networking strategies, and crafting your professional online presence.
What's included
6 videos4 readings1 assignment1 peer review
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 15 minutes
Introduction to Social Strategies for Transformation •1 minute
Career Conversations•2 minutes
Networking•3 minutes
Your Online Presence•5 minutes
A Look at LinkedIn•4 minutes
Social Strategies for Transformation Summary•1 minute
4 readings•Total 145 minutes
Career Conversations•45 minutes
Networking •60 minutes
Your Online Presence•30 minutes
LinkedIn Tips and Best Practices•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Informational Interview Assignment•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
LinkedIn Profile•60 minutes
Practical Strategies for Transformation: Getting the Job You Want
Module 7•6 hours to complete
Module details
In Practical Strategies for Transformation: Getting the Job You Want you will learn how to design an effective resume, strategies for effective job applications, three effective techniques for interviews, and successful communication strategies.
Introduction to Practical Strategies: Getting the Job You Want•1 minute
How to Look GREAT on Paper•2 minutes
Resume Best Practices•4 minutes
Cover Letter Tips•6 minutes
Tips for Turning Applications into Offers•4 minutes
More Tips for Turning Applications into Offers•3 minutes
Referrals Rule!•4 minutes
Ace the Interview•4 minutes
The STAR Method for Interviews•2 minutes
Show Don’t Tell•3 minutes
Communication is the Key!•4 minutes
Practical Strategies for Transformation Summary•1 minute
5 readings•Total 180 minutes
How is a resume different from a job application?•10 minutes
Resume and Cover Letters•90 minutes
Storytelling•30 minutes
STAR Method•30 minutes
Show Don't Tell•20 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 7 Knowledge Check•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 90 minutes
Resume and Cover Letter Review•90 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 20 minutes
Practice Your Interview Techniques•20 minutes
Transformation is a Journey, Not a Destination
Module 8•2 hours to complete
Module details
In Transformation is a Journey, Not a Destination you will learn how to continue your personal evolution once you've landed that job and how to find ways to continue your life of service once you separate from the military.
You'll get some effective strategies to integrate into your new job, explore ways to make meaning, find opportunities to continue your transformation, and consider ways to assist others with their transition journey.
What's included
8 videos5 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 22 minutes
Introduction to Transformation is a Journey, not a Destination•1 minute
Starting Right•3 minutes
Creating Your Roadmap•2 minutes
Make Your Job Meaningful•3 minutes
Finding Your Niche•3 minutes
Continue Your Transformation•4 minutes
Career Exploration•3 minutes
Pass It On•3 minutes
5 readings•Total 85 minutes
Start off Right•45 minutes
Employee Resource Groups•10 minutes
Finding your Niche•10 minutes
Having a Growth Mindset•10 minutes
Reassessing Confidence•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 8 Knowledge Check•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
How will you pass it on?•10 minutes
Instructor
Instructor ratings
Instructor ratings
We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.