Using Your Rank

Using your rank in the corporate can have its advantages and disadvantages (If taken strictly by the rules, anyone not earning a pension cannot use his/her rank after retiring/release). It can depend on a host of factors like the profile you are in, the number of years you have put into the corporate sector, your rank when you retired from the Army, where (city/region) you are working in the private sector, etc. For officers in a security/admin profile or those working in Tier II and smaller cities, it might help to use your rank. The bottom line here is - Do whatever it takes to help you get the job done (needless to say within the limits of moral/procedural sanction).

As far as the general impression amongst managers in the private sector goes, it is a better idea not to use your rank. The tasks, profiles, systems, etc. in the corporate sector are diametrically different from those in the Army and thus don't require the kind of hierarchical, authoritarian systems in use there. In fact, nowadays in the private sector you may find a manager reporting to two bosses simultaneously (dotted line reporting). The relationships a manager and his boss share (sometimes even with a service difference of 15-20 years) can be as casual as them going out for drinks regularly or spending time together often to discuss common interests, unlike in the Armed Forces where though mixing around is encouraged and common but lines are drawn to ensure 'distance' between individuals. Using your rank can sometimes be an invisible barrier for your professional relationships. Your juniors, colleagues or seniors might be a little reluctant to communicate with you the way they do with others. I once encountered a situation where the Marketing Head of a company actually stammered and hesitated when required to address me since she knew I was an ex-army guy and was not quite sure of how to do so. I had to quickly interject by telling her to please just call me 'Sameer'...

However, at the same it must be said that the Armed Forces continue to be held in high regard amongst most people and when people get to know the fact that you have an armed forces background it does make a certain impact and help facilitation of business objectives.