Effectively Supporting Civilian Career Transition for Military-Connected

Students: Defining the ways in which student affairs professionals can

maximize their available resources

2017 NASPA Symposium on Military-Connected StudentsFebruary 10, 2017Dr. Karina Money

Natascha Saunders, MBADavid Vacchi, LTC (Ret.)

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Agenda

• Introduction• Today’s student veterans• Common obstacles for student veterans• Institutional commitment to student veterans• Build Campus Partnerships• Networking Opportunities• Preparation• Mentorship• Career Relevant Programs• Veterans Career Resource Information• Role Play Exercises (Networking, Interview, Resume)

Today’s Student Veterans

• Who are today’s military?• 2.5 Million have served since 9/11• Guard and Reserves combat veterans• Multiple deployments • Frequency of combat vs. non-combat• More than 1,000+ military bases in 130+ countries world-wide • 85% Male• Diverse otherwise• 18-28 year olds

Today’s Student Veterans

Common obstacles to success1. VA benefit processing delays2. Transfer credit and initial academic counseling3. Navigating both college and veteran bureaucracies 4. Adjusting to the classroom and academic rigor 5. Clash of Cultures 6. Unaccommodating contexts

(veteran un-friendliness)7. Socialization and the military culture8. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)9. Potentially other injuries10. Lack of career transition planning 11. Adjusting to civilian workforce expectations

Financial Stability

Medical and Mental Health

Social Support

Academic Success

Career Employment

Hierarchy of Student Veteran Needs (Wert, 2016)

Institutional Commitment

• Ensure consistent and sustained support from campus

leadership.• Appoint a senior-level administrator to lead military and

veteran support programs. • Create an appropriate level task force to guide institutional

policies, responsibilities, planning, funding, and procedures. • Create a culture of trust and connectedness across the

campus community to promote well-being and success for veterans.

Institutional Commitment

● Utilize a uniform set of data tools to collect and track information on veterans, including demographics, retention, and degree completion. ● Develop systems that ensure sustainability of effective practices for veterans. ●Comply with existing state and federal requirements related to the service and support of veterans in higher education. ●Coordinate and centralize campus efforts for all veterans, together with the creation of a designated space for them.

That all important first academic term

1. Provide comprehensive professional development for faculty and staff on issues and challenges unique to veterans.

2. Have alert systems in place for academic, financial aid, counseling services, student services.

3. Peer mentorship and professional coaching is invaluable4. Provide socialization programs for connecting into a new cultural environment5. Provide a student veteran cohort transition course6. Provide career services and development from day 1

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Maximize Your Resources

• Build Campus Partnerships – include university resources (diversity offices, career development centers, academic advisers)• Utilize local

businesses/organizations that are willing to work on networking

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Prepare Your Student Veterans• Mentorship and Role Models• Bring in former student

veterans to discuss career transition• Approach local businesses for

mentors and role models• Reach out to professional

groups that support veterans• Connect with military-

connected alumni

• Resources• Make programs career relevant• Provide sample resumes and

cover letters• Distribute surveys – find out

what your student veterans need for their career transition

• Set up student veteran workshops so that students can provide support and guidance to each other in their civilian career transition journey

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Value of Military Experience: How student veterans can translate their military experience into civilian experience• STEP 1: SET YOUR OBJECTIVES

• Think about military experience – Help students develop their stories to illustrate what their military experience brings to an employer. Focus on how they can describe using a particular skill to solve a problem and the impact it had on that specific problem.

• STEP 2: IDENTIFY ANTICIPATED CHALLENGES• Biggest obstacle is the student veteran

themselves and their perception of themselves. Skills identified for veterans are:• Experience working in and leading

teams• Flexibility and ability to work in

stressful, fast paced environments• Dependability, strong work ethic and

diligence to consistently complete work

• Integrity and loyalty• Experience with culturally diverse

and global environments

• STEP 3: IDENTIFY RESOURCES• O*NET (Occupational Information

Network) – tool helps translate military skills into civilian terms

• Military.com MOS Translator – similar to O*NET, provides summary of skills learned while performing a job

• Real Warriors Campaign (www.realwarriors.net)- this tools provides employment related resources such as resume tips, job application tips and presenting experience in civilian terms

• (Money & Griffin, 2017)

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Veterans Career Resource Information

• Speak the language of the employer-Emphasize specific military skills and explain how they relate to the job listing• Emphasize unique qualities to the employer

• Teamwork and leadership• Disciplined approach to work• Integrity and respect• Problem-solving• Ability to work under pressure• Communication skills• Dependability and ability to overcome adversity(Money & Griffin, 2017)

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Preparing Students for the Interview

• MISSION PREP• Research the company• What is their business model• What are their core values• Where is the job located• What are the specifics of the job

(Money & Griffin, 2017)

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Preparing Students for the Interview

• TRAINING• Don’t wait until the night before an interview to start

practicing your skills. Practice Practice Practice• Practice behavioral-based interviewing – come up with

examples for the following:• Solved or failed to solve a difficult problem• Dealt with a difficult subordinate or co-worker• Successfully completed a project• Implemented a new policy

(Money & Griffin, 2017)

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Civilian Career Checklist

• De-militarize your resume• Identify transferable skills• Use your resources• Develop professional networking relationships• Define your preferences• Identify required skills vs. desired skills• Identify organizations that you want to work in• Network• Review your interview skills(Money & Griffin, 2017)

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Group Discussion

• What are the most significant obstacles to successful military and veteran civilian career transition on your campuses?

• What programs do you have in place to help student veterans during their civilian career transition?

• Do you have a military and veteran resource center? What role does it play in the career transition process?

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Workshop

• Mock Interview• Resume questions• Networking

(Audience participation and role play in the above scenarios)

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Questions

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(Money & Griffin, 2017)The Transitioning Student Veteran in Higher Education: A reference guide and textbook of best practices for finding your civilian career through academic success, VetEdd Press, Boston, MA

TO PURCHASE VISIT:Vetedd.com