Soldiers returning home to the U.S. are finding they still have a fight on their hands... but this time it's for jobs. Despite strong economic performance and job growth resulting in more than 2 million jobs created in the last year, federal labor statistics show nearly one-in-five veterans age 20 to 24 are unemployed, three times the national average.
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Paul Costanzo joined the Navy in 2001. After serving as an aviation machinist mate for four years, he returned home to Garfield Heights, OH at age 24 and found himself struggling to locate career opportunities that afforded the same challenge. Costanzo says a major obstacle for him is the lack of understanding on the employer's part of how the skills he acquired in the Navy could match up to their open positions.
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"My military background is definitely an asset," Costanzo said. "Employers recognize that being in the military involves hard work and results. But, at the same time, it can be difficult for them to recognize why an aviation machinist is the right fit for their job."
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Obstacles in career management also extend to veterans who are more seasoned in the civilian workforce. Rich Fantozzi, a 35-year-old Chicago native who has served in the National Guard for 17 years, was deployed in Kuwait in 2002. Prior to his departure, he worked as an operations manager for a business, where he traveled and oversaw several direct reports and a large budget. When he returned home one year later after serving as a Company Commander of 200 soldiers, he was re-hired by his employer with the same seniority and pay, but in a different position with no direct reports and extensive number-crunching in front of a computer. Fantozzi left his position and has been searching for a new job for over six months.
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"It can be difficult to pinpoint military -- friendly employers who are willing to take a gamble on an employee who can be deployed at any time and who will make available the same opportunities when he/she comes back," Fantozzi said.
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Leading military-friendly companies say recruiting veterans is a smart business choice as these employees offer a unique blend of leadership and teamwork skills as well as integrity, technology proficiency and the ability to perform under pressure. Home Depot, for example, hired over 16,000 veterans in 2004 and over 17,000 in 2005. General Electric currently employs more than 6,000 veterans.
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, O9 D9 \" h4 ?) v4 wSprint Nextel has an extensive military recruitment program with more than 7,000 veterans working in technical, retail, customer service and network positions for the company today. Ron Nicholl, a career military veteran who heads up Sprint's veteran recruitment program, says their pay differential program, veteran support network and other military service benefits provide for a mutually beneficial work experience.
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# M; _" |4 s& B' s3 v3 l1 M"We do this because it makes good business sense and because it's the right thing to do," Nicholl said.
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Here are some tips if you are trying to transition from military to civilian employment:
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, M5 L% W m( k* G/ U* f% ~, GDon't Get Lost in Translation - One of the primary challenges men and women leaving the Armed Forces are facing in the job hunt is drawing parallels between skills acquired in the military and those required in civilian positions. O*NET OnLine Web site is a specialized tool that enables veterans to align DOT or MOC codes with similar civilian jobs. Veterans can find sample job titles, tasks, skills and related occupations.
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R: b, a. ?& ZMake it Easy for Employers - Employers in the private sector are most likely not going to be familiar with military jargon. Veterans need to specifically address how their military skills are transferable to civilian positions in all communications from resumes through interviews. Make sure to list specific accomplishments and accolades from military and civilian occupations, so employers can see how skills were put into action.
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2 u. P. B) {3 y$ A- hUtilize Online Resources - For more information on how to join the effort to support veterans employment or find new job opportunities, visit OperationHeroforHire.com and leading veterans organizations such as:
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American Legion
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Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
