Lourdes Spurlock

How did serving in the military help prepare you for a job in the clean energy industry?

• Discipline - Strong work ethic and time management are crucial in meeting delivery dates and deadlines in this industry.
• Leadership skills - I was 19 years old and qualified to operate a nuclear reactor and lead departments of 300+ sailors.
• Team work and collaboration - There are so many people involved in building a project. Strong communication and being able to bring everyone together is important.
• Problem solving - With so many unpredictable situations on the construction site, the job requires quick thinking and adaptability

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What advice do you have for veterans exploring a job in the clean power industry?  

Have a non-military civilian read your resume and see if it still makes sense. People can't hire you if they don't understand what your resume says. 

Be open to working your way back up from the bottom. I know that's hard to hear but just because you were an E-7 in the military doesn't mean that you know anything about what it takes to run a construction site on a wind project.

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What advice do you have for companies looking to hire veterans?  

Be transparent about career progression when hiring a veteran. Many of us had to do quarterly career evaluations so we knew where we expected to be in 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 20 years, etc. 

Provide mentorship programs for veterans led by other veterans. Many don't transition well after military service and losing that sense of belonging can lead to instability and depression. Also, many veterans are used to high stress environments and have a hard time relating to those he did not go through the same intensity of challenges. Having a support group/mentorship program helps them transition to a more balanced life outside the service.

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