What's your experience finding employment? What do you wish employers understood about veterans?

SN Vivien Roman-Hampton When I was discharged in June, 1972, I interviewed along with 100 others for two operator jobs at a chemical plant. I was hired along with someone that had a college degree. I was hired because I was prepared by doing my homework on the company and having a well written resume. I also did well on the tests they had me take. I interviewed with three managers, and one manager did not like the military or veterans. I stayed calm and answered his questions.

When I obtained my degree, I went to work on the Space Shuttle program. Again, I did my homework on the program, had on a nice suit, excellent resume, and did very well on the interviews. I retired when the program ended. The key is to research the company, prepare your resume, and be ready for the interviews, i.e. "Tell me about yourself", "What value can you bring to our company," etc. Planning and preparation take time, but how bad do you want the job when there are other qualified applicants.

Don't be afraid of the military or veterans... We all know teamwork, discipline, integrity, hard work, loyalty, and we want to win.

I'm just glad the media has stopped portraying the lie the every Vet has PTSD and can explode at any time, that made it more difficult for all of us to find jobs!

In my case just understanding the concept of what the National Guard or the Reserves is and does.
Also that every time I go on a longer drill or annual training that I am not deploying forever and quitting my job.

As an employer and a Veteran, I wish employers understood that the service member or Veteran is MORE than their MOS. Just because you were infantry, combat arms or mortuary affairs, you are not put into this box that only allows you to work in positions that directly relate to what you did in the military. They need to look at everything the Veteran has done. Let's start with the MOS and all that it entails and then from there let's look at the rank that they held and all of the attributes associated with that rank. If someone was an NCO, they have leadership, training and development experience. [Side bar - In working with Ford Motor Company, I explained that NCO's and Officers work with lower enlisted soldiers to help "manufacture" them into high speed soldiers through training, development and leadership to help create new NCO's/ Officers. Due to how it was explained, Ford now considers any NCO or Officer to have manufacturing experience. It's not "traditional" manufacturing experience, but manufacturing experience none the less.-] Those things need to be taken into consideration. In addition, let's look at the schools the individual attended as well as the additional responsibilities they had, the many hats they wore and the additional duties they performed. BUT, most companies do not know how to translate a Veteran's military experience, rank or let alone, their MOS. The companies that have federal contracts have obligations with regards to Veteran hiring and it would be a hell of a lot easier for them if they knew what they were doing. However, this is where folks like me come in to build Veteran hiring programs and work to not only get them on track and to at least 7% Veteran hiring, but also educate.

I got out of the Army officially back in 2005 and kind of fell into tech support and customer service related jobs. Currently I'm working for CapGemini with a government contract there. I've been lucky to be living in Austin, where there are loads of tech support type jobs available. My previous military experience definitely helps in walking customers through troubleshooting their equipment, and dealing with issues positively, and quickly.

That our MOS / AFSC does not correlate to what we want to do in industry.

My first 2 months out, I put in over 30 resumes/applications. Nothing, no interviews, no feed back, nothing. Then I get a call from one of the gov. agencies wanting to conduct a phone interview. Interview completed, meet the next week at the site and do a VTC interview with the main boss. I figured I blew it because the VTC interview only lasted about 5 minutes. The guy who is now my supervisor walks out of the interview and asks me if I can start the next Monday? Of course I can! I walk to my truck and get a call from another agency offering me a job, I decline. Drive about a half mile and get another call from a different agency, I decline. All said, I was hired with one agency and declined two offers from two different agencies and one from a gov. contractor in a matter of 1 hour. In the 5 weeks that followed, I declined 26 job offers, of the 30 or so I put in. Been 5 and a half years now.

Commitment, loyalty and proven experience to get the job done has worked well for me. Setting the example at all times even when the boss or co-workers are not around is extremely important

First of all, I am NOT complaining, but simply stating my experience in trying to find a job (which I am still trying to do). As a veteran with no combat deployments, and having served many years ago, I am what is called a non-protected vet. As such, my service does not appear to have any measurable impact in finding employment. I am FULLY in support of recently separated vets and those who have served in combat or combat support being given preferential treatment. Those of us who are the "lost vets" have nobody to blame for not being in combat, and our service, in the eyes of private sector employers is simply another entry on a CV or application. It is what it is. My service is a matter of immense satisfaction and pride. It simply does not translate into private sector employment very well.