What do you think of when you think of service members? What comes to mind when you think of the military? Is it barking orders, marching in formation, or even a professional uniform? The military has many faces and many different reputations depending on who you talk to, but what do you think it would be like to work with or next to someone who was in the military?
Perceived Stereotypes
Stereotypes about service members transitioning into the civilian workforce are fairly common. Luckily, we have such thick and rough exteriors, that we can just brush them off or laugh and move on. Pardon the sarcasm.
Transitioning from the military to the civilian workforce can come with some challenges, particularly around overcoming these common stereotypes. Here are some of the most prevalent military stereotypes in the civilian workplace and tips on how to address them:
1. Rigid and Unadaptable
Stereotype: Veterans are often viewed as overly rigid, following orders without question, or lacking flexibility.
Reality: Military members are trained to be adaptable, especially in dynamic environments. They often develop problem-solving skills and learn to work in high-pressure situations that require quick adjustments.
How to Address: Emphasize experiences where you had to think on your feet, lead teams in ambiguous situations, or innovate under pressure. Share examples of adaptability during interviews.
2. Overly Authoritative Leadership Style
Stereotype: Veterans may be seen as having a command-and-control leadership style that doesn’t align with collaborative or democratic approaches in civilian workplaces.
Reality: Military leaders often adjust their style based on the situation, ranging from direct orders to more collaborative teamwork. Many veterans develop strong emotional intelligence through leadership experience.
How to Address: Highlight instances of servant leadership, team-based projects, and mentorship roles where you adapted your leadership style to fit the team’s needs.
3. Too Focused on Hierarchy
Stereotype: There’s a perception that military members are fixated on rank and seniority, which can be misinterpreted as not respecting civilian organizational structures.
Reality: While rank is part of the military, veterans also understand the value of expertise, teamwork, and informal leadership, regardless of titles.
How to Address: Show your ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and respect different types of leadership. Give examples of working effectively with peers, regardless of rank or position.
4. Emotionally Disconnected
Stereotype: Veterans are sometimes viewed as emotionless or overly stoic, stemming from their experiences in high-stress environments.
Reality: Military personnel are trained to manage emotions in stressful situations, but that doesn’t mean they lack emotional depth or empathy.
How to Address: Share stories of teamwork, camaraderie, and personal challenges where emotional intelligence played a key role. Demonstrate your ability to connect with others and build rapport.
5. Difficult to Relate to Civilian Co-Workers
Stereotype: Veterans may be seen as isolated or unable to relate to civilians due to their unique experiences.
Reality: While military experiences can be different from civilian life, veterans bring valuable insights and can connect with people from all walks of life.
How to Address: Focus on shared experiences, such as working in diverse teams, building strong interpersonal relationships, and contributing to organizational goals. Show your openness to learning from and collaborating with civilians.
6. All Veterans Have PTSD or Mental Health Issues
Stereotype: Some civilians may assume that all veterans suffer from PTSD or other mental health conditions.
Reality: While some veterans do experience mental health challenges, the majority successfully transition to civilian life and perform well in their careers.
How to Address: Combat this stereotype by normalizing the conversation around mental health for all people, not just veterans. Highlight your resilience and any self-care strategies you use to maintain well-being.
7. Too Mission-Oriented, Not Creative
Stereotype: Military members are seen as being focused solely on accomplishing tasks and may lack the creativity and innovation often valued in civilian workplaces.
Reality: Veterans are often problem solvers who can think outside the box, especially in high-pressure, resource-constrained situations.
How to Address: Emphasize examples of creative problem-solving or innovation you’ve used in the military. Showcase how you’ve adapted strategies or thought creatively to overcome obstacles.
8. Difficulty Transitioning to a Non-Military Culture
Stereotype: Veterans may be seen as struggling to transition to a workplace without the structure, discipline, and camaraderie of the military.
Reality: Many veterans successfully transition and bring a strong work ethic, discipline, and loyalty to their new roles.
How to Address: Discuss your interest in the civilian sector and the steps you’ve taken to acclimate, such as pursuing education, mentorship, or internships. Share your excitement about contributing to a new organizational culture.
9. Job Hopping for Career Growth
Stereotype: Employers may worry that veterans are only using civilian jobs as stepping stones and will move on quickly.
Reality: Veterans are often committed employees with a strong sense of duty and loyalty.
How to Address: Explain your long-term career goals and how the position aligns with those. Demonstrate commitment by sharing examples of how you contributed to long-term projects in the military.
Adaptability is the service member’ foundation
As service members, we come to the workforce with a metaphorical tool-belt of skills and talents, as well as nearly a lifetime’s worth of education on ways to adapt and overcome not just physical obstacles, but mental and emotional ones. One such stereotype that should be added to a service member’s catalog, should be empathy. We go through a lot of training to ensure that we are empathetic and understanding for our soldier’s and coworker’s sake but for the sake of their families.
Understanding these common stereotypes and preparing to counter them with real-life examples, transitioning veterans can better navigate the civilian workplace and demonstrate the valuable skills they bring to the table. Leaders and stakeholders, in these same communities can affect the work environment by emphasizing the true potential and adding value of service members, and veterans into the workplace.
