Defence family life is good for your CV
Is your parent in the ADF or a veteran? Here’s how to turn challenges into strengths for your CV.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than five percent of Australian households have at least one member who is serving, or has served, in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
There’s no doubt that having an ADF parent or guardian can have its ups and downs. From the outside, it may look like a cool life; travelling, being a part of the ADF community, and celebrating each time your loved one walks back through the door. But life in a Defence family comes with a unique set of challenges. We’ll cover some those in this article.
As you reach the final years of high school, you’ll be starting to assess your career choices and options for the future. Services like the RSL Veterans’ Employment Program can help (it’s free for anyone whose parent is a Veteran or still serving). And while life as an ADF family may have had an impact on your schooling and early career, you can flip those challenges into advantages, adding a whole set of soft skills to your CV. Here’s how.
The challenge: frequent relocation
You’ve moved around more than most kids your age. You’ve changed schools a few times and haven’t had a chance to settle into any one place for very long. You’ve had to make new friends, establish new connections with teachers, and navigate your way around new cities and towns. And while this upheaval might have had an impact on you socially and even academically, it might’ve also contributed to the formation of invaluable skills and attributes.
The skill: you’re adaptable and flexible
Life as an ADF kid means you had to remain adaptable and learn to go with the flow. According to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC), adaptability is a skill that is becoming increasingly hot on employers’ hiring lists. It was ranked within the top 10 most important skills by Australian respondents to the LinkedIn Learning Workplace Learning Report 2021, alongside resilience.
This is due in part to the unpredictability of the pandemic and the rise in flexible workforces, as well as rapidly advancing technology and the ongoing need to upskill and adapt to changing work requirements.
The challenge: disruptions to learning
Just as you start to feel like you’re settling into life at your new school, your ADF parent is deployed elsewhere and you’re on the move again. Sound familiar? This interruption can be challenging for Defence kids to keep up with their studies, and can impact a young person’s cognitive and social development, with some studies showing regressions in learning and social skills.
The skill: you’re resourceful
From one side of the globe to the other, no two education systems are the same. No matter which school you attended, you were learning something new and different to what you’d have been learning at your previous school. While this can be disruptive (we certainly don’t intend to downplay that), you’ve gained a broader variety of learning experiences than most kids your age as a result. You’ve learnt how to navigate new systems and draw on resources in new and changing environments. In short: you’re resourceful!
Resourcefulness is a common checkbox for hiring managers. It’s the skill that allows you to work with what you’ve got and turn challenges into advantages.
The challenge: parental absence
If you grew up in an ADF family, it’s likely you’ve experienced the absence of a parent during deployment. You had to learn to adapt to the coming and going of your ADF parent (or parents) and be creative in your methods of communication. Not only does this also feed into your adaptability, but it also demonstrates your resilience and independence.
The skill: you’re independent and have strong digital communication skills
Most people strive to prove their ability to ‘work as part of a team’ and ‘work independently’ on their CV. But given your circumstances, you’re able to show an employer that you can do both, and you have done since a younger age than many of your peers.
In addition, your ability to integrate technology and digital skills into your life from a young age will be regarded as a positive by potential employers. In an increasingly technology-driven workforce, digital skills are vital. These skills are imperative to an aging workforce and a business looking to ‘keep up with the times’.
Being proficient in digital communications and applications may seem like a normal part of life as a young person, but for the generations before you, it doesn’t come as easily. The median age of an Australian worker is 37 (not a digital native), so your fluency in this area is a huge advantage.
The challenge: caring for an injured parent
One of the greatest risks to ADF families is the return of a parent or guardian with a mental or physical disability incurred during military service. According to the ABS, 13 percent of veterans need support with core activities of self-care, mobility and communication. Furthermore, 60 percent of veterans have long-term health conditions.
From post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression, to physical ailments, disabilities, and substance abuse issues, the risks for service men and women have a huge impact on their partners and children. If this sounds familiar to you and you need someone to talk to, support is available via Open Arms.
The skill: you are resilient, mature, and compassionate
It’s the biggest challenge on this list, but being upfront with a potential employer can help alleviate some of the pressure. Your strength and resilience deserve a position on your CV, but your experience as the child of an ADF parent or guardian can also show great maturity, compassion, and dedication beyond your years.
The RSL Veterans’ Employment Program can help
As you make the transition from school to the workforce, don’t underestimate the value of the skills and learnings you’ve gained as an ADF kid. If you need a hand understanding what you have to offer a workplace and how to communicate it to an employer, the RSL Veterans’ Employment Program is here for you. Our expert career coaches will work with you one-on-one, free of charge. Reach out to us today!
Want to see more content like this? Check out all our veterans’ employment articles here.