Posted on Jan 5, 2017
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I recently had the opportunity to speak with a recruiter that stated that many vets are just not qualified for most civilian careers and I went ahead and kindly provided her with valuable feedback to the contrary. Here are 10 reasons why I think you should hire a veteran. SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas SGT Damaso V Santana 1LT Sandy Annala COL Mikel J. Burroughs
recruiters-employers-10-reasons-why-hiring-veterans-rodriguez
Posted from linkedin.com
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Transition
Business
Leadership
Finance
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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I manage major automotive manufacturer Veterans placement programs. Here's some top challenges and issues transitioning Service Members face in the private sector:
1- A lack of civilian professional credentials. They see it no differently than you would if some guy in jeans and a T shirt said, "I'm ready to go to the 82nd Airborne" but had never been to jump school.
2- Too many Veterans are guilty of job hoping. They get out and dabble in employment without first deciding exactly what they want to do. This is damaging to their resume and marketability.
3- Veterans grossly overestimate their marketability, and the pay and compensation they believe they should receive. You've got to be willing to take a step back, get your foot in the door, and prove yourself. Then the money will follow.
4- We claim that Veterans have a solid work ethic, but in the business world where revenue MUST exceed expenses to turn a profit, some of our Veterans do not put in the effort that employers expect.
5- Some Veterans expect to be led from sunrise to sunset and coached every minute of every day. I have seen this turn into a situation where the employer becomes frustrated with the lack of initiative and self motivation.
6- Loyalty matters in and out of uniform. I have seen Veterans quit a great job without a care about the downstream impact on their fellow Veterans. When a Veteran fails in the private sector workplace, their employer will be less likely to hire another Veteran.
7- Occasionally Veterans underestimate the income they will need to live outside the gate. Some folks forget the impact of taxes and commuting costs on their budget.
8- VA disability compensation can be a trap. I have seen some Veterans game the system to max out their ratings WHILE WORKING. Employers take notice when their Veteran employee is constantly absent for VA medical appointments. Beware of sending mixed signals. Are you embarking on a new career, or just heading for retirement on disability? Also beware that if you hit the disability lottery at 100% you may NOT be allowed to work.
9- Going to school on the GI BILL can be a great thing. But be careful about what curriculum you sign up for. Make sure it matches the career path you are pursuing. Also - there are great apprenticeship opportunities and professional trade schools that are GI BILL eligible.
10- Avoid a long break in service. Don't take a year off after transitioning out to sail around the world. You need to start working SOON after separating. Otherwise there's going to be a curious gap in your resume... And HR people notice everything.
Those are some things I have observed that Veterans should consider when bridging the divide into the private sector. This is based on experience with recruiting thousands of Military Service Members for automotive careers with Audi, Jaguar Land Rover, and other major organizations.
Good luck and best wishes for success!
1- A lack of civilian professional credentials. They see it no differently than you would if some guy in jeans and a T shirt said, "I'm ready to go to the 82nd Airborne" but had never been to jump school.
2- Too many Veterans are guilty of job hoping. They get out and dabble in employment without first deciding exactly what they want to do. This is damaging to their resume and marketability.
3- Veterans grossly overestimate their marketability, and the pay and compensation they believe they should receive. You've got to be willing to take a step back, get your foot in the door, and prove yourself. Then the money will follow.
4- We claim that Veterans have a solid work ethic, but in the business world where revenue MUST exceed expenses to turn a profit, some of our Veterans do not put in the effort that employers expect.
5- Some Veterans expect to be led from sunrise to sunset and coached every minute of every day. I have seen this turn into a situation where the employer becomes frustrated with the lack of initiative and self motivation.
6- Loyalty matters in and out of uniform. I have seen Veterans quit a great job without a care about the downstream impact on their fellow Veterans. When a Veteran fails in the private sector workplace, their employer will be less likely to hire another Veteran.
7- Occasionally Veterans underestimate the income they will need to live outside the gate. Some folks forget the impact of taxes and commuting costs on their budget.
8- VA disability compensation can be a trap. I have seen some Veterans game the system to max out their ratings WHILE WORKING. Employers take notice when their Veteran employee is constantly absent for VA medical appointments. Beware of sending mixed signals. Are you embarking on a new career, or just heading for retirement on disability? Also beware that if you hit the disability lottery at 100% you may NOT be allowed to work.
9- Going to school on the GI BILL can be a great thing. But be careful about what curriculum you sign up for. Make sure it matches the career path you are pursuing. Also - there are great apprenticeship opportunities and professional trade schools that are GI BILL eligible.
10- Avoid a long break in service. Don't take a year off after transitioning out to sail around the world. You need to start working SOON after separating. Otherwise there's going to be a curious gap in your resume... And HR people notice everything.
Those are some things I have observed that Veterans should consider when bridging the divide into the private sector. This is based on experience with recruiting thousands of Military Service Members for automotive careers with Audi, Jaguar Land Rover, and other major organizations.
Good luck and best wishes for success!
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COL Bernard Hyland
SP5 Patricia Campbell - Generally speaking the mid grad NCOs and junior officers tend to do well. But I have seen mixed results with retirees and many younger Veterans.
The auto industry is a performance based culture where technicians are paid on a flat rate system. Hard workers are rewarded and can make good money. But we do see Veterans who struggle because they have never been subjected to working against the clock. They all come from a fixed salary environment and it can be a shock to them.
The auto industry is a performance based culture where technicians are paid on a flat rate system. Hard workers are rewarded and can make good money. But we do see Veterans who struggle because they have never been subjected to working against the clock. They all come from a fixed salary environment and it can be a shock to them.
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SPC Carlos R.
Sir, Interesting assessment. I believe that your right about those seeking to get permanent disability are most likely not the best candidates. My experience hiring veterans has been extremely positive. I think sometimes giving them guidance from someone who has been in their shoes helps.
God Bless.
God Bless.
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COL Bernard Hyland
SPC Carlos R. - I have a team of professional recruiters - all of them former career military senior enlisted personnel from multiple services. They are a tough bunch to get past, but they go out of their way to help every eligible Veteran prepare for the big leap into the private sector.
We fix nearly 100% of the resumes that we see. We provide interview preparation assistance, coaching, etc. The programs we facilitate for Audi and Jaguar Land Rover are designed specifically for Veterans, but the technology in the vehicles is dramatically more advanced than the typical military equipment most Veterans have been working on. So those who succeed in these programs are typically from the top end of the performance spectrum in the Armed Forces.
We fix nearly 100% of the resumes that we see. We provide interview preparation assistance, coaching, etc. The programs we facilitate for Audi and Jaguar Land Rover are designed specifically for Veterans, but the technology in the vehicles is dramatically more advanced than the typical military equipment most Veterans have been working on. So those who succeed in these programs are typically from the top end of the performance spectrum in the Armed Forces.
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I 'm a Cook/ Baker Supervisor 62270 (that was the AFSC -Air Force Specialty code I had when I left the AF(retired via VA). I worked many positions in the Food Svc industry on the outside.. catering Chef/mgr., Sous Chef(same as
1st Cook after shift ldr., Chef d'Cuisine at a resort in Canada.. 2 years.. I had worked in officer and NCO open Mess at
Various bases, besides my Regular Mess
Hall duty. So I was able to transition easily later.... I went to a job , they asked what I did in AF. I told about my part time club work. They said come back when you worked in a real restaurant... I said let me show you.. i. Did and was hired, got more familiarized
With layout.. where things were.. in kitchen.. timing is of essence.. a month later I was running that kitchen.. do the job right, or leave.. clean as you go, the line is limited in space so don't clutter build up, get rid of what's not needed..
stay stocked.. have a dedicated linebacker that will know what you need
B'-4 you need it.. it took time, got rid of slackers.. don't be walking off to drag on a cig. W/o telling me.. or the line
Chief.. guy went back to get some product supposedly.. found him on
Back dock dragging on a cig. He finished shift but it was his last one.
That restaurant was sluggish, losing money.. the new crew and I turned it around... it made $$$ again...! The company wanted to erect a new
Restaurant just 8 miles west... would I go and help it get going.. two months go by I hear nada.. I go to work, locked up tighter than Fort Knox .. They weren't paying the bills... somehow I got took care of.. one of the owners found where I lived and brought me cash .. two months worth of pay.. I never seen him again.. I banked it, some every two weeks, make it look good.. he also handed me a nice endorsement letter..
Time look for another job...
1st Cook after shift ldr., Chef d'Cuisine at a resort in Canada.. 2 years.. I had worked in officer and NCO open Mess at
Various bases, besides my Regular Mess
Hall duty. So I was able to transition easily later.... I went to a job , they asked what I did in AF. I told about my part time club work. They said come back when you worked in a real restaurant... I said let me show you.. i. Did and was hired, got more familiarized
With layout.. where things were.. in kitchen.. timing is of essence.. a month later I was running that kitchen.. do the job right, or leave.. clean as you go, the line is limited in space so don't clutter build up, get rid of what's not needed..
stay stocked.. have a dedicated linebacker that will know what you need
B'-4 you need it.. it took time, got rid of slackers.. don't be walking off to drag on a cig. W/o telling me.. or the line
Chief.. guy went back to get some product supposedly.. found him on
Back dock dragging on a cig. He finished shift but it was his last one.
That restaurant was sluggish, losing money.. the new crew and I turned it around... it made $$$ again...! The company wanted to erect a new
Restaurant just 8 miles west... would I go and help it get going.. two months go by I hear nada.. I go to work, locked up tighter than Fort Knox .. They weren't paying the bills... somehow I got took care of.. one of the owners found where I lived and brought me cash .. two months worth of pay.. I never seen him again.. I banked it, some every two weeks, make it look good.. he also handed me a nice endorsement letter..
Time look for another job...
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
That was many years ago.. I remember at a few jobs that a cooks that wanted to "fine-tune" me out back or some other place.. because they said "I got them fired". I took a chance and said let's talk about this over a few beers.. or pops..
we went some place with a lot of witnesses.. ordered a pizza and beverages.. we even split the bill.
So we talked and I layed it out and in the end I had them convinced they got themselves canned... we made our adieus and parted ways. I haven't seen them since then because I don't live near nor work in that area anymore..
Them fools still had the cajones to try and get unemployment.. that boss told me they almost got it.. a junior mgr. almost signed off because he didn't know the story. He went to the owner
and he commented that it wasn't happening.. they were justly fired..
those fools at Michworks (a contractor hired by state to handle unemployment
Services.. ) State still handled hearings..
I only drew unemployment for two weeks.. the money helped.. until my travel pay came.. I got me a good job as a line/prep Cook at a local eatery.. I didn't have time to fool around ... I went in there and showed what I could do..
I got hired and was told to come back the next day.. when I got there, the brother had hired another young guy that had little knowledge of working a Cook line in a restaurant. He just hired without a try-out. The boss said I'll see how he works.. So we worked side by side.. I worked with him, a good worker
But too slow. I tried to get him to pick it
Up.. maybe he'd be better just being a prep cook.. I talked to the owner, he said he'd see.. he turned out to be a good prepper.. was thorough.. clean worker.. (not just hygiene but his 'mis en
Plac(e).. ) . I worked up to being lead cook on the other shift there. S'body bought him out and kept the cheapest paid Cooks[in '86 I was earning $7 an hour with medical ins]. So off I went to find a new job. I knew s'thing was in the air.. so I already had a new job lined up, it was down the other side of town on Mich. Ave. The guy that bought the boss out said I signed an agreement..
I told him to look again.. ( I signed with
M. Maus in fancy letters, he didn't even look at it, threw it in a drawer..).. it wasn't legally binding.. so I'm down the street..
earning $8.50 an hr. I had VA so all I needed was on the job medical.. stayed two years, She retired and sold the building and business.. the new people shuttered it for two months to do a refit..
I'd already found s'thing new.. had a lot of energy then, still a young guy...
we went some place with a lot of witnesses.. ordered a pizza and beverages.. we even split the bill.
So we talked and I layed it out and in the end I had them convinced they got themselves canned... we made our adieus and parted ways. I haven't seen them since then because I don't live near nor work in that area anymore..
Them fools still had the cajones to try and get unemployment.. that boss told me they almost got it.. a junior mgr. almost signed off because he didn't know the story. He went to the owner
and he commented that it wasn't happening.. they were justly fired..
those fools at Michworks (a contractor hired by state to handle unemployment
Services.. ) State still handled hearings..
I only drew unemployment for two weeks.. the money helped.. until my travel pay came.. I got me a good job as a line/prep Cook at a local eatery.. I didn't have time to fool around ... I went in there and showed what I could do..
I got hired and was told to come back the next day.. when I got there, the brother had hired another young guy that had little knowledge of working a Cook line in a restaurant. He just hired without a try-out. The boss said I'll see how he works.. So we worked side by side.. I worked with him, a good worker
But too slow. I tried to get him to pick it
Up.. maybe he'd be better just being a prep cook.. I talked to the owner, he said he'd see.. he turned out to be a good prepper.. was thorough.. clean worker.. (not just hygiene but his 'mis en
Plac(e).. ) . I worked up to being lead cook on the other shift there. S'body bought him out and kept the cheapest paid Cooks[in '86 I was earning $7 an hour with medical ins]. So off I went to find a new job. I knew s'thing was in the air.. so I already had a new job lined up, it was down the other side of town on Mich. Ave. The guy that bought the boss out said I signed an agreement..
I told him to look again.. ( I signed with
M. Maus in fancy letters, he didn't even look at it, threw it in a drawer..).. it wasn't legally binding.. so I'm down the street..
earning $8.50 an hr. I had VA so all I needed was on the job medical.. stayed two years, She retired and sold the building and business.. the new people shuttered it for two months to do a refit..
I'd already found s'thing new.. had a lot of energy then, still a young guy...
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
In short what I was saying was only in few examples are many Military not qualified to transit into civilian equivalent fields. But for the most we are the best and most reliable ones to be there when needed.. we get the job done, and do it right with some extra thrown in. Vets didn't say: "oh there"s the whistle to quit, time to go. Cleaned their work area
and didn't leave until told to..or walk off and go drag on a cig w/o telling a supervisor.. Vets have a lot of qualities
Bosses can only dream about with some
Civilians..
and didn't leave until told to..or walk off and go drag on a cig w/o telling a supervisor.. Vets have a lot of qualities
Bosses can only dream about with some
Civilians..
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SPC (Join to see) thanks for the read and share, very effective and needed information for the Veteran!
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