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Every year, and particularly now, tens of thousands of
military personnel leave their old jobs to join the ranks of
civilian workers. You’d love to tap into a veteran’s
discipline, that can-do attitude, and the training that
comes from working for everybody’s favorite Uncle. But there
are things you need to do before you post a Help Wanted ad.
There are considerations on both sides of the desk, and
preparation is key.
First, understand that most employees don’t leave a job,
they leave a manager. Managing properly for retention,
therefore, is what you ultimately want. Since the average
veteran goes through three jobs before acclimating to
civilian workplaces, it’s to your advantage to anticipate
the challenges that will come with transition.
At issue is that the military is a very different kind of
business than the one you have in the civilian world, and
you can’t make assumptions. Your new hire may never have had
to negotiate for salary or benefits. He or she may be
unaccustomed to a more casual, less-regimented office with
unique relationships between employees. Office hours are
gentler. Even the uniforms are different.
So what can you do for your new hire to help with what
amounts to a diversity issue and a “culture clash.” How can
you keep him or her working for you?
Arm yourself with an understanding of what your employee is
leaving behind and how it affects thinking. Make sure he or
she knows what the job entails, how departments work
together, and what is expected. Don’t assume anything. Pair
a new employee with an established co-worker who is a
veteran, too. Check in often and keep the doors of
communication wide open.
You’ve seen the posters and ads reminding you to hire a
veteran. Does it really have to be this hard?
Author Emily King has studied this subject at length and she
says that it could be, but that knowledge is essential for
“[A]nticipating and heading off challenges…” I liked that
King, who has a passion for this subject and has “committed”
herself to ensuring that veterans are prepared for civilian
workplaces, gives employers lots of tools for keeping those
challenges in perspective. I also appreciated the first-hand
accounts from veterans who’ve made the transition.
Be aware that this book is occasionally repetitive, may feel
like baby-steps at times, and is nowhere near reading-lite.
Still, if you’re eager to strengthen your business in a
relatively easy way, Field Tested is a book you’ll
salute. |
