Setting sail in a new direction

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss why organizations who are looking for top executives, should enlist former military officers and senior enlisted leaders, who make excellent candidates.Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaires with both closed‐ and open‐ended questions generate responses from more than 300 former Navy admirals. This paper reports the qualitative findings emerging from the open‐ended questions.FindingsThe authors identify the perspectives that enable a smooth transition from the structured military to a civilian career. Embracing the new environment proves essential, while clinging to the past has detrimental outcomes.Research limitations/implicationsIt is yet to be determined whether former military leaders represent the wider population of executives at traditional organizations moving to a business environment.Practical implicationsThe admirals' career shift should shed light on broader questions of transition into a business environment, as well as the specific element of embarking on a second career at a late age and the impact of organizational support mechanisms.Originality/valueCareers in industry since the last quarter of the twentieth century have become boundaryless, turbulent, even chaotic. Many people have to change their approach to careers, yet few studies examine mass transition from traditional systems to a second career in business. This paper should assist HR theorists and practitioners who deal with such career transition.