There are few causes that are more noble than enlisting and heading off to defend your country abroad. Joining the military can be a very rewarding experience in a lot of ways for many individuals. You’ll learn a lot about yourself, a lot about how you relate to other people, and a lot about important skills like leadership. Despite all this, coming back and adjusting to civilian life can be very, very tough. This is especially true if you’re someone who has been out in the trenches for a significant period of time. The life that you once knew can start to seem very, very far away when you’ve been off at war for a significant period of time. None of these things make it easy to find a job if you’re just getting back from military service. The job hunt isn’t really easy for anyone these days, and when you’re coming back from military service, things can start to seem overwhelming pretty easily. There are definitely a few ideas, though, that can help you have an easier time when it comes to finding work after military service.

1. Start Thinking about It in Advance. Begin thinking about what kind of career you want to pursue well before you’re actually even discharged from the military. This is a good thing to start planning — even if it’s only mentally — well in advance. When you do this, you’ll be able to strategize in terms of the location that you pick, and can think about a job or position that will best suit your specific skills and abilities.

2. Set Aside a Good Amount of Money. Your job hunt might not be over in just a couple of weeks. The job market is seriously competitive these days, and it might be a matter of months before you actually find yourself landing that dream position. It’s a smart idea to make sure that you’ve got some cash to rely upon while you’re waiting to find your next employment opportunity.

3. Get Some Nice Clothes. You might want to invest in some nice clothes if you’re about to be hitting the interview circuit and trying to find a nice job. Your clothes are going to make a huge first impression, so it’s going to be smart to make sure that you’ve got nice things to wear when you’re heading out to find a new job.

4. Consider Where You’ll Be Happiest. Think long and hard about the kind of work that you actually want to do when you get back from military service. A lot of people looking for careers after military service find themselves not knowing exactly what to do. As it turns out, there are a ton of jobs where your specific skill set will help you to succeed.

5. Be Patient. Your job hunt might last for a good, long while. Be prepared to wait for a little bit until you find that next opportunity for employment. When you’re looking for work, staying positive is the best strategy. Not only will this make the wait a lot easier, but employers can always tell when you’ve got a great attitude.