Interviewing Veterans: 101

I have spent time with nearly 50 veterans this year getting to know them, mentoring them, and sharing my advice on how to proceed through their transition. A common roadblock often described to me is the difficult dialog inside the job interview. Some veterans don't feel comfortable approaching the military experience conversation, for fear they'll be misrepresented or found unsuitable for the role. This is based on interviewer perception and the perceived misunderstanding of the military lifestyle.

Rather than lecturing corporate America on how to talk to veterans and the importance around understanding their individual value - I have created a simple, customize-able interview guide for any recruiter, interviewer, or hiring manager to use. It is free. It is no-strings attached, it is simply designed to take all the pressure off when it comes to figuring out what to say, how to ask, and what type of information is actually relevant.

By using this guide, you'll create an authentic conversation for both you and the veteran. This set of 10 questions is curated to inspire a natural rhythm of dialog that allows the veteran to tell their story in a succinct, pointed way. You can use all 10, take only 2, whatever works best for your purpose. If you have any questions - Feel free to reach out to me. Veteran interests are important to me. I've been there. I know what it feels like. I also interview people for a living and understand that dynamic as well. I wish you all the best in your upcoming business and here's to the continued success of America's heroes! (Please see Interview Guide below):

Veteran Interview Guide:

1). Tell me about your time in the military. What was your day-to-day like?

2). When you think back on your service, what are you most proud of?

3). What will your fellow service-members remember you for?

4). Did you receive any awards or recognitions? Tell me about those.

5). What are the top 5 skills you’d say best represent your experience gained by serving in the military?

6). If you could choose a civilian job, based on your military experience, what would that be?

7). Tell me about a challenging circumstance and how you overcame that difficulty.

8). Can you describe an event where you had to adapt to a current situation and how you worked through roadblocks?

9). In the military, you are paired with a diverse group of people and serve along-side them. How do you work with others who are different than you? How do you overcome communication/personality barriers?

10). Overall, regarding your military experience, what did you learn? What is your biggest takeaway?