The month of May brings “May” flowers, the unofficial start of Summer and an important moment to honor our fallen heroes on Memorial Day. May is also Military Appreciation Month, a time when the nation comes together to honor the sacrifices and services of those who have served in the armed forces. Beyond simply expressing gratitude, it’s also an opportune moment to reflect on how we can support Veterans and hire military personnel as they transition into civilian life. One crucial avenue of support lies in offering our Veterans career opportunities within the burgeoning tech industry.
Demographics: Diverse Pipeline and Transition to Civilian Workforce
According to SkillBridge, over 200,000 U.S. military service members transition to the civilian workforce annually. These members play a pivotal role in cultivating a diverse pipeline of talent for the civilian workforce. Veterans and active-duty service members bring a wealth of experiences, perspectives, and skills to the table which can enrich the corporate landscape. This represents a significant pool of untapped potential talent for those who don’t actively recruit Veterans.
Soft Skills: Cultivated Through Service
According to US Veterans Magazine, Veteran candidates bring sought-after qualities to new roles across the tech industry, including:
- Leadership Confidence: Military personnel have taken up leadership roles early in their military careers, with a particular ability to stay cool, calm and collected during stressful moments.
- Dependability and Learning on the Fly: If there is one thing Veterans are known for, it is their dedication. They understand the importance of being meticulous and have completed rigorous training in a short amount of time. As tech consultants, employers expect new hires to hit the ground running with little time for ramp-up and learning curves. This is often normal operating procedure for Veterans as they have learned skills in compressed, accelerated timeframes and must be incredibly reliable as entire units depend on each individual to do their job.
- Problem-Solving: Indeed highlights how the Army has a seven-step problem-solving program that starts from discovering the problem and ends with evaluating the results. This process helps decision-making, benefiting team communication.
Transferable Skills: From Battlefield to Boardroom
Military training instills a range of skills that are highly applicable to roles within the tech sector. These individuals often possess technical expertise in fields such as cybersecurity, information technology, and logistics. For example, according to Bryant & Stratton College, “an airman in the U.S. Air Force must assess if an aircraft radio works and is interoperable with other aircraft to communicate.” Besides this, military personnel are constantly working with dynamic computer systems and complex technology.
Forbes, however, discusses how the business and tech world was initially resistant to Veterans, claiming, “they felt they didn’t necessarily have the know-how on the specific technology platforms businesses were seeking.”
One great example of how this sentiment was used to an advantage highlights Karen Ross, CEO at Sharp Decisions. Ross started her company in 1990, and over time she discovered the talent qualities military Veterans deliver. Ross believed that if Veterans could master new technologies so quickly, they could also learn the language of business. The company implemented a V.E.T.S training program and uses the teamwork approach taught in the military to drive efficiency.
Supporting Military Spouses: Navigating the Workforce
Military spouses face unique challenges when it comes to career advancement due to frequent relocations and deployments. According to LinkedIn, a “leading reason why unemployment and underemployment are persistent issues for military spouses” is due to the amount of moving military spouses face.
As such, initiatives aimed at supporting military families should include provisions to assist spouses in navigating the workforce. For example, companies can offer flexible work arrangements, remote opportunities, and programs that facilitate career portability that can help military spouses maintain and progress in their careers despite the transient nature of military life.
One of the goals of Matlen Silver’s Valiant Workforce is to create that support system. Through our Valiant Workforce program, not only are we actively pursuing career opportunities for Veterans and military family members through career training and skill development programs, we are also bridging them with resources that nurture ties within the community, develop on-going networking bases, and provide collaboration with Veteran organizations. Learn how to get involved with Matlen Silvers’ Valiant Workforce program here.
By harnessing the skills and experiences of Veterans and military personnel, the tech industry will continue to drive innovation, foster diversity, and create meaningful opportunities for those who have served our nation.
