Posted on Jul 18, 2014
SGT Aaron Miranda
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Okay, you are a proven field NCO/Officer. Your resume clearly states your leadership experience and you effectively used the STAR method explaining your tangible management skill-sets. Of course, civilians with no military experience only assume you are just yelling at your subordinates and making stuff up to get the job. How do you overcome this hurdle during the interview?
Posted in these groups: Imgres EmploymentInterview logo Interview6882756f Management
Edited 10 y ago
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Responses: 7
Sgt Randy Hill
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Sgt Miranda such way is to extract the key words for management used on the job posting instead of using the military jargon from our military job analysis. Put your management words and experiences in their corporate language. The job posting and descriptions are great keyword sources.
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SGT Aaron Miranda
SGT Aaron Miranda
10 y
The reason I bring this up is that is a hurdle many veterans are facing in the corporate environment. Not their ability to show their tangible skill sets, but convincing their tangible skill sets worth in the corporate environment with the employers potential natural bias.
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LTC Paul Labrador
LTC Paul Labrador
10 y
If it becomes an issue during the hiring process, than I would argue that the SM did NOT adequately translate his skill set into a civilian frame of reference.
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SGT Aaron Miranda
SGT Aaron Miranda
10 y
Good point.
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CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR
CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR
>1 y
I agree with you Paul the employer is making a hard time trying to connect your responses to their needs. That is something that could be improved on very easily with practice.
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SGT Richard H.
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Edited >1 y ago
list out day to day management tasks and responsibilities, written in civilian-speak. Never forget that they don't speak our language. It's best if you have it written out this way on your resume and what you say verbally doesn't contradict, of course.
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CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR
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I politely disagree that all employers I know there are some that you are going to run into that has biases. But they are tasked with trying to find the best candidate for the role regardless of whether they served in the military or not. I have roles where there is only one position however 1K people apply for it how do you suggest you start sourcing for the position? You have to start somewhere and there is going to be a cutoff and shortlist that you may not make it to. It is a numbers game.

If you go to an interview thinking that the employer has bias your gun is half cocked. You have to go in there and give it our best and hope you convinced the interviewer that you at least make the short list.

So how do you increase the probability of a better chance network, network, network.........
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SGT Aaron Miranda
SGT Aaron Miranda
>1 y
I know for a fact that there are many awesome employers that understand military skills-sets. But different regions have different realities. You do bring up a good point regarding the best qualified. How would you as an applicant straight out of the military show that you have the KSA's to be a manager? I know of plenty O-5's and E-9's that have been told that they are looking for individuals with management experience. It is not just the employers, but also the veteran. Here is a recent study regarding choke points and employers view: http://www.cnas.org/files/documents/publications/CNAS_EmployingAmericasVeterans_HarrellBerglass.pdf . Let's say you are an E-8 in a 92g position. Do you think they should have an issue finding a position as a dining facilities manager? Here is the story of a high speed E-8 92G with those hurdles. http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/dining/articles/20130606iraq-veteran-grilled-cheese-truck-goodyear.html .

Again, my goal is not to say that I am right or wrong. My goal is to get different opinions on how to handle those hurdles. (For our brothers looking for employment.) I still remember my first job interview after the military. They asked me directly if I had PTSD. I knew that question was illegal and was personally protected by ADA. Things like this happen. Also, you are 100% right about networking. Every position I have every received was from networking. Many people do not realize that what is posted online is only 20% of all the positions out there. The other 80% is the "hidden job market". A good book that I use in my employment workshops for networking is Networking for Veterans: "http://www.amazon.com/Networking-For-Veterans-Successful-Transition/dp/ [login to see] "
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CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR
CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR
>1 y
Also what I do when I am talking to a candidate that say they are looking form a management role I ask to explain what do the mean. Some of the roles that I hire for may be an individual contributor dotted line to the organization and you do not have any direct report but your role is very important to the overall mission. So I try to deal with that upfront before they get into the process.

Secondly I am like you there are many ways to skin a cat so it is good to hear other perspectives and ultimately you can choose how you want to skin the cat.

good post
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How Do You Handle The," We Are Looking For Individuals With Management Experience Question?" During An Interview.
LCpl Carl E. Reid
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Before any interview, each candidate should do a little homework on 2 fronts
- Google the company for their web site to understand what products and services it provides
- Look on the company web site to learn what the mission of the organization is about. This provides business intelligence about the "corporate culture", which is different in each company.

Management experience being obvious in the resume is a secondary reason for the interviewer question "We Are Looking For Individuals With Management Experience"

The primary and more important reason for asking the question has 2 objectives:

1. To verify the candidate can clearly communicate ideas and the speaking manner / tonality of the presentation delivery.

2. Clarify whether the candidate's management style fits into the mission / corporate culture.

Carl E. Reid, CSI
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LTC Chad Storlie
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Attached is a recent article that I used two easy to remember frameworks for answering interview questions and the top 10 questions that will be asked.

http://taskandpurpose.com/3-communication-methods-master-next-job-interview/

Hope this helps!

