Ali Hoban ⋅ New York , NY AOL ⋅ 5 years experience

Hi Junyer,

One thought about how you can explain your experiences in an application or interview is to communicate that when you commit to something, you commit 100%. You haven't taken the easy path, but you've picked goals that mean something to you and pushed yourself to go the extra mile, quite literally through your charity bike ride.

Loyalty and real dedication are big commodities and could help set you apart from other applicants who may have gone a more traditional route. You could start by identifying companies that you would be excited to work for, then check out their leadership and rotational development programs. You didn't pick self-promoting goals in the past and you will bring the same amount of dedication to fulfilling the goals of the company that you hope to work for. You'll be able to communicate this idea of dedication and passion if you are excited about the company, so this could be a good way to start.

Best of luck to you!

Junyer Knight ⋅ Sherman Oaks , CA U.S. Marine Corps, Sergeant ⋅ 4 years served

Let me answer some of these questions and explain a bit more about my service and schooling. I served from 2004 to 2008 as a machine gunner. I worked hard to move up the ranks and was a squad leader during my second deployment to Iraq. I left the service as a sergeant to go to school. I graduated from Southern Illinois University with a BS in Economics and a minor in Business Administration.

My time in service gave me a much bigger perspective on life. I realized that there were challenges we face as a country and as humanity that require a more delicate and thoroughly researched action than war. It also gave me an appreciation for the my life, having lost three marines out of my squad during our second tour. The one that was closest to me has inspired me to bicycle across the country for a children's charity in his honor. I know this isn't a great way to jump into the world after college but it's taken a lot of planning and continued communications work to get where we've gotten already. We're currently 1,800 miles in and have raised over $10,000.

Elizabeth Cox ⋅ Falls Church , VA ⋅ 20 years experience

Hi, and thank you for your service!
Not knowing your specialization or experience during your time in service, you will need to be prepared to explain why you chose the path that you did and how this prepared you during the transition from active duty to corporate America (which can be challenging). It may be that this experience gave you greater awareness of yourself and what you wanted out of life, and it may have helped you to achieve a personal goal. Whatever the reason, this will be a key question that recruiters and interviewers will ask.

Pat Skelly ⋅ Raleigh , NC IBM ⋅ 38 years experience

Hi Junyer, thanks for serving. At IBM we typically hire many of our GMLDP'ers out of MBA School. We also have a LDP for Finance and they come from the MBA prorgrams out of college. Do you have an MBA? What is your degree in? Would you consider an MBA program?

Regards,
Pat

Carl Legge ⋅ West Chester , PA Johnson & Johnson ⋅ 12 years experience

I think you will have to contend mostly with the fact you chose to do something like a bike ride across the country versus devoting everything to getting a career started. Sorry to be curt, but that would be my reaction not knowing anything about you. (This coming from a twice combat veteran of 8 years active duty and in the device industry for 10 years.) Nevertheless, good luck to you!