3 things to keep in mind when a veteran’s personal values ​​don’t align with his company’s

Question: I have been working for my current employer for about a year. This is my first job since leaving the Navy. My job is fine, but when I was talking to a friend about the company, he told me about some bad things the company did some time ago.

Now I’m worried this will look bad on my resume. Should I give up?

Answer: It’s wise to consider whether your employer’s reputation could potentially negatively impact your career. But there are a few things to evaluate before you make a change. Here are some questions to ask yourself about your situation:

1. Did your employer fix these “bad things”?

For example, if they have been accused of mistreating veteran employees in the past, have they put systems and processes in place to change that behavior? If so, it could be a sign that things are moving forward in a positive direction. Sometimes, when something negative has happened, companies change leadership teams, retool their processes, or implement other significant changes to ensure that behavior is changed and that they should be recognized for it. If the behavior they were accused of is still happening, it may be problematic if it conflicts with your personal values. For example, if they are accused of not living up to their publicly professed diversity commitments, and diversity and inclusion are characteristics of an employer you value, that would make it difficult for you to stay.

2. Did you do your due diligence when interviewing?

You mention that you have been working there for a year and things are going well. Have you witnessed any misbehavior (in line with what your friend mentioned) that worries you? When you were leaving the fleet and interviewing with this company, did you talk to others about their experience with this company and were there any red flags? If you’ve conducted informational interviews, asked interviewers good questions as you progressed through the hiring process, and made an informed decision to join this employer, then perhaps what happened in the past no longer matters.

3. What do you see as the cost of staying versus the cost of leaving?

Similarly, what are the benefits of staying or leaving? Could staying put lead to stress because you feel like you’re working for a company you’re not proud of or respect? Are you more likely to make mistakes at work when you’re stressed and distracted? What damage can this have on your health and personal life? If you quit, how could it hurt your career since you’ve been at this job for a year and things are going “well”? How would you explain the change? Likewise, what are the benefits of staying or leaving? If you stay and are convinced that the company has made the changes to move forward in a new, more positive direction, could you be a part of rebuilding their reputation? If you leave, could you do better due diligence and work for a company you’re confident has a stellar reputation?

There are pros and cons to staying and leaving. Either way, you will need to reconcile your choices and the questions that arise with yourself first. Before you act quickly, consider talking to your boss about what you heard and ask for their opinion on what happened before. Ask yourself if the explanation you receive is satisfactory to you. If not, and you still feel conflicted, it may be time to look for a new opportunity.

The author of Success After Service: How to Take Control of Your Job Search and Career After Military Duty (2020) and Your Next Mission: A Personal Branding Guide for the Military-to-Civilian Transition (2014), Lida Citroen is a keynote speaker and presenter, executive coach, popular TEDx speaker, and instructor of numerous LinkedIn Learning courses. She regularly presents workshops on personal branding, executive presence, leadership communication and reputation risk management.

Writer involved in Military.com, Lida is a passionate supporter of the military, volunteering her time to help veterans transition to civilian careers and assisting employers looking to hire military talent. She regularly speaks at conferences, corporate meetings and events focused on the military transition.

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