UC Workshop to Help Student Veterans Translate Military Skills to Civilian Workplace

The University of Cincinnati will host an event that will help student veterans better communicate the commonalities between military know-how and civilian workplace savvy to potential employers.

The “Veterans Federal Employment and Military to Civilian Skills Translation Workshop” will be held from

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 2

at the Career Development Center on the first floor of University Pavilion. The guest speaker will be Siggy Letheby, a recruitment manager from the Department of Labor’s Chicago office. Letheby will appear via live online video conference to discuss effective strategies for veterans seeking federal employment. A panel of specialists also will be available throughout the day to review and help improve student veterans’ resumes.

The workshop is being organized by Buck Clay – a U.S. Army veteran, president of UC’s chapter of the Omega Delta Sigma veterans fraternity and junior communication major from Cincinnati – in conjunction with the

Office of Veterans Programs and Services

and the

Career Development Center

.

Clay says the event serves a specific and critical area of need for today’s young veterans. He says, oftentimes, veterans with appropriate job skills have difficulty finding work because their abilities aren’t seen as applicable in civilian employment.

“There’s a huge disconnect between the Department of Defense and general human resources departments,” Clay says. “This workshop intends to help translate those military skills that we have from years of service into the appropriate terminology so people will understand in a civilian human resources department.”

This fall, the University of Cincinnati's enrollment of military veterans stands at 1,009, up from 500 in fall term 2008.

MILITARY AND CIVILIAN SKILLS NOT SO DIFFERENT

Clay says that in many ways, the military functions much like a large corporation. There are supply offices, planning offices, personnel offices and plenty of bureaucracy. So while the professional skills required to succeed in the military might be categorized differently than their civilian counterparts, the basic abilities are the same.

“For example, as a soldier who manages other soldiers, you have regular interactions and deal with personnel matters in the same manner someone would working at Procter & Gamble,” Clay says. “It takes a lot of coordination, a lot of communication and a lot of networking.”

Jack Johnson, the new program manager of the Office of Veterans Programs and Services

and an Army veteran, says an added benefit of the workshop for the approximately 1,200 student veterans using their Veterans Administration benefits at the university is the sense of camaraderie it will promote.

A combat veteran, Johnson knows firsthand how difficult – and lonely – the transition can be for young veterans.

“A lot of times, part of the transition that these younger vets encounter is feeling like they’re different, that they’re not the same as their classmates,” Johnson says. “The simple fact they know that fellow veterans are going to be there in one spot at this meeting – and everybody has something in common – it gives them a sense of safety with the University of Cincinnati.”

SMOOTHING THE TRANSITION FROM SOLDIER TO STUDENT TO CIVILIAN PROFESSIONAL

Clay views the workshop as another way UC can help its veteran students bridge the gap between completing their studies and beginning their professional careers.

“An event like this brings veterans forward and is a segue to having their military experience not only recognized but forged into another tool for use in securing a career during or after their experience at the university,” Clay says.

Johnson wants the workshop to signal that the Office of Veterans Programs and Services is looking to expand the services it offers student veterans. He joined UC this month and plans to build upon his office’s role as a provider of administrative services, such as enrollment certification.

“Our mission is letting student veterans know there’s somebody here that can help them, somewhere they can come that’s very welcoming,” Johnson says. “I want people to say that they want to go to the University of Cincinnati because of the veterans center they have.”

WORKSHOP AGENDA
Veterans Federal Employment and Military Skills to Civilian Skills Translation Workshop

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 2

The University of Cincinnati’s Career Development Center, University Pavilion, first floor.

The center has a separate entrance located on the first floor of University Pavilion facing the CCM Garage. The center also can be accessed from the third floor by using the elevators located in the hallway.

- 10 to 10:15 a.m.:

Event organizer and UC student Buck Clay will provide introductions and a brief presentation.

- Throughout the day, resume review and assistance

will be given by a panel of specialists, including attorney and Army Lt. Col. Ryan Ruehle, Heroes’ Fund board member Katie Hoffman and Pfizer Europe brand manager Erin Federman.

- 10:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.:

Siggy Letheby, a recruitment manager from the Department of Labor’s Chicago office, will discuss effective strategies for veterans seeking federal employment and field questions from the audience via live online video conference.

- 12:45 to 4 p.m.:

Additional speakers will be made available to address the audience.

- 4 to 5 p.m.:

The workshop will remain open for further resume review and to answer attendees’ questions.  

The event is geared toward student veterans but is open to all veterans, dependents and veteran staff in Greater Cincinnati. Lunch will be catered on site. Walk-ins are accepted, though reservations are encouraged.

To make reservations, contact Clay at 513-237-3851 or clayrt@mail.uc.edu.