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Working through stereotypes
I recently read an online story in which an Iraq veteran, home for eight months, discussed his trouble landing a job. In one particularly troubling exchange with an organization, the interviewer asked vague questions about how the soldier was reintegrating back into civilian life and if he had experienced or done anything stressful. The applicant responded that being away from family and the life he’d known was stressful, but that basically he felt he’d had it pretty easy compared to some soldiers. The interviewer, who had already been pushing the boundaries of the interview process, was apparently unsatisfied with the response and became blunt: the soldier was asked if he had PTSD or was apt to hurt his co-workers.
Set aside for a moment that the question was not one that legally the interviewer had a right to ask. It is unsettling, yet telling, that any human resources professional would ask such a question, but given the proliferation of publicity about PTSD it appears that sadly, the interviewer voiced what many apparently think. At the start of the year, there were two highly publicized instances of war veterans acting out on their own; one is alleged to have murdered a park ranger in Washington State and the other allegedly killed homeless people in California. Both episodes received intense media coverage, with many people assuming that because they were recent war veterans that they must have been suffering from PTSD, which caused them to turn violent and kill others.
In the former case, the accused died from exposure to the elements. There was much debate about his mental health, and the reality of his condition will never truly be known. The second accused offender is awaiting his turn at the judicial process, after a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity; his lawyer indicated that his service in Iraq may be tied to his defense.
Following the two incidents, there was a firestorm of coverage about veterans and PTSD; some used the incident to promote taking better care of veterans when they return, lest they turn violent. Others cried foul and accused the media of painting war veterans who suffer from PTSD with a broad brush. They claimed, and rightfully so, that bringing up prior service and speculating on mental health risks painting all Iraq and Afghanistan with a broad brush, implying that they are unstable or at risk of harming others. The veteran highlighted at the beginning of this post is an example of the damage this coverage, and resulting mindset, can do.
There have been a some compelling posts about the lasting effects this type of publicity has (see this post by David Dobbs on Wired and Alex Horton’s VA blog ) but the fact remains, sensational media coverage of individual acts of violence influences people. The question becomes what does the veteran who is trying to transition into civilian life do to escape being stereotyped, particularly during a job search?
Unfortunately, stereotypes exist and they are not going to go away anytime soon. Many have had to cope with overcoming stereotypes, whether due to race or ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation. The bottom line is everyone has some sort of bias, and unfortunately, when it is fed by media coverage, it can fuel the fire. With time, the current tendency to assume that all Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans must have PTSD (and are therefore unreliable or violent), will likely give way to a more realistic, positive picture. Unfortunately, there is no way to change the way the media covers such incidents. The best thing any veteran can do is to go about civilian life the same way he/she lived military life: with honor and integrity, getting the job done.
But what about in practical matters, such as employment – how does a veteran overcome the stigma that some feel the need to attach to service?
To set the record straight, the interviewer asked the veteran a question that was legally out of bounds. It is important to know what can and cannot be asked, and anyone searching for a job should think about the potential for such questions and how to answer them. Although the questions are not “allowed,” that does not mean they will not be asked, so the job candidate should be prepared for them, much as they would other interview questions. It’s important to note that most people tend to ask such questions out of ignorance and are not out to lay a trap or knowingly break employment law. From their perspective, they want to know what barriers may be in place for someone performing job duties, so they ask. Questions about age, marital status, religion, social affiliations are not permitted. Additionally, perspective employers may not ask you “what type of discharge did you receive?” They may ask you to tell about your service, or what duties you performed, but they cannot legally ask about your discharge or whether you have PTSD.
However, if you are in the position where you have been asked a question that you believe is out of bounds, you do have some options. If you decline to answer the question, there is the potential that you will look defensive, possibly taking yourself out of the running for the job. If you believe an honest answer will not hurt your chances, you can answer and move on with the interview. You can try the direct approach, and offer a response of “I don’t believe that is a question that is relevant to the position, do you?” Or you can answer the question in terms of your ability to perform the job: “is there an age requirement?” or “I imagine everyone is religious in their own way – I don’t foresee that being an issue in my job performance.” The bottom line is you will have to determine (through prior research and the signals you pick up from the interview) how much you want that job, for that company. However, you must not lie or misrepresent yourself – if you feel you must lie, then you should not answer.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has a great booklet that details many of these questions, as well as potential responses (see page 20 of the VA’s Interviewing Techniques Guide). As with every job interview, it is important to do your homework and be prepared to answer potential questions. Unfortunately, because of the media trend to sensationalize and human nature’s tendency to assume, Post-9/11 veterans have additional barriers in the process. Understanding that they are out there and being prepared to overcome them will put you ahead in the game.
Sources:
http://www.americasheroesatwork.gov/forEmployers/factsheets/FAQPTSD/
http://vaforvets.va.gov/veterans/resources/Documents/InterviewTechniques_01062012.pdf
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