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Misunderstood veterans searching for jobs struggle to connect with recruiters Misunderstood veterans searching for jobs struggle to connect with recruiters
(6 months later)
“I need to be a little bit more proactive, a little bit more – I don’t want to say the word – annoying,” Nick Marriott sighs, then chuckles. “Patient, too. I hate the waiting process.”“I need to be a little bit more proactive, a little bit more – I don’t want to say the word – annoying,” Nick Marriott sighs, then chuckles. “Patient, too. I hate the waiting process.”
It’s been an interesting four months since he began his search for an internship. In one case, he received a call from a company three months It’s been an interesting four months since he began his search for an internship. In one case, he received a call from a company three months after he submitted his application. It wasn’t like this during his years in counterintelligence in the US air force. “I went into military and that was my first real job,” he says. “I didn’t have any experience with looking for a job or a career.”
after he submitted his application. It wasn’t like this during his years in counterintelligence in the US air force. “I went into military and that was my first real job,” he says. “I didn’t have any experience with looking for a job or a career.” Pushing 30, this is the first time he has had to go through the hand-wringing of waiting to hear back from recruiters and hiring managers, a ritual most of his civilian friends experienced a decade ago. By all accounts, he should be a catch. In the air force, he led seven programs on counterintelligence and anti-terrorism. He was in the military for six years before going back to school to study cyber security and information protection. Now, living near his wife’s family in Reading, Pennsylvania and applying for cyber-security jobs, he is contending with recruiters dragging their feet as they become baffled by how to categorize his experience.
Pushing 30, this is the first time he has had to go through the hand-wringing of waiting to hear back from recruiters and hiring managers, a ritual most of his civilian friends experienced a decade ago. By all accounts, he should be a catch. In the air force, he led seven programs on counterintelligence and anti-terrorism. He was in the military for six years before going back to school to study cyber security and information protection. Now, living near his wife’s family in Reading, Pennsylvania and applying for cyber-security jobs, he is contending with recruiters dragging their feet as they become baffled by how to categorize his experience.
This is not the job hunt Marriott envisioned. He thought it would be something like a slam dunk.This is not the job hunt Marriott envisioned. He thought it would be something like a slam dunk.
“I’ve had multiple friends get out and get a job as Federal Marshals or with the DEA or whatever agency and get the job they wanted,” he says. His friends’ good fortune led Marriott to assume that searching for jobs in cyber-security sector would be equally easy.“I’ve had multiple friends get out and get a job as Federal Marshals or with the DEA or whatever agency and get the job they wanted,” he says. His friends’ good fortune led Marriott to assume that searching for jobs in cyber-security sector would be equally easy.
At first I was like, ‘Oh, I am going to pick one position at one company that I really want and I am going to get it.’ I was very optimistic because of my experience and my age. After applying and talking to a recruiter, I realized it doesn’t work that way. I had to re-evaluate my approach and apply to companies I otherwise wouldn’t consider or I just didn’t know about.”At first I was like, ‘Oh, I am going to pick one position at one company that I really want and I am going to get it.’ I was very optimistic because of my experience and my age. After applying and talking to a recruiter, I realized it doesn’t work that way. I had to re-evaluate my approach and apply to companies I otherwise wouldn’t consider or I just didn’t know about.”
The veteran unemployment crisis and suicidesThe veteran unemployment crisis and suicides
The The US job market, at its weakest point in decades, has little room for anyone trying to land his first job, and in many cases it’s even worse for post-military newcomers like Marriott. Veteran unemployment remains high, especially for recent veterans. According to the most
US job market, at its weakest point in decades, has little room for recent jobs report, there are 684,000 unemployed veterans in the US, about a third of them recent veterans of the post-9/11 era. More than 223,000 recent veterans are currently without a job. While the national unemployment rate for the population at large is 6.7%, it is 9.2% for recent veterans. In light of the recent announcement that the Department of Defense will shrink the US military to pre-WWI levels, many fear that the veteran unemployment situation will get even worse.
anyone trying to land his first job, and in many cases it’s even worse There has been a lot of attention given to the topic of veteran unemployment in the recent years. Michelle Obama and Jill Biden have spearheaded a White House initiative called Joining Forces and repeatedly called on businesses to employ more veterans. JP Morgan, along with over 130 other companies, has formed a coalition called 100,000 jobs mission to hire 100,000 veterans. The companies have since surpassed their goal. As of December 2013, they have hired over 117,000 veterans.
for post-military newcomers like Marriott. Veteran unemployment remains Considering the high unemployment rate for recent veterans, it should come as no surprise that many are also struggling to get a handle on their finances. Out of 1,000 recent veterans, 30% reported that in the past year they had gone over their credit limit, bounced a check, had been reported to a collection agency or had fallen a victim to a money scam.
high, especially for recent veterans. According to the most
recent jobs report,
there are 684,000 unemployed veterans in the US, about a third of them
recent veterans of the post-9/11 era. More than 223,000 recent veterans
are currently without a job. While the national unemployment rate for
the population at large is 6.7%, it is
9.2% for recent veterans. In light of the recent announcement that the Department of Defense
will shrink the US military to pre-WWI levels, many fear that the veteran unemployment situation will get even worse.
