In an exclusive column for AIN.UA, Kateryna Margitich-Filippova from the project “After Front: to a professional life after the front”, which consists of specialists in the field of recruiting, tells how to help veterans who have returned from the front realize themselves in civilian professions. personnel management, career counseling of veterans, marketing and communications in IT.
This is the first in a series of columns for employers who will hire demobilized service members and veterans themselves seeking civilian employment.
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These people will respond to vacancies of Ukrainian companies, send their resumes, come to interviews and get employed.. To understand what the current situation is and what can be predicted for the future, we have collected statistics on the current state of the labor market in terms of the presence and number of veterans in it (based on a survey from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs for 2023).
So what we have as of now:
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At the same time, there are research results that show the other side of the coin. Data from the human rights center for servicemen “Princip” show that veterans often face injustice on the part of the state, a lack of inclusiveness and exclusion of civilians:
Injustice and cruelty on the part of civilians were most often described by veterans with the phrase “We didn't send you there!”. Such expressions are very infuriating to military personnel, this attitude conflicts with their identity as defenders and is perceived as an insult to dignity. Veterans are often upset by the lack of empathy and delicacy in the reactions of civilians to the appearance (wounds and prostheses): people hide their eyes, turn away or, on the contrary, look at the prostheses. The lack of healthy communication and empathy, which is expressed in the satisfaction of one's own curiosity using questions such as: “How did you feel in captivity?” or “Did you kill?” etc. After trips to the cities of Ukraine, veterans with disabilities emphasize the lack of inclusive infrastructure. “Lviv is a wonderful place, there is a lot to see, interesting institutions, but we faced such a big problem – to go to the center on a trolley. We spent two hours to find an establishment in the center of Lviv near Rynok Square, in which: 1) there were no steps to enter the wheelchair, 2) the door opened normally or there was an opportunity to expand it, 3) the toilet had the appropriate dimensions of the room and door “, — Kateryna, born in 1986, manager, wife of a veteran.
Why are these numbers and studies so important?
Because we must clearly understand what volume of work we will have to deal with when Ukraine wins. After all, approximately half of former military personnel will return to civilian life and enter the labor market.
We also have to recognize the fact that our society is currently insufficiently prepared and adapted to high-quality communication with ex-combatants – both informationally and practically. We notice a lot of myths, fears and prejudices on the part of employers (recruiters, HR, managers) as well as on the part of line staff. At the same time, we see how the military reacts to this – they defend themselves and withdraw. It shouldn't be like that.
And the most important thing: establishing communication is always the work of both parties. Both on the part of people who have had combat experience, and on the part of every representative of civil society. Our society must also adapt to new realities and understand the needs of veterans.
First informational work, then practical. Together we can definitely do more.