Are Veterans being recognized as major contributor to companies with hiring needs?

SSG Ricardo Marcial — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 10:44:05 -0400

For 3+ years I struggled looking for work. Countless applications, constantly changing me resume to fit the job description, "match those key words".

Now employed and working with companies looking to add talent to their companies, I see more and more companies looking at the veteran population to help fill those needs. The Myth about Veteran is being looked at by hiring managers. Can a veteran be a major contributor to this company? The answers is an obvious YES.

Pick an industry and you will find a veteran that can fall right in and lead, contribute, manage, help grow, build effective team, resolve issue, and drop the occasional "F bomb" when needed. Seriously, Veterans can be a problem solver for a hiring manager, and statistics prove the "We" veterans can and will be that person to consider for the job.

Happy hunting, and remember NO is not the answer you are looking for when looking for a career.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-l-gordon-iii/debunking-the-myths-of-ve_b_8033594.html?mc_cid=d5ce1fcc58&mc_eid=931b1340ba

Employing Veterans: Debunking the Myths

The report found that we veterans are not the "broken heroes" that our national leaders and the media have made us out to be. To be sure, some veterans do struggle with unemployment, homelessness and Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), but on the whole we are a resilient bunch.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 23 at 2015 11:08 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 11:08:28 -0400

I would say we are our own worst enemies. We think that based on the duties and scope I had in the military it should equate to CEO, CIO, CFO, or C-something, and the minimum pay I should get has to start at the $1,000,000 range with full benefits and stock options. How do I know this, I googled my job title and compared it to others in the civilian field. Well my reality check now; I'm only as good as I can translate my military background into civi-speak. S3 NCOIC WTF does that mean? Team Sergeant for ETT in Afghanistan; who cares....but they know what operations specialist is. The know senior enlisted leader in forward austere environment mentoring the Afghan Border Police is. We need to get away from who we are to become who we need to be. With help I ended up arguing over and over again with those smarter than me on how to phrase things and NOW I GET IT. And thanks to service members (esp Air Force those guys are DEADLY with word play), I got a job. It's not glamorous, but I'm in the system and being productive. And it beats out my CEO of 2nd Floor Latrine with my massive pay decrease of $0 with no benefits other than being able to use the crapper when I wanted to.

Response by PFC Robert Falk made Sep 23 at 2015 11:13 AM

PFC Robert Falk — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 11:13:46 -0400

I have come across places who could care less that I was a veteran the just said I was not the one they was looking for even when I had years in the field of business. So there are places that don't follow "put the vets first".

Response by SSG Ricardo Marcial made Sep 23 at 2015 11:37 AM

SSG Ricardo Marcial — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 11:37:55 -0400

Correct that there are stereotypes we can never get some people to forget or look passed. Veteran, the stigmas come from both sides, from the Civilian and from the Veterans. From my view point, a lot of companies are working to change their views, they don't have an understanding military structure, ranks, MOS's, training involved to get a SM to that next level as they progress in their career, learn how we speak. At the same time Veteran have difficulty translating their skills to reflect it on their resume, they speak in terms other veterans would understand but not the hiring managers. Our services don't certify our training, a 1059 is not the same a certificate showing you complete the level of training the company requires you to have.

There are over 250,000 commercial truck driver positions open in this country, how many veterans are there that can fill that need, plenty. But they need to take certified civilian driving and certification to get beyond the application process. Yes there are states that are making changes to correct some of this but that's just one industry. Our branch of service adds to the obstacles, veterans add to it, the very companies looking for help add to the problem. But there are plenty of people making the necessary changes to fix that. Understanding your own skills, how to translate them, how to equate them to what you're applying for, are all steps you need to take to go forward. Companies are adapting, and getting in a company and bringing your skills in and helping along with that process helps the next veteran that comes along. This like everything else takes time, and work to get it corrected so that we as veterans can continue to contribute, for ourselves, for our families and for the community we belong and are a part of.

I'm not preaching, just trying to help. Again good luck and stay focused.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 23 at 2015 11:46 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 11:46:44 -0400

Thanks for sharing

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 23 at 2015 11:59 AM

SGT David T. — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 11:59:34 -0400

I found that renaming the organization to Department of the Army and focusing my resume on duties and accomplishments that would be clearly understood by civilians tends to help. If you read my resume, you would be hard pressed to tell the difference between my military time and my civil service time. I focused a lot of my military time on my leadership and team building skills as well as logistical concepts. My first 3 years as 11B do not translate well so I do not list anything associated with that. My 9 years of active duty was rolled up into one entry with my highest position held and last duty station as the location. My resume would be well over 20 pages if I itemized everything.

Response by SGT Frank Leonardo made Sep 23 at 2015 5:01 PM

SGT Frank Leonardo — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 17:01:35 -0400

I think vets can be a good employee. I have been for 9 and 1\4 years. I have 2 others that have been for 16 years and 1 year. We make solutions to problems. There are no problems in life just solutions.