Posted on Mar 29, 2015
Col Robert Nuanes
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Understanding Military vs. Civilian Cultures - Job-Hunt.org

http://www.job-hunt.org/veterans-job-search/military-vs-civilian-cultures.shtml

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Responses: 2
SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
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I can guarantee you that things like "Scout / Sniper" and "Search and Destroy Mission" are not good things to have on your civi resume.

However, there are many times when you find yourself in a "situational interview" where you will be asked "Give us a situation where teamwork has mattered in a previous job". Now your real problem is selecting which of the several thousand you have as an x-troopie that wont scare the pants off the suits in front of you.
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Col Robert Nuanes
Col Robert Nuanes
9 y
Very true! and if you do scare the pants off of 'em then the feeedback you get is you are overqualified for the job! I know I have been given that line when I scare them with those words
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
9 y
Q: "So Col Robert Nuanes what would you say your greatest strength is?"

A: "To be able to hit a target from a 1/2 mile out using nothing but my trusty service rifle.

Q: "Well then.. moving on... What would you say your greatest weakness is?"

A: "I don't handle rejection well"
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SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
9 y
SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. glad you approve. Of course I don't advocate using this... unless you really want to gauge a reaction, or you already have the job in the bank, and the HR person has a GREAT sense of humor.
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COL Vincent Stoneking
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Having had feet in both worlds for many years, there is a grain of truth in the article, but I think it is oversimplified and overstated.

Anyone who has ever worked three days on staff understands a matrixed environment. Anyone who has ever served in the military for a few years has been in ambiguous operating environments (It was the Army that introduced me to "Semper Gumby"). Once you have been in a few years, my experience is that the environment is a lot more collaborative than "command and control" (doesn't mean that the Iron Fist isn't there if needed, but it's not the daily operating paradigm) Etc, etc, etc.

Moreover to say "all civilian environments are like..." is just as silly as saying "all branches of the military are the same" or even "all Army QM units are the same." Some civilian environments lack any discernible structure, others are absolutely command & control to an extent that the military of the 1950s would be envious.

The biggest area for awareness is simply an understanding that different systems are ..... different. From there, it becomes as question of "what do I want" or "what can I make work, given my other commitments?"
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Col Robert Nuanes
Col Robert Nuanes
9 y
There is a lot of gray area for sure. As you pointed out the real question is the one that the member needs to answer him/herself. Thanks for responding!
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