Coach Robert’s Blog

Last month I came across an article by Military.com that had some rather surprising information about the feelings of many relative to their preparedness for the job market. The key pieces are indicated below:

First the individual’s experience -

Eighty-one percent of transitioning military personnel surveyed reveal that they do not feel fully prepared for the process of entering the job market. Of those who feel unprepared:

• Seventy-two percent feel unprepared to negotiate salary and benefits.
• Seventy-six percent report an inability to effectively translate their military skills to civilian terms.
• Fifty-seven percent are unsure of how to network professionally.

Here’s the employer’s viewpoint -

Sixty percent of hiring managers and recruiters surveyed report favorable attitudes toward employing veterans, however many face difficulties recruiting and hiring from this talent pool:

• Sixty-one percent reveal they do not have a complete understanding of the qualifications ex-service members offer.
• Sixty-four percent feel that veterans need additional assistance to make a successful transition into the civilian job-seeking market, with 27 percent citing the need for stronger interviewing skills.
• Fifty-three percent of employers spend two percent or less of their recruitment advertising budget on targeted military hiring.

The survey involved over 4,000 combined active military and veterans. From the employer’s side, over 280 recruiters and hiring managers representing small to large firms from a cross section of U.S. organizations gave their opinion.

What’s going on? Why are so many people not getting the transition assistance they need to make them comfortable with obtaining new careers in the civilian market? Is there something needed that TAP does not provide?

You opinion and input on this matter would be valuable. I will publish the collective results of everyone who responds to my own survey on the subject.