Matt Cole

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

I served onboard submarines as a Reactor Operator and was a Navy Diver.  It was a very small and tight-knit community.  Operational Excellence and Mission Orientated were two key themes.  Everyone was on the same “level” and a consummate professional.  You relied upon the person next to you to do the right thing.  Integrity was defined as doing the right thing, even when nobody was watching.  Clean energy operates lean, is reliant upon one another, and comprises tight knit crew across a geographically dispersed footprint.  

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

Take the time to learn the culture and make adjustments to how things are done in the civilian sector.  There are likely best practices from the military as well as in the current civilian industry that could be blended together to make improvements to overall operations.  Be curious, coachable, and open to trying new things.

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

Take the time to breakdown and explain how your structure is set up.  Define acronyms.  Focus on behavioral interviewing and identifying key attributes – team player, collaborative, flexible, etc.  For many veterans, this may be their first job outside of the military, so they may not be well versed on workforce dynamics and structure.