For younger troops, aged 18-24 years old, the unemployment rate is currently 13.1 percent for males and 21.6 percent for females — nearly double and triple the unemployment numbers respectively for non-veterans. Adding to the list of challenges felt by young vets is their apparent lack of job experience, career direction, and low confidence in their ability to thrive in the civilian workforce.
Though many companies may be theoretically committed to hiring vets, they are not sure how to find them, how their skills are transferable to available opportunities, or how to integrate and support them once hired. For jobs requiring lower skill levels such as truck drivers, assembly workers, and welders, the military is a natural source from which to pull due to key skills required to be a successful infantry soldier: discipline, reliability, ability to follow directions and complete tasks, and loyalty, to name a few.
For officers, returning to the employment marketplace is equally daunting. They, too, are not sure how they fit in, and tend to think they need to take a step down to managerial jobs upon their return. However, the truth of the matter is that these are not managers; these are leaders. They have the unique ability to strategize and to mentor and motivate others in the most challenging and uncertain circumstances. Again, this is not management; this is leadership.
I recently had the honor of speaking with 100 colonels and generals at Camp Pendleton in Carlsbad, California, about their impending return to the civilian workforce. This is what Steve Fisher, retired Colonel and President Marine Executive Association-West had to say about my talk:
"I can't begin to express how much everyone appreciated the time you most graciously spent with our Marines and military folks last night. It was undoubtedly one of the most informative and motivational talks we have had in all the many years I have been affiliated with the Marine Executive Association-West. Your comments were on the mark, and I received many laudatory remarks from our members. They all were thrilled to have you kick start 2012 for us. Many of these men and women have been fearless and stoic when shot or blown up by IEDs, but they still tell me transitioning is one of the scariest things they have ever done. Thanks for unwrapping the shroud of mystery and confusion for them."
Hiring organizations must realize the transferable nature of these skills to the business world and the incredible value these vets can bring to their leadership teams.
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Kim Shepherd is the CEO of Decision Toolbox (http://www.dtoolbox.com), a national recruitment process outsourcing firm. She is the author of the newly released book, The Bite Me School of Management: Taking a Bite of Conventional Business Thinking. The book takes a large bite of out typical corporate culture. The lessons, funny and concise bite-sized servings, can be applied to all industries.
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