Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Hiring Managers Are You Supporting Vets

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Hiring Managers Are You Supporting Vets In a recent Prudential Financial and IAVA survey published onMilitary.com1, two-thirds of veterans said they faced a difficult transition to civilian life, partly because they speak a different language than the business leaders hiring them. Tom Tarantino, chief policy officer for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said that we aren’t doing a good enough job of training people leaving the military to look for work. “It’s less a matter of veterans overestimating their skills than it is miscalculatinghow their experience translates to nonmilitary jobsand how well business leaders comprehend what veterans can offer,” he commented. Because of these disconnects, a veteran who managed a few dozen people in the military might only be considered for an entry-level, individual contributor role in a private-sector organization, and significant achievements might be overlooked because they occurred in a military rather than a business setting. Preparing New Vets for Transition A few years ago, as a workplace and career author and consultant, I worked with the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Defense to overhaul the military’sTransition Assistance Program (TAP)2. This mandatory five- to seven-day program educates departing troops on job skills, vet benefits, and personal finances. The course explains the expectations, behavioral styles, cultural norms, and “lingo” associated with civilian employment and helps veterans adjust to a less rigid routine with increased individual competition. Perhaps most importantly, it guides veterans in effectively translating skills acquired in the military â€" which often include strategic thinking, scenario planning, critical thinking, problem-solving, coaching, self-discipline, time management, attention to detail, teamwork, interpersonal communication, and adaptability â€" to civilian jobs in which these exact attributes are needed. For the rest of this post, please visit the DeVryWORKS website.