The Unexpected Meeting
"Well, this is embarrassing," said the man standing in front of Ms. Veteran Affairs, a coffee cup in hand, his face flushed with a mix of confusion and frustration. He had just walked into the wrong interview room—his first-ever job interview as a civilian.

Ms. Veteran Affairs looked up from her notepad, amused but not surprised. It was early in the morning, and she was reviewing her notes when he stumbled into the room, carrying more nerves than the average first-time job seeker. His military uniform had been replaced by a wrinkled shirt and poorly chosen tie. She smiled, having seen her fair share of missteps in the interview world.

“Don’t worry, it happens,” she said, waving him into the seat across from her. "I’m sure you’ll do better at your actual interview."

He laughed awkwardly, glancing at the table in front of them, which was cluttered with papers and folders. "You’re not going to tell the recruiter, are you?"

Ms. Veteran Affairs chuckled. “I’ll give you a pass, but let me help you out with something—let’s get you ready for the real interview. You might just be overthinking it.”

A Veteran’s First Job Interview: The Struggle
As they settled into a more comfortable conversation, Ms. Veteran Affairs quickly realized the man, who introduced himself as Mark, was in unfamiliar territory. He had just separated from the military, and the prospect of entering the civilian workforce was both exciting and terrifying for him.

“I’ve been in the military for over 15 years," Mark said, nervously twirling his pen. "Now, I have no idea how to talk about my skills in a way that doesn’t sound like I'm bragging or worse, totally irrelevant.”

Ms. Veteran Affairs leaned back in her chair, a knowing look in her eyes. “That’s the first thing you’ve got right. A lot of veterans feel like they’re supposed to ‘translate’ their skills, but the truth is, they don’t need to. What you’ve done and learned in the military? It’s gold. You just have to explain it so civilians understand why it’s valuable.”

Mark looked skeptical. “Like what? How do you explain leading a whole team of soldiers or working on high-stakes missions?”

“Well," she said with a grin, "have you ever had to negotiate a parking spot in a crowded city? Or talk your way out of an awkward situation without anyone getting hurt? That’s negotiation and conflict resolution. You’ve led teams in the most intense situations imaginable—those are leadership and management skills.”

Mark sat up straighter. “Okay, I get that. But how do I say that in an interview without sounding like I’m going to start a firefight if they don’t give me the job?”

Ms. Veteran Affairs couldn’t help but laugh. “Now that’s something we can work on.”

Tips from Ms. Veteran Affairs:

A Few Weeks Later…
Mark’s phone buzzed just as Ms. Veteran Affairs was finishing up a meeting with a colleague. She grinned when she saw the name on the screen. Mark was calling to give her the good news.

“Guess who got the job?” Mark’s voice was practically bursting through the phone.

“Let me guess,” she teased. “It was the guy who walked into the wrong interview room?”

He laughed. “Yeah, that guy. But I followed your tips, and I felt a lot more confident. I could see the hiring manager’s face light up when I talked about leading my team during deployments. She said it was exactly what they were looking for in a manager!”

“I’m proud of you,” she said. “You’ve earned this, Mark. And remember, this is just the beginning.”

The End of the Beginning
As Mark ended the call, Ms. Veteran Affairs took a moment to reflect on how far he had come in such a short amount of time. Helping veterans transition into civilian roles wasn’t easy, but it was rewarding. She had seen firsthand how veterans could not only survive but thrive in new environments if they knew how to present their strengths.

For Mark, the journey was just beginning, but Ms. Veteran Affairs knew this was one veteran who wouldn’t just adapt to civilian life—he’d excel.

Discussion Questions: