Mod Note (Andy): Best of Eddie, this was originally posted in July 2011.
Here's some good news for guys thinking about leaving the military to get an MBA: you can expect a robust recruiting environment. According to CNN, companies love former military personnel because their age:experience ratio skews much higher than private sector candidates, and they have a proven ability to handle pressure.
Vets Have Unparalleled Experience and Can Handle Pressure
"We have plenty of veterans who are 27 who have had 100 direct reports in a combat situation," says Perrine, a former Army Ranger who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Nobody coming from the private sector has had that kind of experience, and especially in those high pressure situations."
Investment Banks See the Value in Hiring Vets
"Military service builds a wide range of professional leadership skills that we value at Morgan Stanley," says Pen Pendleton, a spokesman for the company. "By recruiting veterans throughout the firm, we strengthen the culture and reinforce our commitment to fostering leadership, collaboration, and risk management skills."
I know we have a lot of former military guys here on WSO who can attest to the fact that their military background made the transition to banking easier. It's good to see that the banks and the major corporations recognize and value the leadership traits that military vets bring to the table.
