Military veterans can bring to the civilian workplace certain unique skills and attributes, although the resume of a veteran does not always make easy reading. There are various branches of the military and a manager unfamiliar with the organisational structure may find such a resume difficult to understand. Who held more responsibility: a major in the army or group captain in the air force? Understanding military ranks and responsibilities correctly can be a difficult task. Nor is it any easier to know what skills and knowledge one can expect from x years in the army, or which of these are relevant to the position you are currently recruiting for. As pointed out by businessknowhow.com, transferring military skills to the responsibilities of a civilian job can sometimes be problematic.
Another problem is that people from the army are not usually accustomed to self-praise because focusing on oneself is unacceptable when you are to accomplish a mission or lead your unit. So answering questions about their greatest success can be difficult for veterans because they might feel it would be disloyal. On the other hand, the hiring manager will be suspicious if no answer is forthcoming. Stereotypes are common, too: a military veteran is perceived solely as someone who puts feelings aside and just barks out orders.
Value military veterans can bring
- Problem solving – Veterans are very solution oriented: they have been trained to be prepared for anything and to anticipate every possibility; therefore, they never stop because of an obstacle. They are used to finding solutions to overcome such obstacles. Veteran are independent thinkers and, having risked a great deal in their previous career, tough characters. They may excel as leaders of high-performing teams and important initiatives.
- Loyalty – These employees are also more loyal, which can lead to savings induced by lower turnover.
- Trainability and adaptability – They are used to tough training and are still very trainable since learning new skills and abilities has been always crucial for them. Furthermore, having had to learn how to survive in unpredictable environments, they are good at dealing with tasks involving vague goals and limited resources.
What is your experience with hiring military veterans?
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