Integrity, honesty, dependability, a strong work ethic and leadership skills. It’s safe to say those are among employers most desired traits of a teammate.
What can sometimes be overlooked is that these characteristics are possessed by many of Colorado’s 400,000 veterans, and the 45,000-plus veterans living in the Denver metro area. The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and University of Colorado Denver are partners of the Boots to Suits: Professional Development Program to help get service men and women ready for the workplace through internship and mentoring experiences, as well as a custom suit from Brooks Brothers.
Over the fall 2016 semester, the Boots to Suits kicked off a Career Boot Camp – a series of workshops and events aimed to develop and provide veteran students with the resources they need to enter into the workforce.
We sat down with Jason Wright, a veteran in the Boots to Suits program, to learn about the challenges faced by veterans entering the workforce and the unique talents they bring to the table.
Wright enlisted in the army as a signals intelligence analyst in 1998. Within five years he received a direct commission to be an environmental science officer and played a large role in combating West Nile in the Environmental Health Services Department at Fort Carson.
Today, Wright is pursuing his second and third master’s degrees at the University of Colorado Denver as part of a dual degree program that incorporates public administration and criminal justice. In addition, he is planning to graduate with a certificate in emergency management and security.
Taking Care of Business: What are some of the challenges veterans face entering the workforce?
Jason Wright: We, as veterans, can do nearly anything we set our mind to if we’re given the resources to do it. That can be hard when you get out because you don’t have the same comradery that you had when you were in the military. In civilian life you cover yourself, and in the military you cover your brother’s back. Those things can make your life difficult even once you get a job.
TCB: What are some strengths that veterans possess that other potential employees might not?
Wright: Confidence is number one.
One of our biggest strengths in the military and as veterans, is our confidence in our ability to do whatever we set our mind to. A lot of employers are also looking to hire veterans because they have leadership abilities. We know how to get things done with little resources – we don’t need a lot to make things happen.
TCB: What should companies know when hiring veterans?
Wright: I remember after I had been out for maybe five years I had people come up to me, out of nowhere and ask, “What branch of the military were you in?” They didn’t know me, but they knew I was in the military. Now I can look back and go it must have been because I looked so militant. The way I walked. The way I talked, the way I dressed. The way I cut my hair. The way I looked around. It’s evident, but it’s not evident to the solider.
I think an employer should be aware that we are militant and that it just takes time for us to transition; stick with us as we transition to whatever culture that job has.
TCB: What advice do you have for veterans seeking employment?
Wright: My biggest piece of advice is to seek out organizations like Boots to Suits. When I go into the Boots to Suits office, I see veterans hanging out, talking about being in the military or their transition out of the military. They have that comradery that goes away when you leave the military. To veterans who feel like they’re a little lost – seek out those organizations, and just talk, because just talking is the number one thing that we need.
TCB: Where do you see yourself once you’ve completed your degrees?
Wright: The future will depend on what career field I choose. If I’m doing emergency management, I’m going to be the director or regional director somewhere. If I’m doing intelligence work I hope to be in charge with some type of special intelligence unit that does rapid deployments. We shall see how it goes, but whatever I’m doing in ten years, I’m going to get to the top.
To learn more about the Boots to Suits program contact Bridget Garcia, bridget.garcia@denverchamber.org.
Ginny Hancock is the public affairs intern for the Denver Metro Chamber.