From Servicemembers to Storytellers: Veterans and Military Spouses in Marketing

If you’re a Veteran or Military Spouse just starting your marketing career, you might be focused on telling a great story about yourself. But a successful career change always starts with an honest self-assessment. 

Ben Peterson expected the transition into civilian marketing to be easy. “I thought I was a million bucks,” admits the former US Army Captain and recent American Corporate Partners (ACP) alum. Peterson’s mentor, a 15-year marketing executive for a major insurance company, helped him develop more realistic goals. Now, he has a role that blends operations and marketing, allowing him to flex his Army expertise while growing in a new field.

A mentor can help you with your first marketing job–selling yourself. Here’s how you can get started. 

Assess your starting point

Even without a marketing background, you likely already have a toolkit that will help you stand out. Peterson, who worked in air defense artillery and recruiting prior to his civilian career, suggests that less experienced candidates spotlight existing skills that translate well to marketing. For example, “Veterans…tend to have terrific attention to detail,” explains Cori Sices, Global Senior Director at PepsiCo and a three-time ACP mentor. Brette Ehrenpreis, a Global Director with Colgate-Palmolive, adds, “Veterans and Military Spouses…have exceptional leadership experience and a disciplined approach to execution.” 

Don’t forget to brush up on your technical knowledge, too. Sices notes that data analytics can be another pathway into marketing, stating that “knowing how to work with Excel spreadsheets, and convert a table full of numbers into a business recommendation,” are great skills for someone seeking an entry-level job.

It pays to be flexible, even when you’ve got the experience. Every industry needs marketers, and you might find opportunities in unexpected places. Ashlee Milliken, a US Air Force Spouse and ACP protégé, earned a Bachelor’s in Graphic Design and worked in marketing for a local construction company, an unexpected but welcome fork in the road. “I realized I enjoyed the construction field,” says Milliken, who later used this experience to pivot into real estate marketing. 

Position yourself for success

Whether you’re starting with 10 minutes or 10 years of expertise, there’s always room to learn and grow.. Ehrenpreis, a four-time ACP mentor, tells all of her protégés to network like it’s a second job. She offers practical advice for those who find networking intimidating: “Start by reaching out to 3 people and be ready with 3 questions to fuel the conversation,” she suggests. “Make it easy for them to help you–offer available time windows, send the calendar invite, and promptly send a thank you note.” 

These conversations won’t just boost your job search; they can also help you clarify your longer-term aims. Sices says, “A clear decision on WHAT you want to do is the best first step towards [your goals]”. To help you get there, talk to people in a variety of roles and industries to get a better sense of their day-to-day responsibilities, and consider how well each role dovetails with your abilities and interests. RecruitMilitary’s online resources can also help you explore different career paths within your chosen field. 

Start your mentorship journey 

Applying for jobs, interviewing, networking–it can all feel intimidating, and working with a dedicated mentor can make all the difference. “Mentorship creates a safe space to workshop challenges, help to demystify the corporate world and set achievable goals,” says Ehrenpreis, explaining that candidates can use mentorship meetings to explore not only their skills, but also the unique passions that will help them stand out to employers. 

Joining ACP as an eligible veteran or military spouse protégé is free, easy, and one of the best investments you can make in your future marketing career. Once you apply, an ACP Associate will work directly with you to find the right mentor, support your career progress, and help you pitch yourself to the world! (Interested in becoming a mentor? Apply here to volunteer just an hour a month and make a memorable impact.)