Veterans live by their military branch creed, risking their lives for their country. Once it comes time to transition back into civilian life, there is a question about whether the military experience will warrant them good enough for employment and how to connect that military expertise to the civilian job force. Find out what you should know as a veteran job searcher at https://money.usnews.com/careers/.
The suggestion is that the veteran population is roughly 7% of the total populace, but that does not account for the number that reaches employment status.
When questioned as to the traits of a military veteran and why they would qualify as a viable candidate for employment, many employers describe them as a leader, disciplined, and heroic.
These only comprise a small portion of these individuals’ expertise and value true. Go here for stats relating to vets in the labor force. Let us look at some of the actual characteristics of a proper civilian resume for a veteran showcasing expert skills worthy of top-notch employment in the job force.
Veteran Characteristics Worthy of Top-Notch Employment in The Civilian Job Force
As mentioned, the civilian business leaders, when approached with prospective military veteran employees, asked what they would deem their most remarkable traits. The response was as it would be for everyone when asked about veterans and their characteristics: disciplined, excellent leadership, and heroism.
The problem is these are a minute fraction of the veteran’s skill level or what they have to offer a civilian employer.
When recruiters and employment leaders take the opportunity to view the natural assets a military veteran offers the job force, more veterans will find gainful employment, and companies will benefit from these individuals’ strengths. Some of these include:
Strong work ethic
This would likely translate as a “mission-first” thought process in the military. The work ethic is described as “service before self,” a core value used by the Air Force.
An average staff member within a company will thrive on mediocrity. At the same time, a veteran performing for that same business would commit to diligence, offering only outstanding performance because that is all they know, loyalty and excellence.
Critical thinking/problem solve
Problem-solving and critical thinking is essential when in the military. Because of this, being able to analyze almost any circumstance becomes a trait for these individuals.
The underlying reason needs to be found in every situation, as well as deciding on the ideal resolution, developing a plan to execute that solution, and acting on that.
For a veteran, these steps are natural regardless of the problem since they offer unique problem-solving techniques. In the job force, critical thinking and problem-solving are referenced as “soft skills.”
According to hiring staff, these are considered among the worthiest traits an employee can have, with these talents being a challenge to find.
Performance under pressure
If the military does not work under pressure, no one does. The effort is to resolve conflict worldwide with whatever strength the force has behind it. Veterans will perform ideally in high-stress or pressure-filled atmospheres.
Military vets have endless supplies of discipline to handle duties while dealing with pressure and thrive where a typical staff member might not be able to take the stress.
Able to adapt regardless of the situation and overcome obstacles
These individuals are used to acting outside of their comfort level. Their life revolves around moving from one location to another, both abroad and in the US. That means they need to adapt quickly to unfamiliar circumstances and overcome obstacles.
Adjustments come easily with an innate ability to blend into the background. Per the Marines, “Improvise, Adapt, Overcome.” With a civilian job force, this trait works well for multitasking, filling in for other people when needed, and taking over a new role easily without frustration or overwhelm.
Crisis management and negotiation skills
There are experiences with hostage circumstances in combat involving crisis management and negotiations with military service. Because of this, there is a level of patience in a civilian atmosphere that is bar none.
Typical conflicts can be easily resolved. These are typically relatively straightforward to manage with merely a matter of time to preserve work relations.
The veteran will consider all views without becoming personally involved, working for the betterment of not only the individuals involved but the entire team to develop a solid solution.
Final Thought
With a veteran resume sent to civilian business leaders, it is essential to translate the military language into civilian terminology to showcase otherwise overlooked talents.
The military career needs to be a highlight on the resume since this highlights the overall expertise developed during the time in military service. Changes need to occur as far as the tunnel vision of the job force viewing military veterans solely in their service positions.
These individuals are not recognized for talents as transitioned skills that can be incredibly beneficial to any organization, some of which most average staff members do not possess.
Unfortunately, between the veterans not knowing where they fit in the civilian world of business and the business leaders not understanding where they should put them, a lot of valuable experience is being overlooked.
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