IDEAS ASSOCIATED WITHPRIVATE SECTOR WORKFORCETRANSITIONAL CHALLENGESFACED BY FORMER MILITARY PERSONNEL OR RESERVISTS

Dr. Brenda Nelson-Porter

August 9, 2013

Design Thinking Action Lab, Stanford University

GREAT IDEAS

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Based on the data collected from

two interviews,

the following problem statement

emerged:The general problem focuses on the lack of

communication skills obtained at the Bachelor’s-level

and during military schooling or training that relate to

the private workforce. The specific problem focuses on

not having the communication know-how (being

flexible) to appropriately (a) translate military

knowledge and skills to prospective private sector

employers (b) and approach the concerns of clients in

the private sector.

d

GREAT IDEAS

IDEA GENERATION• Military make it mandatory for officers to obtain a

communication certification

• Make it mandatory for enlisted personnel to take

communication courses

• Hold networking events with military and civilian

personnel on base

• Conduct formal exit training to include discussing

communication skills

• During military exit training, have former private

sector recruiters review resume

• Base the exit training on the job descriptions of DoD

workers

• Base the exit training on the job descriptions of

interested private sector positions

d

IDEA GENERATION• Military make arrangements for exiting military

personnel to attend job fairs

• Make arrangements for exiting military personnel to

attend job workshops

• Make arrangements for exiting military personnel to

attend conferences

• Assist military personnel with getting a paid position

• Assist military personnel with getting an internship

• Encourage military personnel to keep their GIBill

• Assist military personnel with getting enrolled in

college

d

IDEA GENERATION• Recruiters make arrangement for military

candidates to view the base

• Make arrangement for military candidates to intern

on base

• Survey military candidates on military terminologies

• Survey military candidates about the positions in the

military

• Assist with restructure of ASVAB test based on

findings from survey

• Share the benefits of being and hiring a reservist to

corporations

• Military restructure A-school based on the feedback

from the survey results

d

IDEA GENERATION• Teachers assign high school students a paper to

compare both sectors

• Can take students to tour the military base and then

corporation to conduct a comparative analysis

• Parents help children choose between the careers

by explaining the benefits

• Can take children to air shows on base

• Military personnel can return to communities to

network with students

• Can be guest speakers to explain the transition

d

GREAT IDEAS

IDEA GENERATION• Potential recruits consider working as civilian

before joining the military

• Participate in JROTC in high school and ROTC in

college

• Military personnel who are considering leaving

the military, look at the benefits of becoming a

reservist

• Review the job descriptions of DoD workers

• Review the job descriptions of interested private

sector positions

• Take college courses related to their interests

• Join a professional association that relates to their

interest

• D

d

IDEA GENERATION• Leaders of professional associations, consider

designing a program to help military personnel

transition to the private sector

• Program to include communication knowledge and

skills

• Hold networking events for military personnel

• Invite speakers who have traveled this road

• Hold networking events with military personnel

• Design a certification / designation based on the

transitioning that is recognized by private sector

d

IDEA GENERATION• Private sector employers, consider designing an

internal program to recruit former active military

personnel

• Consider an internal company sponsor for the new

personnel who is a reservist

• Be patient with former military personnel and

current reservist

• Have lunch with new personnel/reservist

• Accompany new personnel /reservist to meetings,

seminars, conferences

• Give cash incentive to seasoned employees who

reservist who refer qualified reservist to the

company

d

IDEA GENERATION• Researchers, research other military Branches and

Guards

• Research the percentage of reservists enrolled in

college

• Research the percentage of reservists enrolled in

college have taken a communication course

• Research the percentage percentage of reservists

who do not have another job or full-time job in the

private sector

• Research the percentage of part-time reservists and

college graduate who went full-time active duty

after college

d

GREAT IDEAS

During military exit training,

having former private sector

recruiters review and update the

resume to reflect the language of

the private sector position helps

the military personnel with the

transitioning through a written

communication process

IDEA SELECTION

RESUME REVIEW REFERALS

Giving cash incentive to seasoned

employees who are reservist and who

refer qualified reservist to the company

may help close the communication gaps,

because the reservist more likely has

explained to the potential incoming

reservist the culture of the company

and the employee is familiar with

candidate’s military position

CERTIFICATIONBASED ON

TRANSITIONING

Promotes learning,

Promotes

networking,

Give recognition in

the field of study that

a certain level of

knowledge has been

identified

IDEA SELECTION

GREAT IDEAS