I received my MBA back in December of 2011 and although I feel as I have gained allot of knowledge I don't think I am applying this knowledge to develop the skills I need that will help me be competitive in the civilian job market. In addition I am 12 months out from retirement and much of the technical knowledge I gained from my MBA does not necessarily apply to the style of management typically used in the military. Bottom line is that I don't want to get rusty.
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My recommendation would be to volunteer your leadership skills in a non for profit organization of your interest. This is a great way to gain experience and use your skills that you learned during your MBA program. Target which area of interest to spend your time and talent then most importantly add that to your resume when you are confident you can apply those skills elsewhere.
Gail & Mark have made excellent points. The methodologies will come back to you. What potential employers will find valuable is that you worked full time will pursuing your education. To Gail's point, finding a way to apply it will further enhance your ability to make a smooth transition. I'm sure that you have done something within your command (or previous commands) in which you have applied those methodologies, such as managing ARO, Supply, Maintenance, or as CMC, in order to earn your current position. Those experiences are all valuable going forward.
You may email me with transition questions at susan.carr@ge.com.
Best of luck in your transition.
Fair winds and following seas!
Sue
Dont dismiss your military management experience! Most companies, and peers, can learn a huge amount from you. I recomend reading the Harvard Business Review to stay current. This exercise will keep you up on the current business environment / practices. You may end up reading arcticle that are pertinant during interviews or while networking.
Please feel free to contact me directly if you would like to have an in depth discussion.
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