What Veterans Bring to Civilian Workplaces: A Prototype Toolkit for Helping Veterans Communicate to Private-Sector Employers About the Nontechnical Skills Developed in the Military

Abstract

Abstract : Veterans have a great deal to offer to potential civilian employers, including valuable nontechnical or soft skills, such as leadership, decisionmaking, persistence, and attention to detail. However, for veterans, communicating to civilian employers about the nontechnical skills they have received formal training in and can bring to the job can be challenging, because military and civilian workplace cultures and languages can seem radically different from one another. In this study, Phase I of a two-part effort, we developed a pilot toolkit that formerly enlisted veterans, especially those in combat arms occupations, can use to shed light on the full value in terms of nontechnical skills they can bring to potential civilian employers. In the current version of the toolkit, we focus on the skills addressed through selected formal military education courses for enlisted personnel in the Army and Marine Corps. Future research conducted in FY 2015 will expand the materials to address skills attained through additional on-the-job experience. This toolkit is intended to be sent to veterans as a packet of materials that can help them as they review job postings, enhance their r sum s, and communicate with potential employers about their military training and experience. The toolkit consists of four parts: a letter that can be sent to veterans, explaining the purpose of the other materials enclosed in the packet an introductory section that provides more information on the materials and how to use them course overviews descriptions of the specific training programs that the Army and Marine Corps use to teach and develop nontechnical skills summary tables that concisely break down which specific skills and competencies each course focuses on, as well as which ranks of military personnel take each course.