6 ways employers can help veterans transition to new careers

Transitioning out of the military is an overwhelming experience often made worse by a system that inadequately prepares its members for life after serving. It’s not that veterans don’t have the skills for civilian jobs, according to Jeff McMillan, an Army veteran and chief analytics and data officer at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. McMillan, who mentors veterans and co-chairs Morgan Stanley’s Veterans program, says it’s that they lack the support necessary to learn how to translate those skills into terms civilian employers would understand.

“The military is extremely linear in its approach — there’s a standard operating procedure and your job description is defined,” McMillan says. “And then all of a sudden you take your uniform off and it’s all gone. There’s nothing. And it’s scary because you don’t even know what you should be asking to do.”