The time that you spend in the military can come in handy when you decide to retire and look for a full-time job. Though you might assume that you need to go back to school and get an MBA to work in the business industry, there are some positions that will value the skills you developed in the military over a college degree. These jobs pay more than you earned in the military too. Before you complete your service, take a look at 10 great business jobs for former military personnel that you might qualify for based on your unique skills.
1. Business Development Manager
A business development manager is someone responsible for helping a company develop and grow its business. You might work for a company that sells products to other companies and do cold calling to find companies in need of those products, or you might work for a company that sells direct to consumers and track down those willing to purchase those things. Though the average salary for a business development manager varies between locations, the median salary for these managers is around $70,100 a year, according to PayScale.
2. Capture Manager
Companies that sell products and market services use a number of methods to inform others about those good and services. As a capture manager, you will step up once a salesperson makes a potential sale and hooks a new customer. Capture managers often work for construction companies that make bids in the hopes of landing a job. You might create a budget that shows how much the labor and materials will cost that you then use to bid on that job.
3. Chief Information Officer
A chief information officer, also called a CIO, is usually someone who serves as the head of the entire information technology department. Instead of spending a lot of time creating products and checking on the computers and other tech products used by employees, you will oversee the department to ensure that everyone does their jobs. A CIO might order new supplies based on the general needs of the company and train new workers entering that department too. CIOs are also responsible for following strict ethical and legal guidelines as well as checking for potential threats and security risks.
4. Entrepreneur
If you ever wanted to own your own business and be your own boss, working as an entrepreneur after leaving the military might be the best option for you. Entrepreneurs are those who start their own companies, raise the capital needed for supplies and do whatever it takes to get that business off the ground. Even if you have a great idea, you should still prepare yourself for working on your own or with a small team before your profits grow to the point where you can hire workers.
5. Intelligence Analyst
Many of the intelligence analysts working in the United States today work for government agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigations. FBI analysts are responsible for locating threats, writing reports about those threats, meeting with government workers to discuss those issues and sharing information across different networks, according to FBI Jobs . You may also find work as an analyst in the business industry. These analysts will also track threats and meet with executives and others in leadership positions, but those threats may come from customers or competing companies with similar products.
6. IT Program Manager
Information technology is one of the largest job fields open to those with a military background. Many former soldiers gain the training needed to work in this field while in the military, and some even have the chance to earn the necessary certifications while in the military too. IT program managers are those in charge of specific programs and projects such as creating a new game or app. You must have strong organizational and time management skills to work as a program manager.
7. Information Technology Specialist
IT specialists can work in a number of different positions and on different projects like database administration or Internet security. Some work in call centers and handle the calls that come in from customers who have problems setting up their Internet or using their Internet. These specialists usually work for major cable and satellite providers. You may also work for a corporation and help both its workers and customers stay safe from threats online like hackers who can steal confidential data.
8. Management Consultant
Both larger and smaller companies hire management consultants to help with daily operations. Depending on what you did in the military, you may find that you are capable of organizing workers and helping them more effectively manage their time. A consultant will come in and meet with workers before observing what they do during the day. They can then create detailed reports that let executives and supervisors know what changes they need to make. Consultants can also help companies decide who to hire for open positions.
9. Senior Program Manager
Companies do not simply release a new product on the market without doing a lot of background research first. They often use focus groups as a way to find out what customers want and to see what prospective customers think about products, advertising campaigns and even packaging. Senior program managers are usually those in charge of a major program such as introducing a new type of packaging to an existing product. In addition to doing research and observing focus groups, you’ll also handle a team of workers under you. The average salary reported by senior program managers across the country is $134,000 a year, according to GlassDoor.
10. Supply Chain Manager
The term supply chain refers to the chain of operations associated with a specific product. When it comes to something like a packaged food, the supply chain will include the farms that create the ingredients used in that product, the workers who combine those ingredients to make the final product, those working to mix and create the product, employees packaging the product and the trucks that deliver products to stores. Supply chain managers are responsible for handling issues that relate to all these steps in the operational chain. The average salary for a supply chain manager is around $79,000 a year, according to PayScale.
Related Resource: 10 Great Jobs in National Security
Though you may be a little nervous once your military service comes to an end, you’ll find a number of opportunities waiting for you in the business field. These positions pay in the high five figure range, but some positions pay up to six figures or more. The top 10 business jobs for those who completed military service include jobs as managers and tech officers.
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