Purpose

Having a sense of purpose is integral to well-being. For many, the sense of purpose and fulfillment is attained through employment, but other meaningful activities (e.g., volunteering, hobbies, pursuing education) can have the same impact. Participating in fulfilling activities contributes to your health, social integration, fundamental sense of meaning and identity, as well as a similar protective effect. Stable, well-paid employment has the added benefit of contributing to financial security.

Participating in fulfilling activities contributes to your health, social integration, and fundamental sense of meaning and identity, as well as providing structure to day to day life.

Given that many CAF members transitioning from military to civilian life are still of working age, civilian employment is critical to the well-being of this population. There are many potential issues facing transitioning members including: unemployment, underemployment, translating military skills to the civilian labour market, entering an unfamiliar civilian job market for the first time, and adapting to the civilian workplace culture and leadership style.

Employment is an especially important factor for transitioning members to consider because it has a significant effect on a person's physical, mental and social health. Paid work provides not only money, but also a sense of identity and purpose, social contacts and opportunities for personal growth. Conditions at work (both physical and psychosocial) can have a profound effect on people's health and emotional well-being. Participation in the wage economy, however, is only part of the picture.

Ultimately, CAF member whose transition is characterized by engagement with a new and fulfilling job, finding enjoyment and meaning through volunteering, or simply spending more time with their family will have a much easier time finding purpose after service.

The most important aspect of this domain of well-being is to be engaged in activities that are beneficial and meaningful to you.

Some things to consider

• Did you carefully consider what to do after transitioning from military to civilian life? Have you developed a plan that balance and integrate work, study, community engagement and/or retirement options?

• Do you have several interests, outside of your career, which you are looking forward to pursuing after release (such as hobbies, volunteer work, personal growth, learning, travel, family, etc.)? Do you envision your days being rich with experience and meaningful? If not, what changes can you make to achieve this?

• Do you know how your military credentials translate into civilian job classifications, skill and authority levels? Are you able to explain that to a potential employer?

• Did you assess and summarize your formal, informal and experiential learning to ensure that they will be recognized after my military career (e.g. Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR))?

• Do you know the civilian workplace culture is different? Are you prepared to adapt successfully?

• Will your spouse/partner be able to find appropriate post-transition employment (if applicable, if moving, if looking for work)?

• Did you assess your education/training needs and interests and identify an appropriate school or learning institutions?

• Did you prepare yourself for civilian job interviews, including learning about different types of interviews and understanding how to communicate your key strengths to a civilian?

• Did you investigate civilian salaries and know how to explain your competencies and expertise, and learn how to negotiate a satisfactory offer?

• Did you develop a civilian résumé that summarizes transferable skills, accomplishments, strengths and management/leadership ability in terms civilian HR personnel can understand?

• Did you look into today’s best job search techniques and have you begun to build a solid network of contacts to help?

• Did you investigate civilian careers that fit your training and experience and identified a realistic ‘second career’ option that will provide the personal fulfillment and meaning you need?

• Did you look into labour market trends and have you done a job market analysis (formal or informal) based on your qualifications and career aspirations?

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Canadian Armed Forces Career Transition Services and Education Upgrading

The purpose of the CAF Career Transition Services (CTS) is to assist military personnel and their families in planning and preparing for their transition from the CAF to civilian life. These services include:

• Second Career Assistance Network (SCAN) seminars (General and Medical);

• Long Term Planning (LTP) seminars;

• Career Transition Workshops (CTW); and

• Individual career and education counselling.

In addition to those services, three education reimbursement programs are available to you during your career, if you require educational upgrading.

Second Career Assistance Network (SCAN) Seminars

A two-day General SCAN Seminar provides a broad range of information on major transition topics including, but not limited to, topics such as: pension benefits, VAC benefits, services and entitlements, administration procedures on release, SISIP coverage after release, family services, education benefits, career interests inventories, and job search tools, as well as networking opportunities. In addition to the General SCAN, if you expect to be release medically, you may also attend the one-day Medical SCAN Seminar, for more detailed information of interest to medically releasing members.

These seminars are conducted by your local Formation, Base and Wing PSOs. All CAF members are encouraged to attend a seminar at least five to ten years prior to the potential transition, and again during their final 12 months of service.

