Being a Veteran in the Workplace: Facing Challenges and Finding New Strategies

2023-07-27T15:53:38-04:00

As veterans, the skills, abilities and lessons learned that we gain from active duty don’t always directly translate into professional settings. In support of National Hire a Veteran Day on July 25th, I’d like to share my experience and strategies surrounding veterans in the workspace.

Finding a job post service, for many of us, can feel like one of the hardest missions we’ve encountered. My first piece of advice to other veterans is to make yourself marketable. Take your active duty experience and think about how that equates to leadership, teamwork, and problem solving. Each of us–no matter the job, time in service, or rank–have had valuable experiences.

While some businesses may believe you need a college degree to be a leader, veterans know that’s not the case. Often, the average college graduate hasn’t had any experience in leadership, much less the experience of leading teammates through complex problem sets in a zero-fail mission. We, as a veteran community, need to lean into that. Tell your story to recruiters and interviewers. Provide examples of how you overcame challenges in service and led teams to successful and safe outcomes.

When job searching - and even after you land a position - one of the most common challenges veterans like us face is the perception that the military is driven by what people see in movies - yelling, pushups, the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan or Full Metal Jacket. People believe that a veteran is more likely to impose strict discipline, and because of that, many civilian employees may struggle to connect with veteran coworkers. In the workplace, my solution is typically to break the ice first by initiating positive interactions and building personal relationships.

A few years ago, I found myself struggling to make headway with my co-workers to build those relationships. I was also experiencing a significant void regarding purpose in my life. I was struggling with my identity remaining “Chris the Marine.” While scrolling LinkedIn one day, I noticed a posting from Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) about an event they were hosting for the veteran community. Afterwards, I began to research more about the organization. The TMF message of regaining a sense of purpose through serving our nation’s communities really struck a chord with me as I was trying to find my next “mission.” The TMF ethos of “If Not Me, Then Who…” resonated as well. I quickly signed up for some of the online training and began to find ways in which I could make an impact within my community.

I was accepted to TMF’s Spartan Leadership Program, and it was a game changer. The stories, resources and education that were made available during that 7-month program helped me gain perspective and direction. By choosing to hang on to that one single experience of “Chris the Marine” in my story, I had failed to realize that other opportunities were all around me. With TMF, I learned my true strengths and how they apply to my character; it gave me a greater understanding and value of my self worth.

I have been able to use all the skills I learned through TMF in my professional career. The power of positive emotion and empathy allows me to better lead those around me. Relying on “If Not Me, Then Who…” as a guiding principle transcends all workplace differences and helps me lead by example and with integrity.

No matter where you are in your post-service career, it’s important to note that veterans are leaders. We have discipline, we think outside the box, and we hold high standards for ourselves and our team. We solve complicated problems and work cross functionally with other teams to do so. We are adaptive. We value integrity, hard work, and teamwork. It is up to us to take the opportunity to build bridges and tell our stories. If you are looking to explore your strengths and redefine your purpose, you can learn more here: https://rly.pt/TMF

Travis Manion Foundation - "If Not Me, Then Who..."

Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) empowers veterans and the families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations. In 2007, 1st Lt Travis Manion.

Response by PO1 Lyndon Thomas made Jul 27 at 2023 4:47 PM

2023-07-27T16:47:09-04:00

Thank you for sharing this experience with us Sgt Chris Geis. This was a good read and is relatable to us all who've joined the corporate world after the military. Though the transition wasn't easy, it taught me several valuable lessons that I can pass on others making the transition. Thanks again!

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Jul 28 at 2023 1:34 AM

2023-07-28T01:34:52-04:00

Sgt Chris Geis volunteering in the community gives others a chance to see leadership, teamwork, sacrifice for the greater good, and softer skills.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jul 28 at 2023 8:58 AM

2023-07-28T08:58:02-04:00

I think that one of the biggest struggles is fighting stigma, stereotypes and false expectations. But the catch is that you are battling the perspective of both veterans and civilians. You have stigma, stereotypes and false expectations coming from both the civilians in the workplace and the veterans trying to enter the workplace. Civilians will have pre-conceived notions and ideas of what a Veteran is. You will also have Veterans who come from a background of improvise, adapt and overcome who struggle to accept to how the civilian work place runs. Being able to meet in the middle and open a dialogue is a big hurdle. But you also have the hurdle of training certification, accreditation, and training requirements. Veterans are some of the most confident people I have ever seen and respectfully they are the only people I have seen apply for a job that requires a degree when they don't have a degree. Being a vet isn't a blank check for all the above. Depending on the job a degree may be required and you just need to go sign up and put that GI bill to use. The DOD as a whole needs to take after the Air Force and get the proper accreditation for MOS training so we can have veterans exit the military already holding what they need to get a civilian job so we can reduce the amount of vets at the unemployment line. I just read an article from 2021 that the Army re-did the POST certification for Military Police courses and now they have reciprocity agreements with 17 States that accept the training for POST. That says a few things. One, it wasn't happening before 2021. Two, the current standard only meets the requirements of 17 States so that means if a Veteran wants to work in LEO in the other 33 they will still have to do POST training on top of their military background. Veteran experience is fantastic but until we can connect the dots on getting that military training accredited there will still be gaps.

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Jul 28 at 2023 2:03 PM

2023-07-28T14:03:12-04:00

Good afternoon Sgt Chris Geis. Excellent post. Thanks for sharing Brother Chris.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2023 7:30 PM

2023-07-28T19:30:19-04:00

It's always nice to find somewhere, where you not only belong but have room to grow. I think what many veterans miss once they separate from the military is that brotherhood or knowing that the person on your left or your right has got your back covered.

Serving others is its own reward. Communication is key, to success.

Response by 1SG Andre Judkins made Sep 21 at 2023 8:27 AM

2023-09-21T08:27:05-04:00

The public sector is no different. The VA do not recognize a veterans leadership skills nor there education. The trend not to hire veterans at senior levels continue. I have worked with some veteran service chiefs that have turned some of the worse departments in the VA around. But they will never get an opportunity to move into senior leadership. Politics and medicine should never mix, but it does. I recommend veterans control there own destiny and get into business for themselves. There is nothing like being your own boss.

Response by Maj Bruce Miller made Oct 22 at 2023 1:57 PM

2023-10-22T13:57:52-04:00

Sgt Geis, thanks for the posting on your experience in transitioning. A military-to-civilian employment transition can be, and often is, a challenge. You bring with you experience in discipline, recognizing authority, getting the job done, respect and organization. At the same time you're exposed to situations you're not used to, such as individuality in opinion and appearance, lifestyle variations, job mobility, large pay differences and perhaps the greatest change...the profit motive. The latter, I suspect, is why may retiring career military members stay in a government job or perhaps a non-profit.

Response by Maj Bruce Miller made Oct 29 at 2023 7:27 PM

2023-10-29T19:27:37-04:00

I completely agree with you that leadership and communication skills are two of our advantages in entering a civilian work place. But one of the toughest transitions is the replacement of readiness as the primary objective to profit as the primary. The military has no equivalent to profit. No military command has as its mission to bring in more money than the military exercise cost. In a for-profit world, the numbers on the right must exceed the numbers on the left. If they do not, your for-profit company will go out of business. This can be a tough transition to make for many retired but still young service members starting on a second career. And I'd guess this is why many young military retirees stay in government or non-profit positions.