Military Veterans Take “ACTion!” To Apply Your Military Skills At Work

LTC Chad Storlie — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 06:35:23 -0500

What can a military veteran or an employer of a military veteran do quickly and do effectively to help an organization succeed? This appears to be a simple question, but in a new business, a federal government role, a non-profit, or educational institution, this can be daunting challenge. Today’s employment environment can be characterized by few opportunities, a high degree of risk avoidance by companies in their hiring practices, and an ongoing focus on employee productivity. However, a military veteran applicant can quickly become the top candidate when they decisively leverage all of their military experience in a way that directly supports the primary goals of the organization. The secret for veterans is to constantly and consistently translate, leverage, and demonstrate all that military experience can do for an organization’s success.

The answer for veterans as they approach their military-to-civilian career transition, their first formal post-military role, or how they can expand their career horizons is to categorize their skills and experiences into three, simple areas. The “ACTion!” framework is to help veterans brand and organize their skill sets so they can boost their productivity and skills translation. “ACTion!” represents three main principles how a veteran can define their value to an employer:

1. A – Attributes. Attributes reflect your personal value as an employee such as teamwork, professionalism, safety awareness, and attitude.
2. C - Concrete, Trained Skill Sets. Concrete and universally recognized skill sets from military training such as IT certifications, foreign language training, and maintenance skills.
3. T – Translate Military Skills to Commercial Use. Translate military skill sets into commercial uses.
4. The “ACTion!” framework represents applying the veteran’s Attributes, Concrete skills, and Translating military-to-business applications to help an organization understand, plan, execute, and improve people, products, and processes.

The “ACTion!” framework also helps a military veteran categorize their skills and experience so they can fully translate and capture all that they can bring an organization. This framework is not to be used solely for interviews and employment searching. The “ACTion!” framework is equally essential when networking, career planning, and for internal job promotions to ensure a veteran is applying the full range of their skill sets to business. Next time you sit down before your resume, cover letter, prepare for an interview, or work on your long-range career plan, start with an in-depth brainstorm following the “ACTion!” framework. You will be amazed at everything you find for your success.

Three To Do Items to Leverage Fully the “ACTion!” framework.

1. Attributes are Best Described by Telling a Story. Everyone lists hard work, leadership, and teamwork on their resumes. A story that emphasizes these characteristics in a way that an employer can easily understand and apply to their business is what makes a veteran different and a standout. What to discuss professionalism? Describe how you ran a 10,000 SKU warehouse in 120 degree heat with 50% of the required staff and met all deliveries with a 90%+ on time – now that’s professionalism! Ensure your story is simple, less than 5 minutes, and highlights your other concrete skills.

2. Concrete Skill Sets Show Specialization and Depth. Concrete skills are a great way to differentiate you in a large group. Make sure that the resume, cover letter, and conversation fully translate and describe all of your concrete skills. Did you go to DLI? Great, that is . . .? How about, “I attended a word-class, full immersion language program for 12 months that enabled me to not only understand language, but custom, tone, and secondary meanings. Imagine what this appreciation of language and culture can do for your sales program!” That is concrete skills making a difference.

3. Translate Military Skill Sets Into Areas that Employers Do Not Have. Translating military skills and methods into civilian uses is one of the most powerful skill sets that veterans possess. Coaching is an area where veterans from all services excel. Create a coaching program for your floor or department to develop new leaders. Launching a new consumer product, why not use the “War Game” process to walk through the launch process and fully understand the competitive response to ensure the new product is a success. Most civilian employers have no idea of the full value that military skills can bring to their organizations when the military skills are applied to meet the company’s culture and existing processes.

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Feb 19 at 2016 7:11 AM

PO2 Mark Saffell — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 07:11:51 -0500

Great Post. Thank You

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Feb 19 at 2016 7:33 AM

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 07:33:34 -0500

Thank you for such a fine post.

Response by GySgt John O'Donnell made Feb 19 at 2016 9:28 AM

GySgt John O'Donnell — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 09:28:56 -0500

Your article is 100% on point. But what I have found in my case that it is very difficult to articulate this "ACTion" in a 1 or 2 page resume, especially having served within multiple roles during my career in the military. The military expects you to "be flexible", "adapt and overcome" and "grow where planted", where it feels like the civilian sector wants you to "stay in you box", "seek self preservation", and "manage rather than lead".

Response by Vikki Nicometo made Feb 19 at 2016 9:43 AM

Vikki Nicometo — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 09:43:53 -0500

Great advice! This former civilian recruiter approves :)

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 19 at 2016 1:07 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 13:07:53 -0500

Military leaders can take a task, plan, coordinate amongst various layers, build a team, and execute.