There has been a lot of attention given to the topic of veteran
unemployment in the recent years. Michelle Obama and Jill Biden have
spearheaded a White House initiative called Joining Forces
and repeatedly called on businesses to employ more veterans. JP Morgan,
along with over 130 other companies, has formed a coalition called 100,000 jobs mission
to hire 100,000 veterans. The companies have since surpassed their
goal. As of December 2013, they have hired over 117,000 veterans.
Considering
the high unemployment rate for recent veterans, it should come as no
surprise that many are also struggling to get a handle on their
finances. Out of 1,000 recent veterans,
30% reported that in the past year they had gone over their credit
limit, bounced a check, had been reported to a collection agency or had
fallen a victim to a money scam.
Such money troubles can often lead to homelessness or worse. It’s hard enough for some veterans to manage the transition back to life after a war; some never make it. The Department of Veterans Affairs found that 22 veterans kill themselves every day. Some of that is because of money: excessive debt and bankruptcies were responsible for 12% of suicides and suicide attempts among veterans in 2010, notes a US army report. The report also noted that “this number may be significantly underreported as finance can be a co‐stressor with other stressors such as failed relationships and work‐related issues.”Such money troubles can often lead to homelessness or worse. It’s hard enough for some veterans to manage the transition back to life after a war; some never make it. The Department of Veterans Affairs found that 22 veterans kill themselves every day. Some of that is because of money: excessive debt and bankruptcies were responsible for 12% of suicides and suicide attempts among veterans in 2010, notes a US army report. The report also noted that “this number may be significantly underreported as finance can be a co‐stressor with other stressors such as failed relationships and work‐related issues.”
Veterans recruiting veteransVeterans recruiting veterans
One of One of the main problems for veterans like Marriott is that often, their military experience doesn’t translate well into private sector. It’s why many veterans explore careers in law enforcement after leaving the military. In a recent survey by Army Times, 70% of US law enforcement agencies said that they attend military-specific job fairs and 75% said they have connected with the Labor Department’s local veterans’ employment representative. More than 90% of the law enforcement agencies surveyed by Army Times reported having at least one veteran in a senior leadership position.
the main problems for veterans like Marriott is that often, their
military experience doesn’t translate well into private
sector. It’s why many
veterans explore careers in law enforcement after leaving the military.
In a recent survey by Army Times,
70% of US law enforcement agencies said that they attend
military-specific job fairs and 75% said they have connected with the
Labor Department’s local veterans’ employment representative. More than
90% of the law enforcement agencies surveyed by Army Times
reported having at least one veteran in a senior leadership position.
There remains a communication and education gap between recruiters and veteran applicants, says James Schmeling, managing director and co-founder of Syracuse University Institute for Veterans and Military Families.There remains a communication and education gap between recruiters and veteran applicants, says James Schmeling, managing director and co-founder of Syracuse University Institute for Veterans and Military Families.
“The “The recruiters don’t know how to properly assess their training,” he says. “Not every company can afford to hire or dedicate recruiters to focus on veteran employment.”
recruiters don’t know how to properly assess their training,” he says. Another downside to having military background and experience is that sometimes you can’t even talk about it, says Marriott. “I can’t share some of [my] experiences because there is a classification on them. I found that that was a difficult area, trying to communicate my experience when sometimes I can’t even talk about some of the stuff I did.”
“Not every company can afford to hire or dedicate recruiters to focus on
veteran employment.”
Another
downside to having military background and experience is that sometimes
you can’t even talk about it, says Marriott. “I can’t share some of
[my] experiences because there is a classification on them. I found that
that was a difficult area, trying to communicate my experience when
sometimes I can’t even talk about some of the stuff I did.”
There is more to hiring veterans than meets the eye, says Maureen E Casey, managing director of military and veterans affairs at JP Morgan Chase, which has a team of 15 recruiters focused on veterans – eight of them former military, seven of them civilians.There is more to hiring veterans than meets the eye, says Maureen E Casey, managing director of military and veterans affairs at JP Morgan Chase, which has a team of 15 recruiters focused on veterans – eight of them former military, seven of them civilians.
