Posted on Nov 26, 2019
Five highly valued skills Veterans bring to a career at VA
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As a member of the military, you spent years drilling, learning and perfecting occupational skills that draw on attributes of leadership, teamwork, innovation and more.
Veterans Month is a great time for newly transitioning service members or longtime Veterans to be reminded that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hires former service members not only because it’s the right idea but because it’s the smart idea. Here are five skills to highlight when applying for healthcare careers at Veterans Affairs:
1. Teamwork.
Great leaders know how to step back and be team players. Remind your interviewer or recruiter that you understand the level of communication, trust and responsibility needed to work effectively as a team. You and other Veterans bring a sense of camaraderie to your Veterans Affairs career and the mission to serve and care for fellow Veterans.
2. Innovation.
The U.S. military develops some of the most sophisticated technologies in the world. As military personnel, you may be the first to adopt many of these innovations, well before they make it to the civilian market. Let interviewers know that Veterans bring a high degree of technical skill and education to increasingly complex systems, a valuable asset when navigating cutting-edge healthcare technologies, building information systems that deliver benefits to Veterans and creating novel solutions to address challenges in the largest healthcare system in the country.
3. Resilience.
You perform your military job under some of the most stressful conditions imaginable. You’re trained to handle and cope with stress, a skill that translates to Veterans Affairs’ busy healthcare environment. Veterans Affairs’ crew of former basic medical technicians, combat medic specialists, basic hospital corpsmen or basic health services technicians use skills learned in service to care for fellow Veterans as Intermediate Care Technicians, for instance. Former military personnel are ideal colleagues for busy days when things don’t go as planned.
4. Problem solving.
Work in the military is often dynamic and unpredictable. Highlight for job interviewers your military-tested ability to think quickly in changing circumstances, create solutions to surmount obstacles and safely complete the mission.
5. Diversity.
During your service, you formed working relationships and friendships with fellow U.S. service members from many different backgrounds. In fact, the Veteran population is even more diverse than the U.S. population as a whole. Let your interviewer know if you speak another language or if part of your background would help you connect with Veteran patients in a special way that might set you apart from other candidates.
Choose a career at VA today
During Veterans Month and all year long, look ahead to a career based on giving back as a Veterans Affairs healthcare provider. Choose VA today.
Explore how to transition to a VA career here: https://rly.pt/TransitioningMilitary
Darren Sherrard is an Army Veteran who served for two decades and now puts his skills to work for VA as Associate Director for Recruitment Marketing. Darren leads the VA Careers Program, which is designed to attract high-quality healthcare personnel to work at VA.
Veterans Month is a great time for newly transitioning service members or longtime Veterans to be reminded that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hires former service members not only because it’s the right idea but because it’s the smart idea. Here are five skills to highlight when applying for healthcare careers at Veterans Affairs:
1. Teamwork.
Great leaders know how to step back and be team players. Remind your interviewer or recruiter that you understand the level of communication, trust and responsibility needed to work effectively as a team. You and other Veterans bring a sense of camaraderie to your Veterans Affairs career and the mission to serve and care for fellow Veterans.
2. Innovation.
The U.S. military develops some of the most sophisticated technologies in the world. As military personnel, you may be the first to adopt many of these innovations, well before they make it to the civilian market. Let interviewers know that Veterans bring a high degree of technical skill and education to increasingly complex systems, a valuable asset when navigating cutting-edge healthcare technologies, building information systems that deliver benefits to Veterans and creating novel solutions to address challenges in the largest healthcare system in the country.
3. Resilience.
You perform your military job under some of the most stressful conditions imaginable. You’re trained to handle and cope with stress, a skill that translates to Veterans Affairs’ busy healthcare environment. Veterans Affairs’ crew of former basic medical technicians, combat medic specialists, basic hospital corpsmen or basic health services technicians use skills learned in service to care for fellow Veterans as Intermediate Care Technicians, for instance. Former military personnel are ideal colleagues for busy days when things don’t go as planned.
4. Problem solving.
Work in the military is often dynamic and unpredictable. Highlight for job interviewers your military-tested ability to think quickly in changing circumstances, create solutions to surmount obstacles and safely complete the mission.
5. Diversity.
During your service, you formed working relationships and friendships with fellow U.S. service members from many different backgrounds. In fact, the Veteran population is even more diverse than the U.S. population as a whole. Let your interviewer know if you speak another language or if part of your background would help you connect with Veteran patients in a special way that might set you apart from other candidates.
Choose a career at VA today
During Veterans Month and all year long, look ahead to a career based on giving back as a Veterans Affairs healthcare provider. Choose VA today.
Explore how to transition to a VA career here: https://rly.pt/TransitioningMilitary
Darren Sherrard is an Army Veteran who served for two decades and now puts his skills to work for VA as Associate Director for Recruitment Marketing. Darren leads the VA Careers Program, which is designed to attract high-quality healthcare personnel to work at VA.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Transition
Jobs
Civilian Career
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has many good, talented people who go above and beyond for Veteran health care. It’s a shame that the negative stories tend to be the only ones that get picked up in the media.
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LCpl Gary Tobin
I have a lot of experience with V.A. health care. Unfortunately my experience is location is everything. The best and the worst. If you want some accountability there is a V.A. HOTLINE# [login to see] I got results positive results. Im learning to be more proactive, the squicky wheel gets the grease. And never give up. Here in Vermont the health care is exceptional.
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SSgt Glenn Martin
I Agree, I use the VA in Prescott Arizona and they treat me GREAT. I have Never had a problem with the healthcare I'm provided. I've been using them 14 years.
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Good luck getting on, they called me four years after I submitted an application.
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SP5 Melinda McPherson
Persistence my ---- My VA did NOT hire me because the last interview I had I didn't open my blouse for the interviewers or hike up my skirt. They hired someone for the position who was far less qualified than I was (she was a store clerk) and used the excuse that I "didn't bring (my) personality up enough during the interview". Also, I wasn't hired due to AGE DISCRIMINATION, for every interview they hired less qualified people because they were YOUNGER than me. The only way to get hired at VA is to have a family member who already works there.
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SP5 Melinda McPherson
Persistence my --- I was eminently more qualified for two positions I interviewed for (I was VRA eligible and should have been a direct hire but they made me interview competitively) but VA hired the other candidate because they were YOUNGER than me. The only way to get hired at the VA is to have a family member who already works there. I went through median and got nothing! I was told by the person who set up the mediation that they might just offer me a job in either food service or housekeeping. They said they didn't have ANY jobs. I had also been told I could ask for money so I did. I asked to be paid at WG9 for six years and got told that not even the director was authorized to pay that much. If that's the case who hired the chief of staff for over $200,000.00 a year? I asked for WG9 for six years, I DID NOT say I wanted a lump sum. Seems to me the woman who set up the median was obviously working with the median group so to give a veteran a tiny hope of getting something knowing full well they'd get nothing. Also, I HAVE NEVER been notified officially via letter that I was not hired. They owe me for lost wages!!! Their HR person doesn't do her job.
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GySgt James Neary
I had applied a dozen times for different positions. I finally asked somebody how to get hired on. Her answer: LIE. One application later, I was finally at the right place at the right time and was hired on as a Material Handler at the warehouse. Ironically, the same day, I was offered a part time position in Housekeeping (after interviewing for a full time position). I've since moved on to a different facility and a different position since my first application. don't give up.
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The VA is notorious for only bringing Vets onboard in low level positions. I tried and know others who've applied for positions they're over qualified for and get BS excuses to not even interview in many cases. I was told once that I didnt have the required degrees and the email stated that i couldn't respond. I logged in and my degree was right there with all my other documents. Another time they messaged me stated that i didnt have a bachelor's degree (again could see it) and that a masters doesn't count because it's not a bachelor's. Haha you cant get a masters without a bachelor's (which was submitted). The same thing was said in the email that the decision was final and I wasnt qualified. The VA is a civilian heavy union controlled agency. I was happy to see Trump fire thousands of them.
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PO1 Jackson Plant
It is not union controlled at all! Without the union the leaders world be firing vets all over with no regards for rights!
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CSM David Porterfield
PO1 Jackson Plant Good union answer. The Unions are part of the problem when people would never get fired or someone working at the VA was getting paid to work at the VA yet 100% of what they do is union business. Good thing that changed and what was it 2-3000 people let go from the VA in 2017. The VA is better now and the unions got reigned in but there are some hold outs. The VA was rated as having the best union a couple years back because no one ever got fired.
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