Second Career Asistance Network Online

If you or a member of your family are unable to participate in a SCAN seminar, you can still access the much of the information presented at the physical seminars through SCAN Online platform. SCAN Online can be accessed in both official languages.

Canadian Armed Forces Career Transition Workshops (CTW)

These workshops are held on Formations, Bases and Wings across the country and are free for all CAF members.

There are four modules covered over a two-day period focussing on the following areas:

Module 1 Self-Assessment for Interests and Skills;

Module 2 Resumé Writing;

Module 3 Interview Techniques; and

Module 4 Job Search Techniques.

The goal of the workshop is to provide additional information and knowledge about these subjects and to assist you in having a seamless transition. You may register by contacting your local Formation/Base/Wing PSO office.

Canadian Armed Forces Long Term Planning (LTP) Seminars

CAF members are provided with the opportunity to participate in long-term planning as it relates to their education, CAF career, and retirement goals.

These seminars are designed to engage the CAF in topics that usually include, but are not limited to:

• Financial and budget planning;

• Home purchase and mortgages;

• Wills and estates;

• CAF pensions and benefits;

• SISIP; and

• Education upgrading for CAF career development.

All CAF members are encouraged to attend within the first 10 years of military service. They are conducted in some local Formation/Base and Wing PSOs.

Individual Career and Education Counselling

Your local Formation/Base/Wing PSO provides one-on-one counselling and expertise on the following topics:

• In-service selection such as Occupation Transfer and Commissioning plans;

• Education upgrading;

• Information on education reimbursement benefits;

• Assistance with job search techniques and tools; and

• Recommendations to assist with your vocational rehabilitation plan, if applicable.

Canadian Armed Forces Education Reimbursement

There are three Education Reimbursement (ER) programs with different objectives, each is designed to support self-development of a different subset of CAF members throughout their careers:

1. The Education Reimbursement for the Regular Force provides financial assistance to Reg F officers and Non-Commissioned Members (NCMs) who, through part-time study, wish to upgrade their educational or professional qualifications in the interests of the CAF. More information is available in the CF Military Personnel Instructions (CF Mil Pers Inst) 17/04 and CANFORGEN 046/19 - 041536Z APR 19.

2. The Education Reimbursement - Primary Reserve provides financial assistance to officers or NCMs of the P Res who wish to obtain a degree or diploma at a university, college, or other educational institutions. Additional information is available in the CBI 210.801.

3. The Skills Completion Program (SCP)- Regular Force provides financial assistance to Reg F officers and NCMs for education and certification expenses to upgrade their military skills and experience to a civilian equivalent or to obtain a certification level, or both, for post-release employment. Additional information is available in the CBI 210.802.

Individual Learning Plan (ILP)

To be reimbursed, you must have a registered Individual Learning Plan (ILP) approved prior to the commencement of each course. To submit an ILP, you will need to complete an online request (DWAN Only) through Military Personnel Generation (MILPERSGEN)

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Transition 101

All CAF members with a date of release will be required to complete online training through the DLN which covers a range of essential information related to your transition out of the CAF. Although only members with a date of release are obligated to complete this training, it is available to all CAF members at any time and it is highly recommended as the information contained within each module can assist in deepening your understanding of transition and developing your transition plan.

Click here to access the DLN

The training is designed to empower CAF members to have a successful and seamless transition. This training is mandatory and the proof of completion will be required and presented to your CoC to be considered ready for transition.

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Military Occupational Structure Identification Code (MOSID)/National Occupation Code (NOC) Equivalency Tool (MNET)

The CAF TG has developed an online tool that assist in translating your military occupation into the equivalent civilian occupation. This is done through a direct link with the national Job Bank database. It is both a “Military to Civilian” and “Civilian to Military” job translator. Military Occupational Structure Identification Code (MOSID)/National Occupation Code (NOC) Equivalency Tool (MNET)

MNET data is based on the CAF job-based specifications and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) list of civilian occupations, known as the NOC catalogue.

The NOC catalogue is the official resource on job information in Canada, providing a standard catalogue of more than 30,000 job titles into 500 unit groups, organized according to skill levels and skill types. All military jobs are cross-referenced against each NOC for the purpose of defining related civilian job fields.

