Stories From an Air Force Veteran: How Workday Supports the Military and Veteran Communities

Three days after my high school graduation, I shipped out to bootcamp to join the United States Air Force. I grew up in a military family. As a kid, some of my favorite pastimes were leafing through my grandfather’s World War II photo albums and listening to my dad tell stories of his service both in the United States Army and Air Force. For me, joining the military wasn’t a question of if, but a fact of when.

Fast forward to 2019, I added another name to my list of identities: Workmate. After 27 years of military service, I found myself leaving the only thing I’d ever known to start a new career in technology. At the time, I felt more than equipped to succeed in the professional working world. After all, I’d served overseas multiple times to support the Bosnian and Kosovo conflicts along with the no-fly zone in Northern Iraq. I worked in a variety of roles and climbed my way to the top of the enlisted ranks; with experience ranging from aircraft mechanic, recruiting, domestic operations, and leading partner forces training in Northern Africa. Yet even though I knew I was capable of succeeding in certain roles, I struggled to get call backs for an interview. I found success with government contracted companies, but those positions were well below my experience level and pay grade. I wanted something new, something that was going to challenge me. That’s when I found Opportunity Onramps at Workday.

My Workday Career

When I first started at Workday, I had real concerns if this old Military Veteran would fit in with this young tech-savvy crowd, but with Workday’s core values of putting employees first, working with integrity and fun, I felt it was well worth a shot. Following my core values has never led me astray in the past and I was certain it wouldn’t at this point either. My first role at Workday was as a business analyst where I supported many of our large, internal finance projects, and from day one I felt like a part of the team. Not only did I hit it off immediately with my team, I became very involved in Workday’s Military & Veterans Employee Belonging Council. The key things that made me successful in the military are the same things that helped me find success at Workday.

I was determined to support other service members and Veterans as they made the same transition I did, so I volunteered every chance I could. In July 2021, all of my volunteer time culminated in a new career opportunity and I’m now the Sr. Military & Veteran Recruiter and Program Manager at Workday. This new role allows me to not only help others in the Military and Veteran community make the same smooth transition, but it also provides a platform to advocate for policy change, carve out career pathways, give back to the community and hopefully change the way the world sees the transferable skills of military Veterans.

Capitalizing on Transferable Skills

At Workday we believe a skills-based approach, with a focus on people, is critical in hiring, developing, and retaining top talent.

When I think about where I am today, there are a few things that I’ve learned about myself. The key things that made me successful in the military are the same things that helped me find success at Workday.

• Team Work
• Interpersonal skills like communication, collaboration, and ability to lead
• Strong work ethic
• Ability to work under pressure
• Self discipline/motivation
• Problem-solving
• Working in ambiguity
• A focus on goal achievement

These, and many other core skills are what has helped so many Veterans be successful when they leave the military, and I was no different. It’s important to me that I am able to find opportunities to educate employers on bridging the knowledge gap between military skills and those that are transferable to civilian jobs.

Giving Back to the Community: Memorial Golf Tournament

Workday is proud to support the Military and Veteran community and has made investments to support military members and their families in the communities where we live and work. One example is the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. This was an amazing opportunity to partner with PGA golf legend Jack Nicklaus along with our Co-CEOs Aneel Bhusri and Carl Eschenbach in hosting Gold Star Families, Service Members, Veterans and Military Families throughout the week of the tournament.

We hosted over 150 Gold Star Family members, Veterans and their families in the Workday Overlook at 18 suite. It was heartwarming to see them all enjoying themselves and even becoming emotional at times, as they took in the spectacular views and the amazing golf that was being played.

Workday also supports Military, Veteran and Military Spouse job seekers through networking and career development workshops hosted at both our customer conference, Workday RISING, and at an event that we co-host with Deloitte called Waypoint. During these events we also host breakout sessions on navigating the recruiting process, building your own brand and compensation negotiations along with networking opportunities between our companies’ leaders and the veteran participants. While the goal of these events is always to connect with great talent that we could potentially hire here at Workday, it’s equally about supporting the Military and Veteran community to make the transition from service as seamless and successful as possible.

Advice for Those Looking to Hire Veterans

Companies should strongly consider hiring Military Veterans for several compelling reasons. Veterans possess a unique set of skills and attributes acquired through their military service. They exhibit exceptional discipline, adaptability, and resilience, which are invaluable traits in today’s dynamic business environment.

Veterans have demonstrated the ability to work effectively under pressure, make quick and well-informed decisions, and navigate complex and challenging situations.

Secondly, Veterans often bring a wealth of leadership experience to the table. They have been trained to lead and motivate teams, prioritize tasks, and effectively communicate across diverse groups. These leadership skills translate seamlessly into the corporate world, where they can contribute to building strong teams and driving organizational success. Moreover, Veterans are adept at working in diverse and multicultural environments, fostering inclusivity and teamwork.

Lastly, hiring Veterans is not only a smart business decision, but it is also a way for companies to show their appreciation for the sacrifices made by these individuals in serving their country. Supporting Veterans in their transition to civilian life by offering them meaningful employment opportunities is a testament to an organization’s commitment to social responsibility and can enhance its reputation both internally and externally. Ultimately, hiring Military Veterans brings a wealth of unique skills, leadership qualities, and a sense of duty and loyalty that can greatly benefit any company.

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