One service member's path...

Here is an insight shared with us by a Cornell business school veteran... it's always good to hear from others who are on a similar journey...

There are no shortages of difficult career decisions facing Junior Military Officers (JMOs). After a decade of training to lead, accumulating a mass of institutional knowledge, and operating for months and sometimes years in conditions many people would not last a day in, separating yourself from the military and moving into the private sector presents risk. The good news is that many of your fellow warriors successfully applied to top business schools. However, the revolving door of difficult decisions does not stop with getting into school. Here is a high level view of key decisions on my path:

• Decision 1) Decided to separate
• Decision 2) Applied to top business schools
• Decision 3) Accepted and matriculated
• Decision 4) Found the dream job… and this was a surprisingly tough one

Business school opened up a breadth of possibilities that otherwise I would not have known. Had I chose to go directly into the private sector, I would have chosen a job that, reflecting on it from my current position, would not have satisfied me. The first few months of b-school transformed me, and opened up previously unknown opportunities.

The perfect job means different things to different people, and it generally centers on the work-life balance lever. For me, with few outside obligations, and a desire to constantly explore new things, the work part appealed to me. The next step was figuring out where to put my energy. I began exploring opportunities involving:

• Solving difficult problems
• Interacting with key stakeholders and decision makers
• With challenging, high impact, assignments
• With max career advancement opportunities

I chose consulting based on personal fit. Selecting what is right for you is decision not to be taken lightly. You made it to through a lot of hurdles to get where you are, and this is the final stretch!

Don’t sell yourself short. Your skillset is highly valued in the private sector, and you can literally do anything you put your mind to. I found a home at an MBB, and did it through a determined and well-orchestrated effort. Find your dream job, put in the work, and you will be rewarded for the rest of your life.