By associating your MOSID to civilian NOC, it will help you translate knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA), gained during your military career, to civilian terms. Some MOSIDs may have several NOCs associated with a military occupation. This reflects a variety of tasks and duties that a CAF member may perform or acquire within an occupation.

Military years of service will also define the level of leadership experience, time management, supervisory, and organizational skills needed. These are other KSAs common to all military jobs and are directly translated to the civilian labour market.

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My Skills and Education Translator (MySET)

The CAF TG has developed an online system that translates military skills, education, and training into civilian education/training credits or qualifications.

MySET aims to assist CAF members in a career transition by providing a centralized resource that can be used to identify which Post-Secondary Institutions (PSI) recognize prior learning for military skills and education. This may be in the form of a civilian equivalency, accreditation of specific occupation training, education, experience or a combination thereof.

MySET provides a centralized digital platform that allows PSI to present their academic offerings for recognition of your military training and education.

Each academic institution within MySET provides offerings for the qualifications and training that CAF members receive during their careers. As academic institutions are independent from one another, they have separate assessment processes for credit recognition that is unique to each institution. As such they may not offer a credit for the qualifications that you seek. While you may not have found a specific credit offering related to your qualifications, we recommend that you still contact the academic institution of your choice and ask if they will recognize or offer a credit for that qualification itself.

Each academic institution on MySET was brought on individually, but the current list of academic institutions for MySET is not final! MySET is a “living tool” - it will continue to grow as time goes on. More academic institutions will continue to on-board onto MySET in the future, which will provide a more robust and complete recognition of military training and qualifications. In the meantime, we strongly encourage you to reach out to the academic institution that you want to have your qualifications recognized, and introduce them to the MySET tool.

For additional information on education funding for current serving military personnel (Reg and Res F), or Veterans, visit the MySET resources page, where you will find a link that directs you to the CAF ILP, or VAC Education and Training Benefit (ETB).

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Veterans Affairs Canada Career Transition Services and Education and Training Benefit

Veterans Affairs Canada Education and Training Benefit (VAC ETB)

The Education and Training Benefit (ETB) helps you achieve your education and career goals. You may be eligible to receive up to $80,000*. Whether you are furthering your education journey or beginning a new one, this is the perfect place to start.

Veterans are not limited to formal post-secondary training. The benefit may also be used for a career or personal development courses that give Veterans purpose and help them feel satisfied with their main post-military job or activity.

To be eligible for the ETB you:

• Must have been honourably released from the CAF (Reg F or Res F) on or after April 1, 2006, or be a member of the Sup Res and;

• Must have a minimum amount of CAF service:

• • Those with at least six years (2191 paid days) of service are eligible to receive up to $40,000*; and
  • Those with at least twelve years (4382 paid days) of service are eligible to receive up to $80,000*.

*Indexed annually according to Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Note: Except for members of the Sup Res, still serving CAF members are not eligible to receive this benefit prior to release.

An application for a still-serving member will not be processed until they officially release, or transfer to the Sup Res when information on their release date, final paid days of service, and release status are available to support a decision by VAC.

If funding from the ETB is a requirement for you to go to school, we do recommend that you plan your program start date in order to give VAC time to provide you with a decision. We will need approximately 8 weeks – 4 weeks for an eligibility decision and 4 weeks to review and make a decision on your Education Plan.

If you’re not sure what education to pursue, consider applying for VAC’s Career Transition Services (CTS) first. CTS provides access to a trained Employment Coach to help you find your best educational or training path based on your career and personal goals They can also help you identify an appropriate start date for your program based on your release date and the time it will take to receive a decision from VAC on your eligibility for ETB and your program plan.

VAC's website for information on the benefit, including how to apply for this benefit can be found here

Veterans Affairs Canada Career Transition Services (VAC CTS)

The goal of VAC’s Career Transition Services (CTS) is to help members and their families understand the civilian labour market and identify the best career option before you decide to release.

CTS are available to any member who completed basic training, and the program is designed to provide you with increased services as you approach your release.

Once approved for CTS, you will begin to work with VAC’s National Service Provider to build an individualized Career Transition Services plan. Qualified counsellors will work collaboratively with you to identify your post-service employment goals and will work with you to help you achieve those goals. CTS provides the following services delivered virtually to you:

• One-on-one career counselling;

• Help with resume writing;

• Interview preparation;

• Job-searching; and

• Job development services.

