Episode 13: Veterans: Tips for finding civilian jobs after military service with Reuben Dickenson, former Army CPT

Podcast

Jun 29

Guest Spotlight

Reuben Dickenson is the Strategic Partnerships Leader for Telemynd, parent company of Arcadian Telepsychiatry. Hailing from Kentucky originally, Reuben attended West Point, graduating with an engineering degree, then served in Army Aviation as a commissioned officer stationed in Germany. Reuben left the military in 1990, and attended Vanderbilt University where he received his Master’s in Engineering in 1992. He then joined GE Healthcare where he led multiple teams over the course of 14 years in Imaging, Cardiology and IT-related strategic alliances. Reuben then moved to Thermo Fisher, learned the Life Sciences space, and led multiple commercial teams in North and Latin America. Reuben has since then worked with several startup companies and has founded 2 companies.

Reuben, his wife Laura are long time residents of Nashville, TN and have 4 great kids – Julia (Auburn grad, Fulbright Scholar in Poland), Dabney (TN Tech, college golfer), Russell (Art Program, UT-Chattanooga) and Robert (United States Naval Academy Midshipman).

In his spare time, Reuben enjoys general fitness activities, as well as the farm he and Laura own locally and finally and serving in a variety of military-related roles: District Coordinator for his congressional district for Admissions (USMA), and President of the USNA Parents Club of Middle TN.

Reuben has a passion for helping improve the mental health care crisis for those in need – especially for those who serve and their loved ones.

Questions Reuben Addresses in this Episode

Please briefly walk us through your career path
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given?
When you completed your military service, how did you make that first step into the corporate world?
What was the biggest adjustment to corporate life after being in the army?
Tell me about the transferrable skills that you gained in the military that help you succeed in the corporate world?
How can veterans reframe their experiences in the military into success stories that resonate with corporate hiring managers? (getting beyond the acronyms, listing projects, leadership)
What are the differences between a military resume and a corporate resume?
For veterans and current members of the military who are nearing the end of their service, what steps can they take to have a successful job search?
What are the biggest barriers former military members face in the civilian job search and how can they overcome these?
Which resources do you recommend to help veterans and retiring service members find employment in the civilian sphere?
You not only made the transition from a military to civilian career, but also from Fortune 500 companies to startups. Tell us more about that.
You are Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at TELEMYND, which offers a wide range of telemental health solutions and predictive analytics. Please tell us more about TELEMYND and how your services are particularly relevant given the pandemic.
We have known each other almost two years now and I’ve been struck by what a great networker you are – it seems to come naturally to you. How do you forge those meaningful connections? What advice can you give someone who is more reserved and is reluctant to network?
As we wrap up, what final piece of advice would you like to share with the audience?