For women veterans, it’s an adventure to find job
For me, Labor Day was not a day of rest but an opportunity to reflect on how fortunate many of us are to have a fulfilling career and a chance to pursue our professional dreams.
As a female veteran, I’ve been privileged to gain valuable skills through my studies at West Point and nearly 15 years of service in the Army. I’ve learned how to leverage these skills in my life and work as a civilian. Not all veterans transition as smoothly.
Today, more than 200,000 women currently serve in the U.S. military, and in more diverse roles than ever before. While the number of active duty service women grows and opportunities improve, so do the unique challenges these women face when transitioning back to civilian life.
For varying reasons, female veterans are less likely to self-identify and this makes some resources available to help ease transition inaccessible to them.
Currently, 2.2 million of U.S. veterans are women and they are disproportionately unemployed, making employment services a crucial need for our nation’s veterans.
I began my Army career as a logistics officer at Fort Knox and traveled up the ranks several times to become a senior human resources officer. My advancement shows I had a successful career and was exposed to wide-ranging responsibilities.
When I transitioned from active duty to the Army Reserve and needed a job, though, I was struck by how many obstacles I immediately faced. Even mastering the application and interview process was tough, let alone adjusting to a different pace of life.
But I didn’t give up. My work ethic and the skills I mastered in the Army wouldn’t let me.
After the military, I was contacted by a Walmart recruiter. It seemed like a good fit for my family and would provide an opportunity to grow into a career. So, I applied.
I started as a developmental shift manager and worked my way up to store manager and then market human resource manager. Today, I’m developmental market manager supporting the South West Region in the Walmart Neighborhood Market Stores.
I was fortunate my employers saw the value I brought from my military service, and, clearly, I’m not alone. The company just announced they’ve hired more than 206,000 veterans since 2013.
I recognize – not just on Labor Day, but every day – that it’s not easy as a veteran to find your voice and career path in civilian life. While I’ll never take for granted what I’ve been able to achieve, both in and out of the Army, I’m also proud of how far I’ve come.
With so many opportunities, both for male and female veterans, achieving your goals is possible. You just have to reach for them.
Elise Hackstall is a Walmart developmental market manager in Memphis and an Army veteran.