Posted on May 20, 2014
Military classroom/instructional time vs College
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In my line of work, I often have conversations with employers and hiring managers who don't always understand military service. Where many employers are often seeking applicants with a college degree, I argue that the average enlisted service member likely has more classroom and instructional time in a 4 year period than the average recent college grad (bachelors).
While education is important, I would argue that we forget more of the details in our college classroom education, than we do of the useful military lessons learned. These military traits should be good, if not MORE useful, to an employer than a basic college education.
Thoughts? Arguments? Stats?
While education is important, I would argue that we forget more of the details in our college classroom education, than we do of the useful military lessons learned. These military traits should be good, if not MORE useful, to an employer than a basic college education.
Thoughts? Arguments? Stats?
Education
College
Enlisted
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
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Sgt Disher the thing you have to be able to do is translate what you have learned into something that the civilian employer will be able to use. Saying that you went to leadership course doesn't really tell anyone anything. Being able to say that you learend ABC and this will allow me to DEF which will increase your bottom line XYZ is what you need to work on. There are many things that our NCos have learned that will transition into a corporate world you just have to be able to explain that and let them know what skills you possess.
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Sgt (Join to see)
Agree 100%. I often say the same thing.
Something I often advocate to veteran job seekers and employers alike is the idea that the experiences can be translated with the proper knowledge on both ends. If we give the tools of interpretation, to the employer, they will immediately be able to determine the best fit, if any.
Something that has frustrated me in my line of work is the willingness by employers to accept a college education at face value, but not military experience. In other words, a Bachelor's degree for example, is an automatic prerequisite for a specific job. In some cases, specialized... like accounting or biology (to name a few), the degree does explain a lot. However, many degrees earned today aren't specialized and are "liberal arts", i.e. communications, political science or org. leadership... which could contain much of ANY type of general curriculum. To consider this another way, JMOs are heavily/blindly recruited as "top picks" when the employers REALLY don't know what their experience/knowledge is either. My big conundrum is around why NCO/Staff NCOs don't have the same consideration in job seeking.
Something I often advocate to veteran job seekers and employers alike is the idea that the experiences can be translated with the proper knowledge on both ends. If we give the tools of interpretation, to the employer, they will immediately be able to determine the best fit, if any.
Something that has frustrated me in my line of work is the willingness by employers to accept a college education at face value, but not military experience. In other words, a Bachelor's degree for example, is an automatic prerequisite for a specific job. In some cases, specialized... like accounting or biology (to name a few), the degree does explain a lot. However, many degrees earned today aren't specialized and are "liberal arts", i.e. communications, political science or org. leadership... which could contain much of ANY type of general curriculum. To consider this another way, JMOs are heavily/blindly recruited as "top picks" when the employers REALLY don't know what their experience/knowledge is either. My big conundrum is around why NCO/Staff NCOs don't have the same consideration in job seeking.
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1LT David Moeglein
When applying for a psychiatric nursing promotion based upon my civilian education, which was a BA in social work/philosophy. I was denied, because the education was too old. I resubmitted my paperwork based upon my having graduated from the US Army Field Artillery Officer Basic Course (FAOBC), and was given the promotion. Bureaucracies sometimes make me shake my head and smile. =)
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I believe that a college shows everyone that you have the commitment and discipline to concentrate yourself and energies to a field of study. How much non-theoretical, hands on, real world, leadership experience does that translate into? None. But corporate America does not speak the language of "Military Experience". They seem to only understand what is written on a college transcript and diploma.
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I really think that first colleges should really look at what credits are you spend 4 years in Military and pass PT test you should get 4 years of PE credits (6 to 12). Also should apply to employers also.
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