Josh spent years in service. Leadership under pressure. Complex problem-solving. Team management in high-stakes situations.
Skills that transfer to any role, anywhere.
When he decided to transition into tech, he knew he had what it took. But there was a problem.
How do you translate "coordinated multi-unit operations under combat conditions" into language a startup founder understands?
This is the challenge every transitioning veteran faces. Not ability. Not skills. Not work ethic.
Translation.
The Skills Are Already There
Let's be clear about what veterans bring to civilian roles:
Leadership Under Pressure
- Making critical decisions with incomplete information
- Managing team dynamics in high-stakes situations
- Maintaining composure when everything is falling apart
Strategic Problem-Solving
- Adapting plans when situations change rapidly
- Coordinating resources across multiple constraints
- Thinking several steps ahead while executing in the moment
Team Management
- Building cohesion across diverse backgrounds
- Delegating effectively based on strengths
- Accountability when things go wrong
Operational Excellence
- Following processes while knowing when to break them
- Documentation and knowledge transfer
- Continuous improvement mindset
These skills don't just transfer to tech. They're exactly what tech companies are desperately hiring for.
The Translation Gap
But here's what Josh discovered: Having the skills isn't enough. You have to frame them in terms civilian hiring managers recognize.
When Josh started interviewing, he'd say things like:
"I managed logistics for multi-unit operations ensuring mission-critical equipment deployment across theater."
Hiring managers would nod politely. Then move on.
Not because the accomplishment wasn't impressive. Because they couldn't translate it to their context.
Josh needed to reframe it:
"I coordinated cross-functional teams across different locations to ensure critical resources were delivered on tight deadlines—often with incomplete information and changing requirements. When supply chains broke down, I'd identify alternative solutions and keep the team moving forward."
Same accomplishment. Different framing. Completely different response from hiring managers.
How Josh Built the Bridge
Josh didn't just need to translate his experience once. He needed to do it for every single interview question.
- "Tell me about a time you led a team through a difficult situation"
- "How do you handle conflicting priorities?"
- "Describe your approach to problem-solving under pressure"
- "Tell me about a time you had to make a decision with incomplete information"
Every question was an opportunity to showcase his military experience. But every answer needed translation.
So Josh practiced. Deliberately. Many, many sessions.
The Practice Process
Here's what Josh's practice looked like:
Session 1-3: Awareness Josh would answer a question. Then see the feedback. "You're using military terminology that civilian hiring managers won't understand. Try focusing on the business impact."
Session 4-7: Adjustment Josh started experimenting with different framings. Some landed. Some didn't. The feedback showed him exactly what was working.
Session 8-12: Refinement The framing got sharper. "Led cross-functional teams" instead of "commanded units." "Managed stakeholder expectations" instead of "reported to chain of command."
Session 13+: Automaticity The translation became automatic. Josh stopped thinking about how to translate. He just... spoke in terms hiring managers understood.
What Changed
After dozens of practice sessions, here's what Josh noticed:
Confidence Grew He'd done this 15 times before. The real interview wasn't scary anymore. It was just another practice session—except this one counted.
Responses Got Sharper He knew exactly which stories to tell. He knew how to frame them. He knew what details to include and what to leave out.
Interview Felt Different Hiring managers leaned in. They asked follow-up questions. They were engaged. Because Josh was speaking their language now.
Josh's Testimonial
"I can't say enough about Revarta. As a transitioning veteran, I needed a tool to prepare for tough interviews across multiple sectors, but focusing on tech, and Revarta was it. It truly helped me fine-tune and practice my interview responses, and it gave me the edge and confidence I needed to succeed. I highly recommend Revarta if you want to get ahead in this competitive job market."
Josh landed the job.
What Veterans Like Josh Prove
Your skills are real. Your accomplishments matter.
The bridge from military to civilian isn't built through better qualifications. You already have those.
The bridge is built through practice—practicing how to frame what you've already accomplished.
The Skills Don't Need Work. The Translation Does.
You don't need to learn leadership. You've been leading.
You don't need to learn problem-solving. You've been solving problems under conditions most civilian managers can't imagine.
You don't need to learn team management. You've been managing teams where mistakes have real consequences.
You need to practice translating those skills into language civilian hiring managers recognize.
How to Start Your Translation
If you're a veteran transitioning to civilian roles—especially tech—here's where to start:
1. Identify Your Core Accomplishments
Pick 5-7 major accomplishments from your military career. Things you're genuinely proud of. Moments where you led, solved problems, or made impact.
2. Strip the Military Terminology
Take each accomplishment and remove military-specific language:
- "Unit" → "Team"
- "Mission" → "Project" or "Goal"
- "Command" → "Lead" or "Manage"
- "Deploy" → "Launch" or "Implement"
- "Theater" → "Region" or "Market"
3. Focus on Business Impact
For each accomplishment, answer:
- What was the problem?
- What did you do?
- What was the result?
- How did it impact the broader organization?
4. Practice Speaking Your Answers
Don't write them down and memorize. Speak them out loud.
Because the real interview won't be written. You need to build muscle memory for communicating your experience clearly and confidently under pressure.
5. Get Feedback. Iterate. Repeat.
The first framing won't be perfect. That's okay. Practice. Get feedback. Adjust. Practice again.
Josh didn't get it right on session one. He got it right on session fifteen.
The Deliberate Practice Advantage
Here's what deliberate practice does that mock interviews with friends can't:
Immediate Feedback You don't wait days for someone to review your answer. You get instant feedback on what landed and what didn't.
Pattern Recognition After 10-15 sessions, you start seeing patterns. "Oh, when I focus on business impact, it works. When I use military jargon, it doesn't."
Repetition Without Judgment You can practice the same scenario 5 times in a row. No one's judging. No one's getting bored. You're just getting better.
Confidence Through Volume When you've answered "Tell me about a leadership challenge" 15 times, the 16th time—in the real interview—isn't scary. It's automatic.
The Mindset Shift
The biggest shift Josh made wasn't tactical. It was mental.
Before: "I need to prove I can do the job despite my military background."
After: "My military background is exactly why I'm the right person for this job."
Veterans don't need to apologize for military experience. You need to translate it into proof of exactly what tech companies are hiring for.
Leadership. Problem-solving. Team management. Operational excellence. Resilience under pressure.
You have all of it. Practice helps hiring managers see it.
Your Turn
If you're transitioning from military to civilian—especially to tech—remember this:
✅ Your skills are real. Leadership under pressure. Strategic thinking. Team management. These transfer to any role.
✅ The challenge is translation. You need to frame military accomplishments in terms civilian hiring managers recognize.
✅ Translation is learnable. It's not natural at first. But with practice, it becomes automatic.
✅ Deliberate practice works. Repetition removes uncertainty. Confidence comes from knowing you've done it 15 times before the stakes are real.
Josh proved the bridge can be built.
Your service matters. Your skills transfer. The translation is practice.
Ready to start your military-to-civilian transition? Learn more about how Revarta helps veterans practice translating their experience at revarta.com/veterans.
