From Military to Civilian Workforce: 5 Ecolab Associates Share Their Experiences

Transitioning from military to civilian workforce can be challenging. Regardless of your military branch, if you found it difficult to translate experiences, you‘re not alone. In a November 2015 study (Zoli, Maury, & Fay, 2015), more than 8,500 Veterans, active duty Service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and military dependents identified their transition challenges: roughly 40% said applying military-learned skills to civilian life was one of them. Over the past 22 years, my military story has definitely grown deeper and more intertwined at Ecolab, and I too had to navigate challenges early on in my career. But there’s good news: Translating military vocabulary to commonly used professional language and applying your Military experience to new workforce scenarios is possible - and incredibly valuable.

I was a member of the U.S. Navy and now work as a Research, Development & Engineering Director at Ecolab. My teams support field testing all products, equipment and systems during the product development process prior to commercial launch and also manages post-launch chemical and equipment product quality and maintenance activities for the business. I’m also a cofounder of MERGE, Ecolab’s military employee resource group. As part of MERGE, I’ve been fortunate to meet a lot of transitioning service members and learn about their experiences. For anyone transitioning or preparing to make the switch, here is the advice my colleagues would share.

First: Consider translation differences and find someone who can help you assimilate.

When I transitioned from the military to the civilian workforce, I learned I had to reconsider the way I maintained a “chain of command” perspective. This approach did not always work appropriately in my civilian work. I recall addressing senior leaders at work formally using Sir or Ma’am which was not always accepted as a show of respect. 

This isn’t uncommon. Jake Kulzer, vice president operations, pest elimination, said some of his biggest challenges transitioning from the Military surrounded translation. For example, the Military has missions, Ecolab has budgets. I was used to calling professional development discussions “counseling” followed up with a “counseling statement”, but at Ecolab it’s “coaching” and “development plans”. However, Ecolab’s organization matched the values I held as an Army Officer. Using the underlying values as a guide, and the fundamentals of leadership which are the same, I was able to quickly adopt the new vocabulary and assimilate. The biggest difference for him came from “a very welcoming work climate and great mentors, some who were also Veterans, who I could go to no matter what the questions were.”

Second: Recognize how your military experience translates to your career in terms of skills.

As I started my Ecolab career, I still maintained a connection with the military by joining the U.S. Navy Reserves. I continued training and working in different units focused on accomplishing various missions which bolstered my leadership, communication, and project management skills, all capabilities that were directly applicable at work. I also realized that, while different groups and teams at Ecolab operated differently, we were all supporting a common overall mission – similar to how military units support a common mission.

Rachael Berkoff, senior HR representative, said, “Once I was able to better recognize how my military experiences were applicable in the civilian workforce, I was able to do several things more effectively.” This included:

• Identifying barriers and problem solving— I frequently use clever army problem-solving techniques, such as the “5 Paragraph Operations Order” to help me plan in detail and identify problem areas across a full-spectrum of possibilities. This approach allows me to fully appreciate the problem and coordinate an effective approach.
• Communicating with my customers— In the military, we place a premium on communicating directly. This style has helped me effectively direct and push back when necessary, while maintaining professionalism. I have found that the sales organization I currently support appreciates this, as time and accuracy are often critical.
• Adjust to unpredictability— One of the most valuable skills I honed while serving in the Army was adaptability. This mindset was important in the military because adapting could mean the difference between life and death, especially in a foreign environment where circumstances are constantly changing. While not quite as severe in my current role in Ecolab, I have chosen to incorporate this mindset as part of my daily routine so I am comfortable adjusting to new circumstance and effectively weighing alternatives that could alter my direction.
• Collaborate in teams— The military is a team-oriented culture where you are only as strong as your weakest player. In order to accomplish your mission, we strived to function effectively as a group and all took ownership of our collective goal to achieve success. The same is true at Ecolab; we are a relationships-oriented culture where working collaboratively is encouraged and necessary to ensure diversity of thought and provide the best possible outcome.

Third: Stay connected to your military community.

Once you enter the civilian workforce it can be challenging to stay connected to the military. As my career at Ecolab has progressed, I have met more people across the company and started to connect with other military veterans. Although we did not work on the same teams, we realized we shared common interests and experiences that led us to starting a veteran employee resource group: MERGE, or the Military Employee Resource Group at Ecolab. Our mission is to support veterans at Ecolab, use our collective military experiences, perspectives, and skills to support the mission and purpose, and network and grow in our careers.

Caleb Schmidt, marketing manager said, “Since leaving the military in 2015, I have struggled to find ways to stay connected with such a formative and influential part of my past. A part of me has missed the structure and purpose that I felt in the 6 years I served in the US Navy. I feel very fortunate to not only have found a great company like Ecolab to grow and develop my career but also to have found an organization like MERGE. MERGE has afforded me the opportunity to continue to serve after the military.”

Perhaps you’re transitioning to the civilian workforce while staying active in your military duties. Mike Kosak, SH&E manager and a member of the MERGE leadership team, is an active servicemember and also stays connected to the military at Ecolab through MERGE.  “The flexibility Ecolab offers and how they empower military personnel to learn, grow and lead makes this a great organization that I’m very proud to be a part of.”

Through MERGE, we host a variety of events, collaborate with different Ecolab ERG’s, and provide many opportunities for members to serve and support military and military families. For example:

• Service Member & Family Support: MERGE has an internal team that provides support before, during, and after deployment cycles for Reserve and National Guard employees and their families. These efforts were recognized this year when Ecolab was named a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon company.
• Community Involvement & Fundraising: MERGE members support many different volunteer events in our communities and raise money for different military-related organizations. Our members have attended funerals, placed flags on Memorial Day, and participated in Wreaths Across America. Collectively, MERGE has raised almost $50,000 in the last year for different organizations, a truly humbling amount that speaks to the hard work and determination of our MERGE members and the Ecolab family.

There are ways to navigate the challenges of transitioning from the military to the civilian workforce, and also people and companies that will help you through it. It starts with recognizing and translating experience and seeking out communities to help you identify and connect those experiences. When you are in the military, you operate as a unit or command to accomplish a mission. When you are at a civilian job, you are just as valuable as an individual contributor and as part of a team. There are many other correlations from military experience that are valuable in the workforce: working with integrity, setting high expectations of self and team, having fun by pushing yourself to grow in skills, engaging with leaders and your network, and having a continuous thirst for knowledge; all a starting point to bridge experiences, and help the transition feel easier.