As a serving CAF member (Reg F or Res F), you have access to:

• Career counsellors who will help you develop an individualized Career Transition Plan that will address career exploration. They will work with you to figure out your current and future path;

• Online, self-directed CTS modules covering topics such as: self-assessment, interest inventory, resumes, cover letters, job banks, self-marketing and interviews to help you understand and prepare for job searching in the civilian sector; and

• Labour market information services to help you understand the current job situation in the civilian sector

As a CAF member who is intending to release, your access increases and includes:

• Development of an individualized Career Transition Plan which will focus on your career, employment and personal goals;

• Educational counselling;

• One-on-one career counselling to help you identify and achieve your personal career goals; and

• Job development services which can help identify and match you with employers who have jobs suitable to your skills and background.

Once you release, as a Veteran you have access to the same services noted already but you are also ensured:

• Increased support for job finding assistance and job development services; and

• Lifetime access to return for services at any point that you are experiencing a transition in your civilian career.

Survivors and Spouses/Common-law Partners of Veterans can also access CTS.

• Eligible Survivors have lifetime access to the same services that would have been available to the Veteran.

• Eligible Spouses/Common-law partners can participate in the program for up to 2 years after the Veteran’s release. This provides support when settling in to a new community and career when the Veteran has completed their military service. Note that there is no requirement for the Veteran to apply for CTS in order for the spouse/common-law partner to participate. However, both the Veteran and the spouse/common-law partner can be in the program at the same time.

To be eligible for CTS, you must be:

• A still-serving CAF member or Veteran who completed basic training on or after April 1, 2006; or their survivor, spouse, or common-law partner; or,

• A Veteran or survivor who is entitled to the Canadian Forces Income Support Benefit.

Other eligibility requirements:

• You must live in Canada; (Still-serving members posted outside Canada are eligible to participate);

• You require assistance in making the transition to the civilian labour force; and

• You are not receiving VAC Rehabilitation Services or Vocational Assistance.

For additional information, including how to apply for this benefit, visit the following link.

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Tips for Employment and Education Planning

It is not unusual to see people changing careers numerous times in their lifetime. A part of the career path changing process involves assessing the transferability of skills and competencies towards a new career field, as well as achieving certification through continuing education.

The following are important considerations when weighing the option of continuing education:

• What are my second career goals?

• Considering the financial and personal investment required, are my second career goals realistic?

• Did I have my experience, training, and skills assessed towards Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition accreditation (PLAR)?

• Do I need to upgrade my qualifications by completing some academic courses?

• Am I prepared to undertake an intensive academic program?

• Is my spouse/partner also contemplating going back to school?

• Will my family support me in my desire to go back to school?

• Would our financial situation allow for the tuition fees and books?

• Do I wish to attend school on a part-time or on a full-time basis?

• What is my learning style? Would I be comfortable with online learning or a classroom environment?

• What are my job prospects once I have completed my program?

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Preparation

• How prepared are you for life and work-life change?

• Do you know what motivates you to work? What is it?

• Do you know what you want to do when you leave your current position?

• What are your skills and competencies?

• Can you describe your military skills to a civilian employer?

• Do you know your value in the job market?

• Do you have a resumé that will get you an interview, or a business plan to market your products?

• Do you know how to succeed in an interview?

• What is your preferred work style?

• Semi-retired;

• Self-employed;

• Employed by another organization or company;

• Full-time or part-time;

• Studying, either full time or part-time;

• Consulting or contracting;

• Volunteer work;

• Adult apprenticeships; or

• Turning hobbies into profit

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Questions to Consider

• Retiring: Do you really want to retire, or are you going to take a break or be semi-retired?

• Self-employed: When considering full-time, part-time, buying a franchise, or creating a business:

• Do you have the emotional, physical and financial ability, and commitment to do this?

• Are you passionate about your product or service?

• What do you know about business?

• What do you know about risk?

• How well do you make decisions?

• Do you possess the management skills to manage a company, or even yourself?

• Will you be able to prevent burn out?

• Employed by another: Do you want to work full time, part-time, casual, or temporary?

