Every year veteran’s rally around their peers who are transitioning out of the service to offer their candor and concerns for what’s to come. TAP (transition assistance program) is a key piece to how they prepare for the outside world both personally and professionally. But what happens when advice and preparation does not meet their expectations on the other side?
Veterans can be methodical planners. They thrive on their organizational skills and ability to quickly think on their feet when the environment requires it. They can be known to work at an exceedingly fast pace which can create unexpected tension with their civilians counterparts. As their colleagues may not relate to their ‘sense of urgency’ when it comes to getting work done and desire to ‘complete the mission.’ So, what are veterans’ supposed to do when they have an inclination to work fast and seek a mission objective that may be beyond the organizational need? This is where it can get tricky as it’s not necessarily a part of the TAP curriculum nor commonly known to their military peers.
When veterans come from a mission-oriented and highly competitive job in the service – that becomes their Achilles Heel post-service. Some can refer to these types of veterans as adrenaline junkies or more so, previously attached to a high-performing team. What does that mean? It means that without a clear sense of mission in the post-service world – veterans can burnout easily and find themselves relentlessly ‘stewing.’
THE NEED FOR SPEED
I know this feeling all too well as I transitioned out of security contracting and entered the civilian market in the corporate sector. Every time I arrived in new position, I gave 120% of my energy right out of the gate. I wanted to exceed the standards and re-assess the status quo as I felt an intrinsic need to establish a higher vision for the organizations. While this may seem like a well-intended and noble notion – not all employers or colleagues shared the same vision and I found myself frustrated at the lack of motivation within the work culture. My default mechanism was to ‘get going and make it happen’ however; the resistance to such a standard was often the most difficult part of the experience. I had to come to term with the reality that the organizational culture did not share my same values in leading ‘high-performing teams’ and promoting an experience of ‘excellence’. I found myself back on the job search seeking a better fit.
ADDITIONAL TIPS
A few things that I learned during my time navigating roles and organizations post-service:
- You don’t have to line up a job before you get out of the service. It’s okay to take your time and observe the outside world a bit before you make a decision.
- Informational interviews can only give you so much insight into workplace culture. Sometimes you have to take a leap and accept a job to find out what you like.
- If you are a highly-motivated and adrenaline focused veteran – corporate America may not be a good fit. Consider government contracting or entrepreneurship if you have solid business acumen or consider going back to school to hone your business skills.
- Volunteering in areas of interest while surrounding yourself with community is a great way to lay a bridge before you cross it into a long-term role.
