SaluteMyJob’s Post

First week back on Civvy street, initial thoughts... One week into my first civilian role after leaving the military; "Week 1, Day 1" has a familiar ring for anyone that's previously served – that mix of nervous excitement. This is my first new start in over 12 years! The lead-up to my start date was actually a lot smoother than I expected. One of the best things about the military is the transition support they offer. I used my resettlement period to really focus on my career goals, brush up on some skills, and explore some passion projects I hadn't had time for before. A few weeks before I started, I'll admit, the imposter syndrome crept in. Service personnel are used to adapting to change quickly, with postings every few years - but usually, it's within our field and there's a set structure to follow. All those "Who, What, Where, When, and How" questions that were so clear-cut in the military, suddenly felt like unknowns. Luckily, I landed a job with a fantastic agency that gets the unique challenges veterans face. Sure, I had a few butterflies, but the team here has been incredibly welcoming and supportive, which immediately put me at ease. The onboarding process has been amazing, and meeting the different departments opened my eyes to the fact that the skills you pick up from wearing multiple hats in the military really are incredibly transferable! Alongside your main trade or skill set, you can adapt to understand the business faster, connect with colleagues to quickly integrate as part of your new team, bringing a unique angle to new situations and solve problems creatively. The amount of relevant experience you bring to the table is actually quite staggering, when you stop and think. Don't let those self-doubts hold you back! You've got way more to offer than you might think. PS. Not my image, but I'm certainly embracing the Birkenstocks over the AKU's for the WFH days! #BFBSCreative #veteranstransition #careerswitch #newbeginnings #ontothenextchapter #dontfeedthegremlin

Something to chew on this Thursday night. When folks are transitioning out of the military, they’re not just switching careers. They’re changing their entire way of life, especially retirees. The indoctrination process started the first day at reception, if not sooner. We’re all shaped to think we before me. Most will give you a firm handshake, look you straight in the eye when speaking or being spoke to and will speak candidly. We’re not trying to be offensive. This is what we know. Most will continue to say yes sir and yes ma’am, even to those younger than us. Some of us “think” we know what we wanna do when we get out. We then try it and realize this isn’t what we expected. Some of us have no clue. Homework assignment for recruiters and hiring managers. The next Veteran you interview, pay attention to how they sit. I’d bet they sit straight up, maintain eye contact, and I bet if you look under the table, their feet are heels together at a 45 degree angle with their hand in their knees.

May is #MilitaryAppreciationMonth! While we take time to honor those who served and continue to serve, we also celebrate the contributions veterans make to the workforce. If you're looking for skilled workers who are dedicated and ready to work in a variety of industries, consider adding veterans to your hiring strategy. This #Monster Hiring Guide can help!

May is #MilitaryAppreciationMonth! While we take time to honor those who served and continue to serve, we also celebrate the contributions veterans make to the workforce. If you're looking for skilled workers who are dedicated and ready to work in a variety of industries, consider adding veterans to your hiring strategy. This #Monster Hiring Guide can help!

The SOF truths apply to business as well. I place the first one as a foundation for everything else. When you truly make this a core value, you differentiate and set conditions for success. It will be evident and pervasive from the first touch in the recruiting process through leaving the company. In my post military career there are two people that stand out in my mind as great examples to follow: Dave Bailey & Sebastian Lambert #workforce #business

Wrapping up another week on my resettlement journey and one step closer to the 'real world'! When I first started #resettlement a common piece of advice was to 'be #selfish'. It something I've through about a lot but ignored the most. When you work as part of a small team, the impact of one member not pulling their weight can be massive. This is why I'd chosen to ignore it! After taking stock this week it's dawned on me that I have ~8 'working' weeks left and a number of those are out of office. The focus now is to try and maximise the value I can give to the team in the short time I have left while also ensuring I am prepared to finish. To achieve this I've hit a few key elements off the list this week, done in the margins of my current role: ✅ Date set for handing #military kit back ✅ Date set for formally finishing work ✅ Chats with a couple of veterans working in different sectors ✅ Chats with fellow resettlers ✅ Really positive chats with prospective employers ✅ Courses prepped for ✅ CVs and Covering letters prepped #militaryresettlement #careerchange #careertransition

Setting up Veterans for success after their service needs to be a national priority. We asked Veterans if they selected a career that truly aligned with their preferences or if their choice was influenced by the availability of jobs. Here is what they had to say 👉 27% of Veterans chose a job that aligned with their skills and goals.  73% had to choose what was available. How is your community supporting veterans in achieving success in the workforce? We want to hear your stories below!  #Shareyourstory #MissionRollCall

As the workday comes to a close for most of us and we tackle another hump day, many of us look forward to the weekend for relaxation, celebrations, or personal projects. Whether planning a birthday party, diving into DIY tasks, or simply enjoying downtime, it's essential to find moments of joy outside of work. Yet amidst our personal pursuits, let's not overlook the opportunities at DoD Civilian Careers. While weekends offer rest, weekdays provide chances for career growth and contribution. Whether seeking new challenges or aiming to make a difference, DoD Civilian Careers beckons with possibilities. So as we unwind, let's also keep our career aspirations in mind, knowing that the next exciting chapter could be just around the corner. Keep pushing forward, stay motivated, and let's make every day count towards building the future we envision! Where will you find your fit? www.DoDCivilianCareers.com #HumpDay #CareerGoals #DoDCivilianCareers United States Department of Defense

This week marked my 1 year with Hiring Our Heroes! 🥳What a journey it’s been so far! Being here has offered me so much perspective on my passion for supporting military spouses. I hear 100s of stories of struggles, successes, and pivots they have while looking for work. During our weekly coffee chat, my spouses reminded me how critical the space we make for them to share and learn from each other is. When we meet everyone comes with the mindset to learn, ask for help, ask to connect, or simply just listen because at that moment, that’s what they can bring. With Candidate Release right around the corner, I can assure you when you hire a military spouse, you hire more than their skills. You hire their heart, their passion, their commitment to themselves, their families, and even your organization. They are ready for someone to hear their story and look deeper than a resume. If you’re not on my release, let’s connect! Opening doors for spouses is how we make a difference. Let’s recognize their value far beyond what’s listed on paper. I will say, you likely won’t be disappointed either when you do see what’s on paper. 🤩👏 #workiversary #militaryspouses #militaryspouseemployment #bethechange #opendoors

Someone recently asked me: "Ben, why do you love working with the Armed Forces Community?" While there are a ton of reasons, the biggest one is because of how that community lives to their core values on a daily basis. Throughout my 15+ year career, I've found that lots of people and companies talk about their values, yet often do things that contrast them. They'll tell me that they are honest, then I see them wildly exaggerate their successes. They'll tell me that they are team players, and then I'll see them act selfishly and at the expense of those around them. Over the last 4 years, I've spoken to more than 3000 veterans, and in the main, they are awesome at doing what they say and being honest about what they can and can't do. They are a lot more likely to undersell themselves than to over-promise and under-deliver. I believe that if you have someone with the right values working alongside you, everything else falls into place. It's why, when starting to scale Ex-Mil, I wanted the values of the business to be aligned to the community that we serve. It's also why I believe that companies should worry less about hiring for skills and experience, and more about how that persons values align to your business goals.