Chad
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SGT Aaron Miranda
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Thanks everybody for the input. I just wanted to stir it up and get different views for veterans struggling with this obstacle. This is the truth of what is out there. The article attached is an example of a person that overcame that struggle. He was educated, retired 1st SGT, and possessed the gift of gab. He was one of my warriors that face this issue and did something about it with some help. http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/dining/articles/20130606iraq-veteran-grilled-cheese-truck-goodyear.html
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SGT Ben Keen
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Okay so there is one thing that rubs me wrong way about how you phrase your question (or maybe I just never experienced it). In my experience, no civilian employer that I either worked for or interviewed with assumed I'm just yelling at my Soldiers or making stuff up to get the job. If they do, then it's probably not the right company for you. However, there are things Veterans can do to help raise their chances of setting a good first impression on the job interview and then hopefully on the first few days/weeks of the new job.

Carry yourself well. When you go to that interview, walk with the confidence of leader. Don't just walk looking down at the ground. Walk into the interview, make eye contact and exchange a good handshake.

Sound confident. Along with the way you walk, the way you talk says a lot about you. This doesn't mean be the loudest voice in the room. Sometimes the loudest voice isn't always the one people are paying attention to. Speak like you know what you are doing because you do. Speak clearly and avoid words such as "like", "um", "whatnot", "sort of", "maybe", etc.

Do you research. You land an interview, then get to know the company. Look at their online social media sites and reviews. Sites like Glassdoor.com and LinkedIN are huge resources when you are trying to learn about the company. Look to see if your interviewer is on LinkedIN, read his/her profile; learn their background. Again, research and prep.

Lastly, this isn't a military board. This is an interview, give it the respect it deserves but do not go over board. There is no need to walk in at the position of attention and wait to be told to take a seat. You want to look confident, not robotic.

These are just a few things Veterans can do to give the right impression on the interview. These are things you can do to help SHOW that you have management experience.
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SGT Aaron Miranda
SGT Aaron Miranda
10 y
Nice response. You probably haven't seen it and that is great! Everyday, I work with highly qualified veterans that present themselves very well that are not considered for management positions. There has been plenty occasions (Behind close doors.) where I had to go into detail why these companies should consider NCO's for management position. Don't get me wrong. Not all companies are like this, but there are plenty out there. I am not asking, "how do you present yourself during the interview." I am asking, "how do you respond when a hiring manager has that bias against you." Maybe I wasn't clear in my question, but thank you though for putting out the basics.
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SGT Ben Keen
SGT Ben Keen
10 y
I work with several civilian organizations as well here in the Pittsburgh area. I've talked to CEOs and HR managers of some of the area's largest employers here in Pittsburgh. Now I know Pittsburgh it pretty friendly to Veterans. This area boosts some of the nation's highest numbers of Veterans calling the area home. In my talks with them, they never mentioned that someone wasn't considered for a position because of an assumption made on the hiring manager's part. Personally, I tell Veterans to not just expect to walk in to a new job and expect the corner office because the Veteran was an NCO or Officer. Does it happen? Sure it does and that's great but normally, a business will have the Veteran start some where else in the organization and work their way up to management.

Now, if the Veteran is interviewing for a management position and faces an employer who thinks all the Veteran did was yell at Soldiers or is faking the information, then the Veteran needs to have examples of how they worked in a management role. For example, in 2006 I was the Operations NCOIC for my unit in Iraq. It was my duty to ensure the day-to-day tasks were sent out by the unit which was separated by a hundreds of miles. I was able to use my Project Management skills to help plan and execute these tasks and leverage the power of the team by ensuring time lines were used and followed. That is the sort of thing employers like to hear. Give the interviewer only reasons to think you are the best person for the position by providing well thought out examples of these soft-type of skills.
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SGT Aaron Miranda
SGT Aaron Miranda
10 y
NOW that was the answer I was looking for! Being comfortable enough with yourself and your abilities to correct the misinformation this individual has about you. WHY is a powerful word. I tell my warriors if they come across this during the interview, to ask the why question. If they get the "it's different" rebuttal, be comfortable and confident enough to ask ,"Why" and "please elaborate." They have nothing to lose. Nice catch Ben.
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CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR
CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR
>1 y
I think you spend a lot of energy trying to correct misinformation if it does not lead to the job offer. They think they are right you think they are wrong or vice versa.....does it matter at the end of the day. Because I think I am right does that automatically make them wrong....it is there right. In most cases it is what it is pick up the ruck and lets start humping to the next checkpoint.

I would also caution using "Why" although powerful but can put someone on the defense.....why you drank the last soda? Why were you late for formation?

You can use what, when, how, where

What additional information about my management experience would you like to know?

Where would you like me to start explaining my management skills from the beginning or should I start in the middle?

How do you help servicemembers transition their management experience in your company?

Where would I start in the company with my military management experience?

Some thing to think about
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