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Positives and Negatives of being an ex-Defence person

Friday, November 23, 2012 6:14 am

Not every person who enters and leaves the military is fantastic.  We all know that, and so do employers.  Our experience is that approx 75% of employers love the qualities that a military background brings. Conversely, that leaves 25% who thin otherwise.  Their reasoning behind why they may baulk at employing someone with a military background may be wide and varied, be it from the way the media portrays Defence personnel, TV shows, movies or they might just have had a previously bad experience trying to integrate someone with a Defence background into their organisation.

Regardless of the realities, it will serve you well to know these ahead of experiencing them.

POSITIVES

There are of course the main stream strengths most ex-Defence people bring to a workplace such as:

  • Self discipline
  • Strong work ethic
  • Reliability to turn up for work everyday
  • Safety conscious
  • Willingness to learn
  • Most wanting a new career, rather than just a job
  • Physically fit

NEGATIVES

Unfortunately we also need to realise that the perception of non-military people with no exposure to current or ex-Defence staff is created by:

  • Media – over-dramatised news reports
  • TV – shows such as Sea Patrol, The Unit, etc filmed for entertainment not fact
  • Movies – GI Jane or Officer and a Gentleman
  • Books and magazines

From this perception it is possible think they will get:

  • Someone who will come in and yell and scream at staff (aggressive, arrogant, bully)
  • Totally inappropriate in the workplace and will sexually harass my staff
  • Need to given instruction all the time with no initiative (VERY structured environment creating Military moron)
  • Officers will not get their hands dirty
  • Non commissioned ranks not capable of senior management roles (uncouth)
  • Authoritative management style with no staff consideration

How to change or counteract this perception

  • Through your written application and at the job interview, use their language, ie no military terminology or acronyms. When speaking in plain language, they will begin to forget you have this dark past of an institutionalised military background.  Whilst you might know this in your head, actually translating your experiences and achievements in plain language is actually not as easy as you might think.  This becomes evident when you are told again “you came a close second”. 
  • Ensure your answers speak of your “soft” management skills when questioned about your management style.  If you’re not a manager then your cooperation skills working with teams
  • By answering your interview questions well and in plain language, any negative perceptions they may have had are now gone.
  • Relax and allow your personality to come through in the interview. 
  • Don’t brief them about your work history, tell your story with meaning and tone.
  • If you get the chance point out that working with people of all cultures, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and personalities is common in the ADF and you are comfortable working at your best in diverse teams.