“Tough as Nails” winner gives career advice to fellow Veterans

Here at VA, we know our Veterans are destined to do great things after they leave the military. That’s why we invited Kelly “Murph” Murphy, winner of Season One of CBS’s “Tough as Nails,” to join a recent LinkedIn livestream to give career advice to fellow Veterans.

“Talk About It Tuesday,” a live broadcast dedicated to discussing VA career opportunities and advice, airs each week at noon ET on our LinkedIn page.

Getting started

Murphy shared his military background, spanning 22 years in the Marine Corps, and explained how he prepared for his separation from the service.

“I submitted my retirement paperwork; I gave myself about 6 to 8 months to make the transition,” Murphy said. “So that time was really busy, way busier than I thought it would be, because not only are you trying to wrap up your military career and still do your job, but now you’re looking for a job yourself.”

If you’re approaching retirement, Murphy recommended contacting the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for help with writing or updating your resume, scheduling VA appointments and physicals, and more.

Build your network

As you start your search for a civilian career, assess your strengths and weaknesses; apply your military skills to civilian jobs; and reach out to your network of friends, family and professional contacts to see what opportunities are available.

If you know someone who has transitioned to civilian life, Murphy said, “Sit down and talk to them and ask them, ‘What steps do I need to do? What worked for you? What didn’t work for you?’”

And remember, patience is a virtue.

“Definitely start networking, start planning. That’s really the biggest thing I could tell people,” Murphy advised. “Don’t wait until the last minute. Give yourself a little bit of cushion time because I applied to 66 different jobs, I got 4 interviews, and those led me to the one job.”

When it comes to your plan after retiring from the military, Murphy has some valuable advice: “Take advantage of every opportunity because you never know where it will lead you.”

And there’s no better place to start than VA. We know that your military experience will translate well to a job at one of the thousands of VA facilities across the country. Explore careers caring for fellow Veterans and working alongside those who have also put on the uniform.

Work at VA

With Murphy’s advice, take your next steps toward a post-service career at VA.

• WATCH Kelly “Murph” Murphy’s Q&A.
• EXPLORE career opportunities at VA.
• LEARN about the benefits of a VA career.
• CATCH us on “Talk About It Tuesday.”