• Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Linkedin
  • Share on Mail

How Companies Can Help Veterans Gain Confidence in the Workforce

By Rachel Neasham
How Companies Can Help Veterans Gain Confidence in the Workforce

I served five years in the US Army. I obtained the rank of Captain, led soldiers in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, jumped out of planes, and was directly responsible for lives as well as millions of dollars’ worth of equipment. 

A year later, I was working at an entry-level job. 

Looking back, I could have applied to a more senior role given my background and skills. 

I just didn’t have the confidence. 

A recent study from LinkedIn shows that my story isn’t unique. Veterans are 70% more likely to take a step backward when rejoining the civilian workforce. One-third of veterans are underemployed as a result. 

Today, I’ve been promoted five times to become Lola.com’s VP of Product, which is an honor. Luckily for me, Lola has an amazing team of leaders who saw my potential and value.

That’s not to say it’s on civilian employers to fix this stat — much of it is on the military — but I do think if business leaders can simply understand more about where veterans are coming from, and the confidence gap that I and so many others feel, we can drive positive change. 

For example, in the military there is a strong sense of duty, honor, and country. When you decide to leave, there’s a feeling that you are leaving your team behind.

I remember having to sit down with my boss and my boss’ boss and explain why I no longer wanted to serve. These were people who had only known life in the military, and I perceived that they looked down at my decision. It was as if I was devaluing their service and experience because I wanted a different path for my life.

Additionally, as a veteran, your identity is so intertwined with the military that in many ways you feel at a loss as to who you are when you leave. You go through a process of redefining yourself that feels like starting over.

What can leaders of civilian corporations do with this understanding? Actively recruiting veterans is a good step, but go one further and help them see how valuable they are. The resilience and grit one learns while going through basic training, military schools, and deployments strengthens character and pushes people to perform at levels beyond what they ever thought possible — and hearing that from a hiring manager could make a huge difference in a veteran’s confidence.

I wish I could put newly transitioning veterans in my shoes today so they could feel the confidence I know they deserve for themselves. Let’s help bridge this confidence gap so that we can all benefit from the leadership of veterans. 


posted by

Rachel Neasham

Rachel Neasham is Lola.com's VP of Product and a former U.S. Army Officer.