Posted on Nov 16, 2016
Veterans Believe Their Military Experience Hurts Job Search
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RP Members and Connection do you agree or disagree with this article? Your thoughts?
I copied and pasted a portion of the article (please click on the link for the rest)/
Nearly three-fourths of post-Sept. 11 veterans believe it would take them longer to find a job than an equally qualified nonvet, according to a new poll.
Even though the unemployment rate for veterans who have served since September 2001 was 4.7 percent in October 2016 and employers are supporting veteran hiring initiatives, the survey from talent acquisition solutions provider iCIMS reveals the fears and challenges many vets say they face during the job search process.
iCIMS collaborated with RecruitMilitary, a subsidiary of Bradley-Morris, the largest military-focused recruiting company in the U.S., in conducting the study among more than 708 post-Sept. 11 veterans to gain a better understanding of their experience and expectations while job hunting.
The most striking finding was that so many veterans feel their military experience is an obstacle to getting a job. Forty-one percent believe hiring managers do not understand their military experience, and 37 percent believe hiring managers devalue their military experience. Respondents also said that job postings require more specialized experience than they have (36 percent), that they have trouble translating military skills to civilian roles (28 percent), and that online applications are confusing or overwhelming (14 percent).
Perhaps consequently, 47 percent of respondents have understated or excluded their military service on their resume or online job application, and among those, 44 percent were concerned their military service would negatively impact the hiring decision.
"It is evident that there is a disconnect and a lack of understanding between veterans and employers," said Susan Vitale, chief marketing officer at iCIMS. "Employers can bridge the
disconnect by understanding what veterans really need to feel satisfied and fulfilled in a civilian career path."
I copied and pasted a portion of the article (please click on the link for the rest)/
Nearly three-fourths of post-Sept. 11 veterans believe it would take them longer to find a job than an equally qualified nonvet, according to a new poll.
Even though the unemployment rate for veterans who have served since September 2001 was 4.7 percent in October 2016 and employers are supporting veteran hiring initiatives, the survey from talent acquisition solutions provider iCIMS reveals the fears and challenges many vets say they face during the job search process.
iCIMS collaborated with RecruitMilitary, a subsidiary of Bradley-Morris, the largest military-focused recruiting company in the U.S., in conducting the study among more than 708 post-Sept. 11 veterans to gain a better understanding of their experience and expectations while job hunting.
The most striking finding was that so many veterans feel their military experience is an obstacle to getting a job. Forty-one percent believe hiring managers do not understand their military experience, and 37 percent believe hiring managers devalue their military experience. Respondents also said that job postings require more specialized experience than they have (36 percent), that they have trouble translating military skills to civilian roles (28 percent), and that online applications are confusing or overwhelming (14 percent).
Perhaps consequently, 47 percent of respondents have understated or excluded their military service on their resume or online job application, and among those, 44 percent were concerned their military service would negatively impact the hiring decision.
"It is evident that there is a disconnect and a lack of understanding between veterans and employers," said Susan Vitale, chief marketing officer at iCIMS. "Employers can bridge the
disconnect by understanding what veterans really need to feel satisfied and fulfilled in a civilian career path."
Veterans Believe Their Military Experience Hurts Job Search
Posted from shrm.org
Transition
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Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 30
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It hurts and it helps. There, is that wishy-washy enough for you? Sure it hurts with civilian hiring managers who are looking for specific skills that military members don't possess. It also hurts with those who have preconceived notions, largely bred from rumors propagated in popular media and films about "broken veterans". It helps with hiring managers who are looking for people who are trainable and have discipline and are self-motivated. What every veteran needs to remember is the same thing that all job seekers need to remember. You need to sell yourself and when you do, don't be discouraged by failures. As every good salesperson can tell you, when you ask for the sale, some will and some won't
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SFC (Join to see)
CPT Jack Durish Sir. Your first sentence sums it up perfectly. Myself being recently into the civilian work force I've run into a HUGE stigma of what Vets are. A well worded resume helped immensely in translating my skills and qualifications are, and a somewhat grasp that he civilian work force is NOTHING like the military. I've had my ups and downs with my job, but overall I can't complain.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
CPT Jack Durish I expect nothing less than the greatest responses from you Jack! I'd give give (10) Votes Up everytime you respond, but my ration of 75 go way too fast every morning. Hope you're doing well my friend!
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Maj John D Benedict
I was going to say it hurts and it helps, but with a different approach. It helps because military vets for the most part, have a solid work ethic. One very desirable trait. We also know how to get to work on time. It hurts because the military takes care of so much for us, that we have to relearn how to do things back in the civilian world. I've also found it a challenge to properly translate my jobs, job titles, and such into civilian size bites. If that's not enough, I think some folks are intimidated by what our resumes contain, because we carry SO much responsibility almost from the start of our careers. Makes me want to start my own business...
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GySgt Melissa Gravila
Your first sentence IS perfect- and I have found, especially in my field, when they hear "Marine" Im automatically labeled hard to get along with, rigid, unfriendly, bitch, (well, the last one is true, but that's beside the point!) And a lot of men are intimidated by my straight forward personality. I've been on interviews, answered all the questions, went through the scenarios, then see "the look" when they see "U.S.M.C. Veteran" on my resume, and they can't get rid of me fast enough! You would think I was applying to work in a post office or something! LOL
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Col Mikel Burroughs, we at NEOVETS are making strides in changing the way that HR looks at Veterans. We currently have 8 companies whom we've trained and designated as Certified Military Talent Employers:
Nagle Companies
Cleveland Clinic
Jakprints
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Park Place Technologies
Nations Lending Corporation
Lorain County Community College (Ohio)
Hyland, creator of OnBase
We have another three companies with pending decisions, and I can tell you as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for NEOVETS that we expect those three companies to be approved before the end of CY2016.
These companies MUST submit evidence as described below, and they have agreed to provide meaningful feedback throughout the recruiting cycle.
http://neovets.org/cmte-program-overview/
Nagle Companies
Cleveland Clinic
Jakprints
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Park Place Technologies
Nations Lending Corporation
Lorain County Community College (Ohio)
Hyland, creator of OnBase
We have another three companies with pending decisions, and I can tell you as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for NEOVETS that we expect those three companies to be approved before the end of CY2016.
These companies MUST submit evidence as described below, and they have agreed to provide meaningful feedback throughout the recruiting cycle.
http://neovets.org/cmte-program-overview/
CMTE Program Overview - NEOVETS
Becoming a “Certified Military Talent Employer“, is much more than a marketing tool to enrich organizations and shareholders! It’s about showing the dignity and respect to our Country’s Heroes and their families when they come home, by trulyhelping them reintegrate and connect with the fantastic employers, education, volunteer, and veteransupport opportunitiesthat already exist within northeast …
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
RP MEMBERS AND CONNECTIONS this is a great link right above this response on NEOVETS to a great source in the MidWest - check it out and my buddy Gunny McGown can help a lot of veterans work through the employment and transition minefield!
Sgt Greg Cope Sgt Joseph Baker SGT (Join to see) Cpl Ivan Dominguez TSgt Brian Eberle MAJ (Join to see) COL Randall C. SPC Tony Means PV2 Anthony Bembenek CPT Keith Steinhurst SPC (Join to see) SPC Joshua Doup SSG Tony Owen 1SG (Join to see) LCpl Todd Houston MAJ Keith Davis SGT Tim Fridley SFC (Join to see) SN Paul Cousin
Sgt Greg Cope Sgt Joseph Baker SGT (Join to see) Cpl Ivan Dominguez TSgt Brian Eberle MAJ (Join to see) COL Randall C. SPC Tony Means PV2 Anthony Bembenek CPT Keith Steinhurst SPC (Join to see) SPC Joshua Doup SSG Tony Owen 1SG (Join to see) LCpl Todd Houston MAJ Keith Davis SGT Tim Fridley SFC (Join to see) SN Paul Cousin
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GySgt Bryan A. McGown "Gunny"
SP5 Mark Kuzinski - Looking forward to it, Mark!
Again, thanks for the mod, Colonel!
Again, thanks for the mod, Colonel!
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Thanks for sharing an interesting perspective; which, I hope is the minority view COL Mikel J. Burroughs. It is sad that some veterans believe their military service hurts their job search potential. It is even sadder if not deplorable if employers would consider military service a negative on a resume.
Thanks GySgt Bryan A. McGown "Gunny" for sharing the link to NEOVETS.
Background: Initially my military service and veteran status helped me secure a position with a FFRDC [Federally Funded Research Development Center] not-for-profit company in 1992. At that point the company was veteran-friendly. After serving with that company initially as a research fellow and ending as a senior consultant just over 20 years later, I was terminated because my disabilities limited my ability to travel and move freely when the Affordable Care Act was being implemented in the summer of 2013.
The company I worked for had been listed as veteran friendly by DoD and MOAA; but that rating was no longer applicable after 2010 or so.LTC Stephen C. Capt Christopher Mueller Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT Forrest Stewart SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Robert George SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM
Thanks GySgt Bryan A. McGown "Gunny" for sharing the link to NEOVETS.
Background: Initially my military service and veteran status helped me secure a position with a FFRDC [Federally Funded Research Development Center] not-for-profit company in 1992. At that point the company was veteran-friendly. After serving with that company initially as a research fellow and ending as a senior consultant just over 20 years later, I was terminated because my disabilities limited my ability to travel and move freely when the Affordable Care Act was being implemented in the summer of 2013.
The company I worked for had been listed as veteran friendly by DoD and MOAA; but that rating was no longer applicable after 2010 or so.LTC Stephen C. Capt Christopher Mueller Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT Forrest Stewart SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Robert George SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM
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