Predictors of Work Styles and Transition Success from Military Service
Posted on January 26, 2025 by Ryan Schuler, PhD, BCC, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
Military service members face unique challenges when transitioning to the civilian workforce. While their military experience can be a valuable asset.
Introduction
Military service members face unique challenges when transitioning to the civilian workforce. While their military experience can be a valuable asset, veterans often need help navigating the civilian job market and adjusting to civilian work culture. This blog post summarizes the findings of a recent quantitative correlational study that examined the relationship between work styles and transition success for military veterans.
Study Methodology
The study used two instruments to collect data from a sample of 200 military veterans who had transitioned to the civilian workforce within the past five years. The Working Styles Assessment (WSA) was used to evaluate respondents’ work styles, and the Military-Civilian Adjustment Reintegration Measure (M-CARM) was used to measure their transition success. The study also collected demographic data, including information about the veterans’ military occupations (MOs) and whether they continued in the same career field after transitioning to civilian life.
Key Findings
The study’s key findings include:
Work styles, as measured by the WSA, positively affect transitional success, specifically in the areas of initiative and self-control.
The study did not find a statistically significant relationship between the WSA and M-CARM, suggesting that work styles alone may not be sufficient to predict transition success.
Continuing in the same MO in the civilian workforce does not affect the relationship between work styles and transition success.
Implications for Veterans
The study’s findings suggest that veterans with high levels of initiative and self-control may be better equipped to transition successfully to civilian employment. Veterans can improve their chances of success by focusing on developing these essential work styles.
Recommendations for Future Research
The study’s authors recommend that future research should examine the impact of other factors, such as social support and access to resources on veterans’ transition success. They also suggest that further research is needed to develop more effective transition programs for veterans.
Conclusion
The study’s findings provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities that veterans face when transitioning to the civilian workforce. By understanding the relationship between work styles and transition success, veterans can take steps to improve their chances of success in the civilian job market.
Additional Resources
The Military-Civilian Adjustment Reintegration Measure (M-CARM)
The Working Styles Assessment (WSA)
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
The Department of Defense (DoD)
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