Cameron-Brooks Podcast: Episode 57 – How a JMO Transitioned to Consulting After The Military

A Junior Military Officer (JMO) transitioning to consulting after the military is unlike any other career pivot.  After all, the JMO is changing industries, career fields and locations.  That is a lot of change.  Therefore, preparation, interviewing and on-boarding into a new company are more difficult and important than most people making a career change.  The Cameron-Brooks’ Team provides a lot of advice and support for that transition to ensure the JMO launches into a successful career. In this podcast, Nick Tsikalas explains how he made a successful transition to a consulting career with Liberty Advisor Group.  Companies hire Liberty Advisor Group for their expertise in business, technology, and mergers and acquisitions strategy.  How did a Naval Aviator find his way into such a unique opportunity?  Nick credits his experience as pilot where he had a “never fail” attitude and led change as two reasons why Liberty hired him.  Additionally, Nick had excellent academic credentials with a BS Systems Engineering from the Naval Academy and an MBA from University of Florida.  Even with these credentials, Nick took full advantage of the Cameron-Brooks preparation program to help him land a position with Liberty and make contributions early in his career. In this podcast, Nick shares his keys to transitioning to a new career.  They include: Be intentional about your learning. Proactively network and establish relationships across the company. Find opportunities to learn from other people, no matter their position. Do everything well, no matter how mundane. Be responsive.  Get back to people quickly. Work hard and be positive. Lastly, Nick shared some of his favorite books which include: Drive by Daniel Pink How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton M. Christensen and James Allworth Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman I have read all 3 books myself and found them really valuable. I heartily endorse Nick’s career advice and his book recommendations!  Enjoy the podcast. Joel