HAPPY NEW YEAR! WILL 2014 BE THE YEAR YOU TRANSITION TO A CIVILIAN CAREER? CivilianJOBS.com’s
The Essential Military-to-Civilian Transition Resource
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January - February 2014
militarytransitionnews.com
Veterans are Prime Candidates for Field Service Jobs by Heidi Lynn Russell Contributing Editor
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n any given day at cancer treatment facilities, oncology medical equipment needs servicing. And, when it breaks down unexpectedly, stress can be high for medical staff members. That’s why RS&A, Inc. (Radiotherapy Simulators & Accelerators) highly prizes military veterans to fill the role of Field Service Engineers (FSE), says Vice President of Operations Kerry L. Price. The company, headquartered near Winston-Salem, N.C., specializes in the onsite service, repair, refurbishing, parts, sales and installation of linear accelerators, simulators and other oncology medical equipment. “Sometimes this is a stressful environment, and our employees have to always rise above the stress and make sure the customer is serviced. The end customer is the patient. When the
doctors and staff are calling and stressed over the equipment, we need someone who can talk with them with confidence to reassure them we will resolve the issue,” Price says. Many companies that use field service engineers feel the same way about military veterans, says Dr. Mike Echols, Executive Vice President at Bellevue University’s Human Capital Lab in Bellevue, Neb. The Lab does studies and research with companies including Verizon Wireless, Baylor Health System, ACI, Sun Microsystems, Convergys and others. The job outlook is positive for “investment installations” (i.e., servicing high-tech equipment in everything from warehouses to medical facilities), he says. And, veterans are coveted for these roles, because “they’re trained to respond on the spot” to emergency breakdowns. “In their role, the client is intense, because the operation is at risk. Military personnel are
psychologically accustomed to this. In the military, it’s the life that’s at stake. When they’re going to the client, the person is in a high state of anxiety with a major piece of equipment down. They’re well trained in dealing with this,” Echols says. Employers seek the cool reaction of veterans under pressure, because that is a defining quality that sets companies apart from competitors, says Don McGrath, Senior Vice President of Communications at power management company, Eaton Corp. “(Veterans) have a sense of mission accomplishment and sense of duty. They follow through on assignments, tasks and responsibilities and know the team depends on that. And, they work through the tasks and stressful conditions,” says McGrath, a retired Army Lt. Col. Here is a sampling of four companies that are in need of this uniquely skilled type of veteran:
A former Air Force service member working in field service for Hitachi HVB Eaton, Inc. • The Job: Provide installation, startup, maintenance, repair, training and modification on power transmission, distribution and generation equipment and systems, says George Bernloehr, Senior Military Talent Acquisition Consultant. FSEs must be capable of self-managing assigned projects for electrical equipment, including a working knowledge of electrical test and diagnostic equipment.
• The Hiring Outlook: Eaton currently employs more than 300 field service engineers and technicians. The Electrical Engineering Services division has been steadily growing for more than 15 years. “We expect to see that trend continue as the existing installed base continues to demand maintenance and repair, and new building construction provides new opportunities for continues page 4
Navigating Business Etiquette in a Civilian World by Heidi Lynn Russell Contributing Editor “’Etiquette’ is just a fancy word that describes ‘making another person feel at ease and comfortable with you,’” says etiquette expert Vicky Oliver, author of “301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions.” When it comes to business etiquette, knowing the nuances of corporate America will place you ahead of the pack – not just apart
from fellow military veterans who are vying for the same job during the interview process, but also among your future civilian colleagues, she says. “The main thing for military members to remember is that going into the civilian workplace can be a shock to the system. A corporate culture is different than what you’re used to. Go in prepared for that. During the interview process, you’re going to spend a lot of time about how your
background is so similar and how your skills will fit in,” adds Oliver, “But once you’re there, the truth is that it’s going to be very different. Be prepared for it. Know it’s going to take a while to acclimate, and be open to learning during that time.” We asked Oliver and another etiquette expert, Diane Gottsman, for a primer on workplace politeness. In addition to authoring four job-smart books, Oliver has worked with more than 5,000
professionals who have emailed her for advice on navigating the etiquette of the current business culture. Gottsman is owner of The Protocol School of Texas Inc., a company specializing in executive etiquette and leadership training. She is also author of “Pearls of Polish: A Guide to Social and Business Etiquette.” Here are their tips to navigate various sticky scenarios: Names and Titles: This is dicey, continues page 8
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Transition Talk:
Spouse Series:
Career Coach’s Corner:
Job Fairs:
Transitioning A to Z
What’s in your “I Love Me Book?” ....................page 3
The new normal ...............page 7
Don your goggles! ........... page 9
Find one near you ..... page 10
This month: I and J ................page 11