Methodology for Translating Enlisted Veterans' Nontechnical Skills into Civilian Employers' Terms
Abstract
Military veterans have a great deal to offer to potential civilian employers, including valuable nontechnical skills, such as leadership, decision-making, persistence, and attention to detail. However, for both veterans and civilian employers, understanding which skills veterans have received in formal training and education courses and on the job is challenging because military and civilian workplace cultures and languages can seem radically different from one another. To help address this issue, RAND was asked by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to develop prototype materials that could be used by veterans and employers to explain and understand the skills veterans can potentially bring to the civilian workplace. In a two-phase study, we developed prototype toolkits that veterans, especially those in enlisted combat arms occupations, can use to translate and describe their skills to potential civilian employers and that civilian employers can use to understand veteran job applicants skills. In these tools, we focus on essential nontechnical skills (such as leadership, critical thinking, and oral communication) addressed through selected formal military training and education courses and through on-the-job experiences.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1085600
Entities
People
- Angela Clague
- Anna R. Saavedra
- Chaitra M. Hardison
- Jaclyn Martin
- James C. Crowley
- Jonathan P. Wong
- Michael G. Shanley
- Tracy C. Mccausland
Organizations
- RAND Corporation