Posted on Jul 17, 2015
What discourages enlisted rank veterans from white-collar careers?
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This article raises some valid points about corporations giving an edge to officer rank veterans. I agree that there are more obstacles facing enlisted rank veterans transitioning into a white-collar environment, but is it always the corporations fault? Many enlisted veterans that I know, even after college, choose the blue-collar route. I don't believe enlisted rank veterans give white-collar career fields a fair chance after service. As an enlisted rank veteran that has worked for two corporations, I have noticed that veterans (officer and enlisted) are in high demand. With the large number of career fairs and recruitment initiatives aimed at veterans, I have to think there is a missing component when dealing with enlisted rank veterans. Do enlisted vets even want these jobs? Are they not putting in the effort to build their resume? Do they know how to effectively translate their skills (soft skills vs. hard skills)? Overall, there are many great blue and white collar careers for vets to choose from, but I would love to see more enlisted vets at the water cooler. - Matt Medhat, 0331 - Kilo Co. 3/1 USMC
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Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 25
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Honestly, after many job searches, and resume submissions, the biggest deterrence is Human Resources failure to recognize that the enlisted ranks can do a white collar job
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SrA Edward Vong
PO1 John Miller
Ever wanted to get into business processing? The money can be pretty good, and there's always room for advancement. There's careers like that almost everywhere (more if you live in or near a big city).
Ever wanted to get into business processing? The money can be pretty good, and there's always room for advancement. There's careers like that almost everywhere (more if you live in or near a big city).
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PO1 John Miller
SrA Edward Vong
Not particularly. I've actually accepted a job doing what I really want to do, but it's contingent upon the contract being awarded. The joys of working for government contractors!
Not particularly. I've actually accepted a job doing what I really want to do, but it's contingent upon the contract being awarded. The joys of working for government contractors!
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SrA Edward Vong
PO1 John Miller
Congrats on the job! I wanted to work for companies which supported the military, Lockheed, Boeng, etc. There's a few offices in NYC (where I want to move), well we'll see where it goes.
Congrats on the job! I wanted to work for companies which supported the military, Lockheed, Boeng, etc. There's a few offices in NYC (where I want to move), well we'll see where it goes.
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PO1 John Miller
SrA Edward Vong
I've actually worked for nothing but defense contractors since I got out of the Navy. L3 Communications supporting Customs and Border Patrol, The IT Experts, Inc. subcontracted to Hewlett Packard supporting the Marine Corps Intranet upgrading seats from XP to 7 (I got laid off from that position because it was the same company that Aaron Alexis, the Washington Navy Yard shooter, worked for. HP canceled our contract REAL quick after that little incident), Strategic Data Systems also contracted to HP supporting the Marine Corps Intranet help desk, and currently Bosh Global Services supporting the Air National Guard's Predator UAV program, in an IT capacity.
I've actually worked for nothing but defense contractors since I got out of the Navy. L3 Communications supporting Customs and Border Patrol, The IT Experts, Inc. subcontracted to Hewlett Packard supporting the Marine Corps Intranet upgrading seats from XP to 7 (I got laid off from that position because it was the same company that Aaron Alexis, the Washington Navy Yard shooter, worked for. HP canceled our contract REAL quick after that little incident), Strategic Data Systems also contracted to HP supporting the Marine Corps Intranet help desk, and currently Bosh Global Services supporting the Air National Guard's Predator UAV program, in an IT capacity.
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It appears that the American public has a misconception about officers and enlisted when it comes to leadership capabilities. Educating this organizations and having veterans advocate to companies to reduce this negative stigma would help our former enlisted servicemembers get these jobs. When we state our Veteran status on a job application, is there any law that states we have to say what our previous rank was? I would omit this information in order to get a fair review, if possible.
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Sgt Matt Medhat
I think you are spot on Kristin. There are a lot of people out there with very limited knowledge of the military in general, let alone enlisted vs. officer ranks. They make assumptions based on movies or other media portrayal. Personally, I would use your enlisted rank as a strength. I would question working for any company that would be so ignorant to use enlisted rank as a possible weakness. Most that I have talked to think highly of military in general. Your achieved enlisted rank should be able to take you just as far as any officer. Thanks for the comment!
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SGT Kristin Wiley
There's definitely a mindset in enlisted ranks that we have a better grasp on the technical aspects of our job. I don't know if officers would agree or disagree, but part of the reason I enlisted is because I was sitting in my ROTC class in college and a Major blatantly stated that he was unable to make any decisions without the aid of his senior enlisted (for the first 12 years of his career). I did not want to be an officer who took 12 years to learn how to do my job.
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