With all of the uncertainty that surrounds the transition from a military to civilian career, one thing that is certain is the high likelihood that you must continue to work. Career transition is a stressful time for most people, and that is particularly true for those in transition from the military to civilian status.

Although the job search can be difficult for civilians, they at least know the terminology and the titles. Military-to-civilian job seekers on the other hand not only have to deal with the stress of the search but also the lack of knowledge about career options and job titles. How about you? Are you wrestling with that uncertainty and wondering what to do next?

That is perfectly normal. Take some comfort in knowing that thousands of veterans have dealt with that stress successfully and you will also.

Most people are familiar with the five P’s of task accomplishment: prior planning prevents poor performance. When it comes to career transition and job-hunting, however, there are six additional P’s to consider.

Career transition elicits a broad range of emotions. From elation to frustration, from glee to disappointment, from pleasant surprise to disbelief—the typical job seeker will likely experience it all. Keeping the Six P’s in mind will help you maintain your perspective during this wild ride and enhance your chances of a successful landing. Let’s take a quick look at each of the Six P’s: patience, persistence, professionalism, presentation, politeness, and preparedness.