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We now have thousands of military people making the transition into the civilian workforce and a lot of organizations are assisting them in the switch. Most are doing an excellent job with resume creation and interview skills. But there is one element that is missing from making the transition totally successful and most organizations are utterly unaware of it. The missing element to the transition is informing the veteran “what the employer expects.” Getting the veteran a job is just part of the process. Keeping the job and growing with the organization is the key. Employers tell us that veterans have a real leg-up on civilian candidates because they get to work on time, complete projects, understand teamwork and have excellent communications skills. But there are still important rules to be taught to the veteran to help them KEEP their jobs. Here are six key rules that every veteran needs to know about the civilian workplace and what is important to employers. Rule number one: Observe, listen, keep quiet and absorb. Listen to everything that you hear around you. Now is the time to be quiet and absorb all of the information that you can, through reading, listening, asking questions and taking notes on everything. So take your time and get to know how the organizations handle different situations and works. When you think you can contribute, write up your idea and give it to you supervisor. Let them evaluate it and see if it is something that will work. But don’t get upset if nothing happens. Some corporations are slow to make ANY changes! Number two: Be aware of gossip & corporate culture Anyone that talks about other people will eventually talk about you. Do not be known as a gossip or someone who is spreading incorrect information. Listen to the corporate grapevine but don’t add to it. You do not want to get the reputation of someone who spreads rumors or gossip. If you do, no one will ever trust you with sensitive information. Also, evaluate the corporate culture of the organization. What is corporate culture? The corporate culture is best defined as the attitudes, experiences, beliefs and values of an organization. Look for answers to these questions: * Who is in “real ”power? Is it really the President, or is it the CFO? Some VP’s and directors may be in power because they always are leading special teams or projects. * Who is being looked up to? Who has a reputation for being the “mover and shaker” in the company? Who gets things done? On the other side, who is not taken seriously? Are they always wrong? Are they negative or constant complainers? If so, you want to stay away from them! * How does the organization operate? Are they always in a constant “fire fighting mode”? Do they make all decisions during meetings or are they following a strict business plan. Some organizations make quick changes and modifications almost everyday. * And finally, what are the unwritten rules? Every company has some unwritten rules. For example, you may be expected to give a donation to the presidents’ favorite charity during the holidays. Or it is assumed that you will always attend company functions. It is best to always appear to be a team player by uncovering and following these unwritten rules. In our next installment we will cover the additional four rules. Jim Stedt is a partner at The Business SoftSkills Company (GetSoftSkillsNow.Com) located in Santa Ana, California. They provide job readiness and workforce success videos for education, business, prisons and individual use. Training is available online, on DVD, or through an affiliate program. These products are the most complete and concise soft skills training packages now available for the price of an average college textbook.
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Military transition, getting job, soft skills,
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