• Do you want to work for someone else? Would you enjoy it?

• Do you want to work full time?

• What sort of company do you want to work for?

• Study: Do you want to study full time or part time? Is now the right time to study for the qualifications you’ve always wanted?

• Can you afford to study full time?

• Have you got a career plan in which you will use this qualification?

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Job Preference

This process aids identifying your unique and personal job preferences. Can you identify:

• The parts of your job that you like and dislike, such as: the people, the sense of belonging to an organization you respect, the frustration of not getting things done quickly, the processes, the challenges, salary, and so on;

• The “must haves” for you to be happy in a role. If you don’t have them now, you will need eventually to put them on the list – items such as: “security industry; minimum of $70k per annum plus superannuation; work in a team”, for example;

• Your preference: items such as responsibility and accountability; work nationally and potentially internationally; manage staff; and

• The “don’t want” – extended absences from home; live south of the Bombay Hills; regular weekend work.

Description of the figure

The purpose of this table is to help you identify your unique and personal job preferences. This includes:

• The parts of your job that you like and dislike, such as: the people, the sense of belonging to an organization you respect, the frustration of not getting things done quickly, the processes, the challenges, salary, and so on;
• The “must haves” for you to be happy in a role. If you don’t have them now, you will need eventually to put them on the list – items such as: “security industry; minimum of $70k per annum plus superannuation; work in a team”, for example;
• Your preference: items such as responsibility and accountability; work nationally and potentially internationally; manage staff; and
• The “don’t want” – extended absences from home; live south of the Bombay Hills; regular weekend work.

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Job Search

For a successful job search consider the following:

• Where are jobs these days?

• What are industries provide the best opportunities?

• What types of jobs are available?

• Where are jobs located?

• What are salaries or remuneration packages like?

• What are employers’ expectations of their staff?

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What are Employers Looking For?

For a greater success rate in job applications, interviews and job maintenance, consider the following things that employers are looking for:

• Candidates with a proven and stable background.

• Employers may be cautious about candidates who seem to have moved jobs regularly.

• Flexibility in part-time, full time, apprenticeships, casual, temporary, contractual workers.

• The value you bring to their organization.

• Positive, proactive, can-do attitudes.

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Taking Charge

At the time of transitioning, taking charge and being committed is necessary. This means:

• Be clear about what you want to do, and understand yourself and what you can do.

• Understand how to search for jobs, research, and connect to employers of interest: create a list of mentors, networks, recruiters, and career practitioners.

• Get transition skills and a resumé, with help from the people above, if necessary.

Be completely prepared: the best prepared candidate is often the most successful.

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Skills Commonly Sought by Recruiters

• Decision-making: Identifying options, evaluating them, and then choosing the most appropriate course of action.

• Problem-solving: Identifying and using an appropriate method or technique to arrive at a solution.

• Planning: Working out how to schedule available resources and activities, in order to meet an objective.

• Oral communication: Using speech to express ideas and give information or explanations effectively.

• Written communication: Producing grammatically correct, well-expressed, easily understood and interesting text, in an appropriate format.

• Negotiating: Holding discussions with people in order to reach a position of mutual satisfaction and agreement.

• Adapting: Changing or modifying your behaviour in response to the needs, wishes or demands of others.

• Leadership: Being able to lead and motivate, set direction, and win the commitment of others.

• Business awareness: Interest in and knowledge of the commercial environment.

• Researching information: Finding information appropriate to an issue from a variety of sources.

• Flexibility: Being able to change plans and respond to new information and/or situations.

• IT literacy: Understanding and being able to use a range of software such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

• Time management: Ability to manage personal tasks effectively and to meet deadlines.

• Numeracy: Ability to use and work with figures.

• Working well in a team: Your ability to work effectively with others to achieve objectives.

• Ability to prioritize: Being able to decide priorities for achieving targets.

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Personal Qualities

A personal quality may be described as a “way of being” or a person’s distinguishing characteristics or personality traits, which can increase your chance of being recognized and contrasted with the competition. Individuals often take these qualities for granted and do not appreciate the interest and value an employer places on them. Awareness of these personal qualities and their importance needs to be understood early in your military career so they can be developed and evidence recorded. Examples of some personal qualities which you may use to describe yourself are listed below:

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