Casey Casey describes veterans as “battle tested, well trained, and an asset to the company … what JP Morgan Chase is looking for”.
describes veterans as “battle tested, well trained, and an asset to the The bank says it prioritizes the resumes of former members of the military with a “high touch process”. Any job application from a veteran will receive an email or phone call from the bank’s veteran recruitment team within five days. The bank also encourages veterans to network with each other.
company … what JP Morgan Chase is looking for”. One of the members of the recruiting team is Art Peña, a former fleet marine force corpsman in the navy who is now a sales support analyst at JP Morgan Chase. He started at the bank as a project manager, then rose to become an analyst and recruiter after mentoring from the bank’s internal military network.
The bank says
it prioritizes the resumes of former members of the military with a “high touch process”. Any job application from a veteran will receive an
email or phone call from the bank’s veteran recruitment team within
five days. The bank also encourages veterans to network with each other.
One of the members of the recruiting team is Art Peña, a
former fleet marine force corpsman in the navy who is now a sales
support analyst at JP Morgan Chase. He started at the bank as a project
manager, then rose to become an analyst and recruiter after mentoring
from the bank’s internal military network.
“It was very important, to have someone to reach out to and ask [questions],” Peña says. “It allowed me to be comfortable.” Now he mentors new hires.“It was very important, to have someone to reach out to and ask [questions],” Peña says. “It allowed me to be comfortable.” Now he mentors new hires.
We reach out to the applicant, talk them through the application. We are their advocate. We highlight the jobs that they are qualified for.”We reach out to the applicant, talk them through the application. We are their advocate. We highlight the jobs that they are qualified for.”
After being hired, veteran employees can seek support and advice from the company’s network of veteran employees. “Service members can reach out to their colleagues and talk about the challenges they have,” says Casey. “Many of them want to continue to serve and the network also enables that.”After being hired, veteran employees can seek support and advice from the company’s network of veteran employees. “Service members can reach out to their colleagues and talk about the challenges they have,” says Casey. “Many of them want to continue to serve and the network also enables that.”
Such programs also help banks gain ground with veterans after large settlements around mortgage abuses during the financial crisis.Such programs also help banks gain ground with veterans after large settlements around mortgage abuses during the financial crisis.
‘I’ve seen companies that take months’‘I’ve seen companies that take months’
As Schmeling points As Schmeling points out, the kind of attention that JP Morgan Chase gives its applicants is not available for veteran applicants at most US companies. After leaving the navy, Alan Kipping-Ruane went back to school to study exercise science in order to be an athletic trainer and physical therapist. “In my field, in healthcare, many recruiters do no understand veterans. It’s frustrating, but I am not one to blame people or complain,” he says. To make ends meet while he finishes school, Kipping-Ruane is working part-time as a triathlon coach, occasionally officiating races.
out, the kind of attention that JP Morgan Chase gives its applicants is The main frustration for veterans like Kipping-Ruane and Marriott is not hearing back after applying for a job. “I have seen companies that take months and I have seen companies that work fast,” says Kipping-Ruane.
not available for veteran applicants at most US companies. After leaving Searching for the right job can be brutal, overly bureaucratic and often times chaotic, a stark contrast to veterans’ experience in the military. It’s something that Kipping-Ruane wishes recruiters would understand.
the navy, Alan Kipping-Ruane went back to school to study exercise Veterans need structure, they need guidance. They want to know when to show up for work. Veterans will work hard despite the salary. They want jobs where they can make a difference.”
science in order to be an athletic trainer and physical therapist. “In Hiring is a lengthy process, says Marriott. It’s something that he has come to realize over the past four months. However, both he and Kipping-Ruane are far from giving up on their search.
my field, in healthcare, many recruiters do no understand veterans. It’s “All you can do is be positive and optimistic. That’s one of the things that I learned in the military that you can’t take no for an answer,” says Marriott. “You can’t have a pessimistic attitude and you can’t let that get to you. You just have to stay optimistic.”
frustrating, but I am not one to blame people or complain,” he says. To
make ends meet while he finishes school, Kipping-Ruane is working part-time as a triathlon coach, occasionally officiating races.
The
main frustration for veterans like Kipping-Ruane and Marriott is not
hearing back after applying for a job. “I have seen companies that take
months and I have seen companies that work fast,” says Kipping-Ruane.
Searching
for the right job can be brutal, overly bureaucratic and often times chaotic, a stark
contrast to veterans’ experience in the military. It’s something that
Kipping-Ruane wishes recruiters would understand.
Veterans
need structure, they need guidance. They want to know when to show up
for work. Veterans will work hard despite the salary. They want jobs
where they can make a difference.”
Hiring is a
lengthy process, says Marriott. It’s something that he has come to
realize over the past four months. However, both he and Kipping-Ruane
are far from giving up on their search.
“All you can do is be
positive and optimistic. That’s one of the things that I learned in the
military that you can’t take no for an answer,” says Marriott. “You
can’t have a pessimistic attitude and you can’t let that get to you. You
just have to stay optimistic.”