Job speak: Career transition series assists Airmen with translating military skills for private sector employers

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kimberly Hickey
  • 934 AW Public Affairs
MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL AIR RESERVE STATION --  According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, in 2012 more than one in five modern-day veterans cannot find employment. At almost 23 percent, Minnesota's unemployment rate for veterans who have served after Sept. 11 is the third-highest in the U.S. after Michigan and Indiana.

Does this surprise you?

"Well, the greatest challenge is we are the only reserve presence in the upper Midwest," said Capt. Dennis Davis, 934th Airlift Wing Force Development Officer, Base Education and Training. "We're not in a military area. Therefore, very few people may know we are here."

Lack of civilian employer familiarity with military life creates specific challenges for our reservists seeking work in the private sector, he said.

In recent months, these challenges were identified and discussed in the wing's Human Resource Development Council meetings, said Col. Charles Hurry, Inspector General and HRDC Chairman, 934th Airlift Wing.  Davis responded by proposing a series of career development courses that prepared Airmen for successfully seeking employment in the private sector, he said.

"Captain Davis assembled, designed, and created a program and courses entirely on his own, as a response to a need identified by HRDC," said Hurry. "We have a regulatory Air Force Instruction requirement, the Human Resources Development Council, and we have a charter. He's fulfilling a part of that charter."

Answering the call for action, Davis forged and presented a four-part career transition series that delineated the important elements of landing a new civilian job, including how to write an effective resume, network, and interview effectively. He teamed up with Chief Master Sgt. Julie Carie, 934th Financial Management superintendant, who helped coordinate each course with assistance from the 934th's Rising Six group.

Davis brought his own civilian expertise along. He is the self-described 'Chief Translation Officer' of his own consulting firm, Metafrazo, and brings diverse talent acquisition experience spanning several industries and most functional areas to the 934th Airlift Wing. Davis explained that Metafrazo means 'to translate" in Greek, and his company seeks to maximize veteran employment opportunities in the private sector by assisting veterans with the translation of their military skills. These military skills may include experience and expertise working with some of our nation's most complex and sophisticated weaponry, computer software, and advanced defense systems, he said.
Staff Sgt. Kristin Franzoni, a paralegal specialist with the 934th Judge Advocate General's office, attended Davis's course on resume writing and learned how to rewrite her resume to emphasize her leadership skills and experience. She was able to the land a new supervisory position in her civilian career field, information technology.

The resume-writing course really helped her understand how to highlight her leadership experience, which helped her land her new supervisory position, she said.

"I was able to look at my experience in a new way, and present it in the most effective manner," she said.

Davis created the four-part series for several reasons. One was to address the growing uncertainty our Airmen face, particularly regarding a potential mission change or base realignment. Davis used the analogy of the five Olympic rings to describe how each element must be addressed, equally, to be effective.

"They are separate, colored rings, but they are all linked together, inseparable. So if you've got a great resume, you can get in the door. But, if you're a horrible interviewer, there's a challenge there," he said. "Maybe you're a great interviewer, but can't network your way to meeting face-to-face with someone for a job. That's another challenge. These are gaps, and we have to overcome those gaps."

Attendees included junior, first-term Airmen, as well as senior officers, and everyone in between, said Davis. Our purpose was to focus on providing assistance for their world 'outside-the-gate' so that they can be better prepared. We wanted to fill the gaps.

"Everybody needs mentoring and professional development," he said. "The future is uncertain for all of us."

Davis also wanted to ensure that Airmen know how recruiters think and behave. He accomplished this by hosting a professional forum with professionals from off-base.

"I wanted to explain where recruiters find talent, so it was really a view from the other side of the desk," he said.

In his civilian capacity, Davis helps civilian employers understand their veteran applicants. He does this by translating military core values and jargon so they can recognize the skills and inherent values veterans bring to their organizations.

"It's important that they understand what the veteran has done," said Davis, "and why they should be hiring veterans."

Davis published his first book, "Not your Average Joe: Profiles of Military Core Values and Why They Matter in the Public Sector" in May. He continues to educate the private sector in understanding the assets veterans bring to their organizations. He also works closely with Minnesota legislators to develop tax incentives for employers to hire veterans.

For more information about upcoming career transition courses, contact Captain Davis at dennis.davis.1@us.af.mil.