Myth vs. Fact: debunking veteran hard and soft skills

Anthony
March 8, 2018

Today, many corporate leaders are in search of veterans that will bring real  value to the workplace. According to a survey report from CareerBuilder,  one-third of surveyed employers  reported they are actively recruiting veterans over the next year, up from 27  percent in last year's survey. Estimates are that by the year 2023 there  will be  3.5 million military veterans  in the U.S. workforce.

While this is an exciting initiative for companies seeking to leverage skilled  and talented Veterans in their workplace, it's also challenging. Many  hiring managers and recruiters don't understand veterans' experience  and the related hard and soft skills - which likely stems back to the  myths civilians have about military veterans.

Let's now discuss some common veteran misconceptions and uncover how  hiring managers can strengthen their understanding of the  real skills veterans can bring to civilian jobs.

Myth #1: All veterans serve in combat.

Many civilians (and HR professionals) immediately associate all veteran  experience with combat - but there are a plethora of jobs in the military  that don't involve combat. According to the Department of Defense, less  than 20 percent of service members serve in front-line combat roles.

In fact, military jobs are categorized into more than 7,000 occupational  specialty codes, from radio operator to pilot and tower equipment installer to  logistician to procurement clerk and mechanic, just to name a few. That adds a  laundry list of both hard and soft skills to the mix, and it's crucial  that hiring managers understand vets' real qualifications and experiences.

Myth #2: Military skills aren't transferable to civilian jobs.

You've undoubtedly heard that  hiring veterans is valuable  because of their leadership, teamwork, values, resiliency, focus on mission,  accomplishments, etc. While this is all true - and will benefit your  workplace- veterans also possess many hard skills that directly transfer  to jobs in the civilian world.

The over 200,000 veterans transitioning out of military service each year are  bringing hard skills to industries such as healthcare, aviation, finance,  logistics, and administration. Because of the training they received in their  military careers, veterans are qualified to fill roles such as Patient Care  Technician, Registered Nurse, Biomedical Technician, and Clinical Manager.

In this case, there is a cost reduction associated with training and  skill-building, as veterans already have the skills needed to get to work.

Myth #3: All veterans have PTSD.

A lot of people think that all veterans have post-traumatic stress  disorder (PTSD), making them "unstable" and "unreliable"  in the civilian work setting.

In reality, 8 percent of all Americans suffer from PTSD, and the number of  military veterans with PTSD is relatively low when compared to the total  number of those who have served. Hiring managers should not generalize  veterans and assume right off the bat that they're unfit for  fast-paced, and often high stress, civilian positions. In actuality,  veteran skills enable success in competitive environments.

Setting the Record Straight

Veteran hard and soft skills can greatly impact organizations that value  integrity, commitment, and accountability. Hiring managers should keep in mind  that veterans are capable of succeeding in roles where independent thinking  and self-motivation are critical. Veterans' soft skills like  determination, adaptability, and leadership allow them to succeed in  challenging, competitive civilian roles.

HR professionals can reframe the way they comprehend veteran skillsets by  asking as many questions as possible, engaging their colleagues to further  their knowledge on military skills, and analyzing their perceptions and  beliefs.

Understanding the real value of veterans in the workplace can provide your  company with a wealth of opportunity. To learn more about how to improve your  understanding of veteran skills for a veteran to civilian resume, request a  call with a dedicated member of our team.