Teddy Roosevelt’s Advice
Ten Day Shortform Challenge — Day 2
A daunting challenge for Military Veterans is entering the civilian workforce. Many employers fail to equate a military background to the employee competencies they seek in a qualified candidate. Likewise, many Veterans cannot translate their service skills into marketable civilian work experience. As a result, hiring managers wonder if the Veteran they are interviewing is a capable prospect.
I witnessed this phenomenon myself since I left active duty twenty-two years ago. I work tirelessly to equate my Navy career pedigree to meaningful criteria that a civilian could understand. Ultimately, I needed to convince prospective employers that I can do the job.
Theodore Roosevelt provides the best advice for these situations.
“Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell ’em, ‘Certainly I can!’ Then get busy and find out how to do it.”
