What Does 'Job Ready' Mean?
A guide to what employers want and how to get yourself ready to fill the role.
Transitioning from military service to civilian employment is a significant life change, one often fraught with challenges but also opportunities. Whether you are a serving member considering a move to 'civvy street,' or a veteran already navigating this change, the term 'job ready' will almost certainly cross your path. In fact, it’s a key focus area of the RSL Veterans’ Employment Program, a free service aimed at getting veterans and their family members into meaningful work.
But what does it mean to be 'job ready', particularly when you’re coming from a military context? This article arms you with answers.
Defining 'Job Ready'
In general terms, being 'job ready' means that an individual has the required skills, qualifications, and mindset to perform effectively in a given role or industry. For the military and veteran community, this definition takes on layers of nuanced significance. Being 'job ready' is not merely about skills transferability but also involves adapting to different organisational cultures, expectations, and ways of working.
Skills and Qualifications
In a military context, skills are often specialised and categorised according to the needs of the Defence Force. For example, infantry skills are significantly different from those required in logistics or signals. However, these skills often have civilian equivalents that can be overlooked. For instance, leadership, team coordination, and crisis management are as vital in a corporate setting as on the battlefield.
Translating military skills into civilian terms is a critical part of becoming job ready. For tips and resources on how to do it effectively, check out this article from our friends at RSL Australia.
Some roles may require additional training or qualifications that the military has not provided. In such instances, being job ready means having not only the willingness but also the initiative to fill these gaps through further education or vocational training.
The RSL Veterans' Employment Program can help you to identify training pathways, provide enrolment assistance and even financial support (assessed on a case-by-case basis). Veterans can also access educational subsidies from the Department of Veterans' Affairs, with specific education schemes available to children of veterans.
Cultural Adaptability
If skills and qualifications were the only metrics for job readiness, the transition to civilian work would be straightforward. However, one of the most substantial challenges veterans face is adapting to a different organisational culture. Unlike the military, where hierarchy and protocol are clearly defined and universally understood, civilian workplaces can be more nuanced and variable. 'Office politics' takes on a whole new meaning, and navigating these subtleties is crucial to being job ready.
Being culturally adaptable also means learning different communication styles. The direct and candid communication employed in the military might not always be well-received in civilian workplaces, where diplomacy and tact are often prized. Learning to modulate one's communication style is an integral part of being job ready.
Learn how to decode civilian work dynamics in this article.
Mindset and Emotional Readiness
Military service, especially active duty, exposes individuals to high-stress, high-stakes environments that can leave emotional and psychological imprints. Emotional readiness for a job goes beyond just 'toughing it out' or resilience. It involves self-awareness, knowing when to seek support and being open to different ways of thinking and problem-solving.
A host of support services, like counselling and peer networks, are available to help veterans make this emotional transition. Emotional intelligence, the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions while handling interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically, becomes a crucial part of being job ready.
Networking and Mentorship
In the military, your network is often as clear-cut as your unit or your chain of command. In civilian life, however, networks can be nebulous, built through social connections, professional affiliations, and even virtual communities. Learning how to network effectively in the civilian world is another aspect of job readiness.
Mentorship can also play a crucial role in this transition. Whether it's a fellow veteran who has successfully integrated into a civilian role or a civilian who understands the challenges veterans face, having a mentor can guide you in becoming job ready.
The Three Pillars of Job Readiness
According to the Business Council of Australia, there are three pillars of job readiness that help us understand what employers want: values, behaviours, and skills.
Pillar 1: Values
Values define who you are and how you operate in a work setting.
Accountability
In the military, accountability is more than a buzzword; it's a way of life. It means owning your actions, being responsible for your duties, and understanding the impact of your decisions on the mission and your team. In the civilian sector, accountability is just as critical, but its implications may extend to stakeholders, business objectives, and even public perception.
Honesty
Integrity and honesty are deeply ingrained in military culture. Translating this value into the civilian workspace should be straightforward, but it's worth noting that 'corporate honesty' might require more nuance. For instance, being transparent with your team and supervisors is also a form of honesty and can foster trust within a civilian organisation.
Respect and Tolerance
The military, particularly the Australian Defence Force, is a melting pot of backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs. This diversity demands a high degree of respect and tolerance, skills that are directly transferable to any civilian role. Employers value individuals who can work respectfully with colleagues from various backgrounds and perspectives.
Pillar 2: Behaviours
How you conduct yourself in a work setting is indicative of your professional behaviour.
Adaptability
During service, adaptability is key to mission success, whether you're navigating dynamic combat situations or administrative challenges. Civilian employers also value this trait highly, especially in today's rapidly evolving work environments, where new technologies and processes are the norm.
Resilience
Military service, by its nature, teaches resilience — the ability to bounce back from setbacks and failures. In a civilian context, resilience shows your potential employer that you have robust problem-solving abilities and can handle the pressures and challenges of the job.
Business-Minded
Being 'business-minded' might seem far removed from the Defence Force, but if you consider the larger objective behind every military operation, you'll find that strategic thinking is a key component. Being aware of how your role fits into the bigger picture is equally vital in a civilian job and can set you apart from other candidates.
Pillar 3: Skills
This refers to your ability to execute tasks based on what you’ve learned and experienced.
Problem-Solving
In the military, problem-solving often occurs under extreme pressure and with significant consequences. These experiences are invaluable in a civilian job where employers value the ability to think critically and innovate solutions.
Technical Skills
While Defence provides specialised technical skills, from engineering to IT, translating these skills to a civilian context is critical. Further training or certifications may be necessary, but the foundational skills are often highly transferable.
Digital Literacy
Digital literacy has become a universal requirement for modern jobs. The military often offers advanced technical training, including in digital fields, which can give you a strong advantage in the civilian job market.
need a hand to get ‘job ready’?
Being 'job ready' for the Australian military and veteran community involves a multi-faceted approach, covering everything from skills translation and qualifications to emotional readiness and adaptability. While the term may be easily uttered, the journey to becoming job ready is an involved process. It's about understanding and leveraging your unique strengths, adapting them to civilian life, and taking proactive steps to fill any gaps in your professional toolkit.
Getting veterans and their partners and family members job ready is a core focus of the RSL Veterans’ Employment Program. Our employment consultants provide free support that is tailored to your individual needs.
Reach out to us today!
Want to see more content like this? Check out all our veterans’ employment articles here.