This is a guest post by Joel Martycz.
I spend more time on LinkedIn than I probably should. Honestly sometimes I struggle to define why that is. But if I had to sum it up in one concept, it would be this: I want to try to save military veterans from the “LinkedIn Military Transition Industrial Complex.”
What’s the BLUF?
Almost everyone on LinkedIn is trying to sell you something, and they’re using veteran’s natural deference to authority and risk aversion to capitalize. Sadly, not every veteran is seeking to help their fellow veterans without some personal gain. By diversifying your feed, being warry of absolutist views, and being intentional about your interactions, you can break free from the echo chamber and pursue a better LinkedIn experience.
For many in the military and veteran community, LinkedIn has become a go-to platform. Many highly visible influencers and transition experts share advice to “get active on LinkedIn”, create content, and build a network. This increasing activity has led to an echo chamber where the feed of military members and veterans is dominated by military transition-related content. You join LinkedIn, connect with some current or previous military coworkers, along with some military transition experts and all the sudden it seems like all you see the same old tired clichés:
“Your network is your NetWorth”
“The military transition is HARD”
“10 Things they didn’t teach you in TAP”
For all the pessimism and fearmongering, you’d think we had breadlines of unemployed veterans across the country. As a fact check, November 2024 Veteran unemployment was 2.8% vs a non-veteran national average of 4.2%
There’s more at play here than just content saturation. The LinkedIn Military Transition Industrial Complex (LIMTIC) is a phrase I use to describe an unofficial web of influencers, organizations, and services aiming to capitalize financially on the military community by selling certifications, education, financial services, job placements, or career coaching. While many of these services may provide genuine value, it’s essential to navigate this space with a critical eye.
The Echo Chamber Effect
If you’re a transitioning service member or a veteran, your LinkedIn feed likely looks much different from that of most civilians. When I first started posting consistently on military-related topics in 2022, my feed transformed dramatically, becoming a constant stream of military content. This transformation is not just because of my interests but also due to LinkedIn’s algorithm.
Like all social media, LinkedIn’s algorithm prioritizes content based on your interactions and connections. If your connections are primarily military members, recruiters, and military advocates, your feed will naturally reflect that. This creates a loop where the content you see reinforces your existing connections and interests, isolating you from the broader perspectives and industries of the real world.
Veterans represent approximately 7% of the US population. If your feed is too heavily skewed towards military content, you’re missing out on many perspectives and thoughts out there. Entire industries may be out of your reach, limiting your exposure to diverse opportunities and ideas. This can be made even worse if you niche-down further. Connecting with mostly veterans with an MBA in consulting- how would you know if you would enjoy a career in a different industry?
The Financial Motives Behind the Discourse
A significant aspect of the LIMTIC is the monetization of the military community. Many organizations and individuals target transitioning service members, offering certifications, educational programs, career services, and financial advice. While some of these services are valuable, others may exploit the vulnerabilities of those in transition.
Certifications and Education:
The push for certifications and continued education is prominent on LinkedIn. Organizations often promote specific certifications as essential for career success, sometimes creating a sense of urgency and necessity. While certifications can indeed enhance job prospects, it’s crucial to assess their value critically and ensure they align with your career goals. It’s also important to highlight that many of the experts who are recommending certifications or education and positioning themselves as “military transition experts” have relatively light civilian experience, and that experience often doesn’t demonstrate how the certification was valuable in their own careers. Even if your certification is “free” due to TA or GI Bill benefits, wouldn’t you want to prioritize getting value from that limited resource and your own time investment? What is the opportunity cost of spending your education resources on a certificate that you didn’t really need?
Financial Services:
Many transitioning service members are targeted with financial planning services. While financial advice can be beneficial, it’s important to be cautious of services that may prioritize their profits over your financial well-being. From whole life insurance to disability claim “assistance”, there are a lot of questionable characters making money in the name of “helping” their fellow veterans. Always seek out trusted advisors and verify the credentials of those offering financial services.
Career Coaching:
Career coaching and mentorship programs are widely advertised to veterans. Some are free, some are paid. While mentorship can be invaluable, it’s essential to differentiate between genuine support and services designed primarily for financial gain. I’ll leave the concept here for now: sometimes you get what you pay for. When choosing free advice- decide what’s worth listening to. If a military transition expert doesn’t have the career path that you are trying to pursue, they may not be worth listening to.
Beware of Influencers with Absolutist Views
Another critical aspect of the LinkedIn Military Transition Industrial Complex is the presence of influencers who approach the military transition space with an absolutist view. These influencers often present their advice as the only path to success, leaving little room for individual differences and alternative approaches. Be wary of those who:
- Lack Civilian Experience: Influencers who have spent little time in civilian roles may lack the nuanced understanding of the civilian job market and workplace dynamics. Their advice, though well-intentioned, might not always translate effectively to the civilian context. Especially if they haven’t spent significant time in a hiring position (either recruiting, HR, or as a hiring manager). Same goes for those who have mostly worked in government or contractor roles- the private sector is vastly different.
- Promote a One-Size-Fits-All Solution: Transitioning from the military to civilian life is a highly individual process. Be cautious of influencers who claim that there is a single best way to navigate this transition. Your unique skills, experiences, and goals require a personalized approach. This is a personal growth exercise as much as anything else.
- Bully other veterans: Whether it’s criticizing someone’s desired post-military career, diminishing another veteran’s service, or even telling you what civilian jobs you “qualify” for based on previous rank (usually while reminding you that they were a Sergeant Major), I’ve seen it all, and it’s ugly. And it’s usually rooted in their own ego or insecurity. You don’t need to feed the trolls. And the loudest shouts usually come from the cheap seats.
Diversifying Your Feed
To avoid falling into to the LinkedIn Military Transition Industrial Complex, it’s essential to diversify your feed intentionally. Here are some ways to broaden your LinkedIn experience:
- Search for Award Winners: Look up awards for “X of the Year” in fields like Cyber Security, Supply Chain, or Healthcare Leaders to follow. There’s an entire journalism industry around this, with publications like Inc., Forbes, and others.
- Skills-Based Content: Find content creators who excel in skills relevant to your interests, such as storytelling, data analysis, or leadership. Engaging with their content will bring educational quality into your feed. Bonus points if those creators are NOT veterans.
- Local Pages: Follow the pages of local chambers of commerce, city councils, and economic development organizations in your target geographic area. These pages can provide valuable insights into local opportunities and trends. Yes, even if you want to work remotely.
- Professional Organizations: Join professional organizations related to your field. Follow their pages and engage with active members to stay updated on industry developments.
- Old Friends: Reconnect with old friends from high school and college, especially if you didn’t attend a military academy. Their perspectives as non-veterans can be invaluable.
- Avoid Over-Connecting: Be selective with your connections to ensure meaningful and diverse interactions.
Influencing the Algorithm
Remember, you have the power to influence LinkedIn’s algorithm rather than letting it influence you. Here are some tips to guide your interactions:
- Intentional Interactions: Every click, like, and comment shapes your feed. Be mindful of what you engage with. The unfollow and block options exist for a reason
- Balanced Engagement: Avoid engaging with every piece of military content you see. Instead, focus on diverse and educational content. Connect with the content that is most meaningful to you.
- Broaden Topics: Explore and engage with content creators who excel in skills and areas relevant to your interests.
By diversifying your connections and interactions, you can create a balanced LinkedIn feed that exposes you to a wider range of perspectives and opportunities. This diversity is crucial for a healthy transition from military to civilian life, helping you to step away from self-confirming patterns and challenge yourself with new thoughts and ideas.
Conclusion
The LinkedIn Military Transition Industrial Complex is a reality that transitioning service members and veterans must navigate carefully. LinkedIn does offer valuable networking opportunities and resources, but it’s essential to be aware of the motives behind much of the discourse. Like any other platform you engage with, take responsibility for how you interact, and what voices you listen to. As someone who’s made the transition from knuckle-dragging E-5 to a leader within multiple Fortune 500 companies, I promise it’s a survivable change. LinkedIn is a very small corner of a very big world, treat it accordingly. You don’t need LinkedIn gurus to find civilian success. You’ve got this!
Related Articles:
100 Things to Know Before Leaving the Military