Why do many interviewers talk about "respect" when my military service is brought up during an interview?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 14:03:07 -0400

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2017 2:34 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 14:34:25 -0400

Maybe they are hoping that your level of respect will bleed onto those at the job that show little (if any) respect?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2017 5:26 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 17:26:32 -0400

Many civilians feel that respect and leadership is solely based on your rank.

Response by PFC Jonathan Albano made Jun 6 at 2017 9:37 PM

PFC Jonathan Albano — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 21:37:48 -0400

A lot of what we were trained to do in the Army out of necessity doesn't translate over to the civilian world that well. As an example, being brutally honest to your superior in the Army, as long as it's presented within protocol, is acceptable and even encouraged. in the civilian sector, however, brutal honesty can come across as being over critical. It could be something along those lines.

I also noticed, at my own workplace, that many vets will start bsing with each-other on the job (things fellow vets wouldn't think much of but others within earshot could see as HR worthy) This might also be a factor in what they are referring to.

There's also a fair amount of vets who have a short fuse (I'm one of them at times) which can be a major no-go for social interactions period let alone in the workplace.

Response by Chanda Wade made Jun 8 at 2017 12:35 PM

Chanda Wade — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 12:35:22 -0400

In my opinion, that translates to "..at this company, we do things differently. Are you willing to adjust your style to fit our "culture"?"
The next time you're asked that question, ask the interviewer politely to clarify the question/statement to ensure you respond appropriately.

Response by Joanne Maresca made Jun 9 at 2017 4:04 PM

Joanne Maresca — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 16:04:25 -0400

Like some others have said, I would need to know the context of the question. If you are asking about how veteran friendly a company is, then it may depend on the company's philosophy towards veterans. Many companies are not prepared for veterans as well. I am lucky enough to work for an employer who supports our troops. Also, when we think military, there are a lot of good qualities that come with it as well. We want to be able to highlight you and what you can bring to the table.