Tim den Hoed
Founder, Major Talent
Podcast Episode Release Date:
24 November
Beyond the Article: Hear the full exclusive interview with Tim den Hoed, Founder of Major Talent, for more in-depth insights on how military members and Veterans can translate their military experience into a language understood by employers.
Major Talent Founder, Tim den Hoed, on Maximizing Veteran Career Transition Opportunities
Intentional, Proactive, Networker, Learner, Listener, Inquisitive
From Mortar Round to Sniper Round
Tim den Hoed’s military career was anything but linear. It was an unmediated lesson in career transition. Spanning multiple branches and roles, Tim served as an infantryman in the Marine Corps, an Air Force mechanic, a recruiter, and ultimately earned a commission as a Force Support Officer. This unique and varied experience led him to a crucial realization: the difficulty of military-to-civilian transition is rooted in a fundamental communication gap. This gap is the Workforce Experience Translational Barrier, which is the difficulty in effectively communicating the direct applicability of military experience within civilian HR and recruiting systems.
Tim’s experience as a military recruiter provided the key insight. He realized the same intentional, targeted techniques he used to recruit people into the military could be applied to placing Veterans into civilian careers. This idea became the foundation for Major Talent, a free, comprehensive resource focused on four critical areas: military career translation, resume development, interview preparation, and job placement.
The platform is driven by Tim's core philosophy: every Veteran must embrace intentionality and proactivity. “The goal is to eliminate the guesswork,” Tim explains, moving away from generalized advice and toward a "sniper round" approach to job placement. “When you’re intentional about translating your military experience into business-friendly language, you stop shooting a mortar round and start aiming a sniper round.” This means Veterans must meticulously plan their transitions, just as they would a mission. “We plan everything forward in the military: deployments, missions, you name it. The same should go for our careers,” he urges. Starting early, building networks, and clarifying their ideal career paths are essential to avoid the common mistake of accepting the first job offered, which often leads to job hopping.
The Recruiter’s Secret of the Job Search
Networking:
To become an expert networker—a skill that many veterans find daunting—Tim helps break down the overcomplication surrounding the term. “A lot of times we overcomplicate what this word means: ‘grow your network’,” he explains. He notes that veterans already do this daily, citing examples from his military service: the people serving food at the dining facility build their network just as much as anyone who reaches out to solve a problem. “We do this and we don't even think about it.” When it comes to the job search, Tim notes that by sharing your goals and vision with others, doors can be opened that would have otherwise remained closed. “By nature, we want to help... I think veterans have this amplified,” he explains. “People want to help, but you have to allow them to help you.”
Learner/Listener:
To understand civilian job requirements, Tim says humility is key. Rather than pretending to know something, veterans should embrace their status as perpetual learners and focus heavily on listening. “If you don’t know something, just say so. Ask questions. That’s how you learn and grow,” Tim advises. One way to master this is through active listening, which includes repeating or clarifying what you hear in conversations and interviews. This skill demonstrates engagement, helps avoid misunderstanding, and shows employers a strong willingness to adapt.
Inquisitive:
Being inquisitive is the secret weapon for the job seeker. Tim insists that an interview should never be a one-way conversation. Candidates must take the initiative to interview the company as much as the company is interviewing them. “Ask thoughtful questions about the role, the company, and the industry,” Tim suggests. This critical step not only sets candidates apart but also provides the necessary intelligence to ensure the next career move is truly intentional.
Embrace the Unknown: Curiosity and the SMB Opportunity
Tim’s closing advice for Veterans is to embrace the unknown and allow curiosity to guide their path, particularly when considering opportunities outside of well-known large corporations. He is a strong advocate for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families to apply to small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), pointing out that these agile companies are often overlooked by job seekers who instinctively gravitate toward big-name employers.
“Don’t be afraid to try something different,” Tim urges. He notes that working with an SMB often provides greater opportunity to learn, influence, and grow. As he observed, some of the most innovative founders start small, but it is these small to medium-sized businesses that drive everything. Working with them can often lead to partnerships with the biggest players in the industry.
This spirit of adventure is critical to long-term success. With the average Veteran changing jobs three times in the first five years after separating, Tim stresses that your first civilian job doesn’t need to be your last. “Network, advocate, and don’t feel like you have to solve all the problems in your first job,” he advises. By staying curious, remaining flexible, and focusing on continuous learning, veterans can ensure that their first career step, even if imperfect, remains an intentional part of their overall journey.