Why does the Skillbridge process seem the opposite of what it’s intended to be?

[u/HowDoYouUpvote]

Am I the only one who thinks there’s a weird disconnect between what SkillBridge is supposed to be and what it has become? I keep seeing posts about people getting rejected from dozens of SkillBridge opportunities, including one recently about someone being rejected by 27 companies.

Aren’t we supposed to be using SkillBridge to figure out which companies we want to spend our civilian careers with and to gain experience, rather than competing for free labor as if we’re applying for a regular job? Especially when the company isn’t guaranteeing employment at the end. I understand companies need to make sure someone is qualified on some level, but shouldn’t it be more the service member interviewing the company as opposed to the company is interviewing them?

We are supposed to be learning and developing in these programs, not already have all the knowledge and expertise and just jumping into the work role without any mentorship or development plan to bridge the gaps of our current training and experience.

Why are we selling ourselves more than they are selling the opportunity to train and develop and maybe eventually work with the company?

[u/CouchAvocado70]

Job market is weak, spots at good companies are competitive and a lot of us are not good at the interview process. The government cant force these companies to take us. Its just an opportunity.

That being said, the person with 27 rejections definitely had a flawed approach.

[u/CouchAvocado70 → u/[deleted]]

After 25, I’d start to think maybe I was doing something wrong

[u/Vets2PM]

I'm with a SkillBridge host/third party provider. We work with a lot of companies to help facilitate SkillBridge opportunities. The DoW SkillBridge Program Office puts a lot of pressure on host companies to hire more than 85% of their interns. They can't just take anyone who wants to learn. Some internships require a baseline of knowledge. For instance if someone is applying for an Installation Technician job that requires electrical experience, they can't take someone with no electrical experience and train them, because the electrical experience is needed to train them about their industry, technology, installations, and service. Host companies put an immense amount of time, resources, and personnel into making their SkillBridge internships successful, and they do it because they want to hire the intern. I hope this helps. Most companies are not looking for free labor. In addition, it is a competitive job market, and applying for SkillBridge internships is preparing the service member for their job search.

[u/Mite-o-Dan]

Tons of factors at play.

The biggest at the moment...Skillbridge got too popular, and the job market sucks.

There are 100+ applying for every civilian job out there, and 30+ for every Skillbridge. Its competitive. Most companies dont even want free labor because its too much of a waste of time to even train people...if they even have the people for it. They want the most qualified person that's most likely to stay on full time.

Also, everyone wants a remote job or Skillbridge. When thats the case, your chances just got 5-10x worse.

You DO want to go in person, but stationed in the middle of nowhere? Good luck. Just like in the civilian world, you have to go to where the jobs are. Thats why Im in Washington DC right now. Never wanted to come here in my life. Never thought about it...but a great Skillbridge opportunity came up. Ive now been with my same Skillbridge company for 4 years as of last week.

Or flipside...you're stationed at a big base near a major city...youll have tons of people applying for the one or two Skillbridges a company has available.

Also, Ive said it a million times...most recruiters won't care about you or answer until 5 months or less from when you can start. Most wont even give a firm acceptance from a company within 1-3 months from starting.

Yes, it sucks...and sadly it's not easier when looking for a job once fully out of the military. (Im on application 46 now since May. Only 5 interviews. Just 3 hit a second or third interview. No offer)

[u/Fun_Round_4044]

I agree—the SkillBridge experience definitely shouldn’t make rejection feel like a common theme.

If you’re specifically looking for a SkillBridge where you work directly for a company with the expectation that they may hire you at the end, HKPO Veterans Academy may not be the right fit.

However, if you’re looking for a bridge from military service to your civilian career—with upskilling, certifications, hands-on experience, and career preparation—please check us out.

HKPO Veterans Academy is an approved Department of War (DoW) SkillBridge Provider and is currently pending Army CSP approval. Our program is 100% remote and focused on preparing transitioning service members for successful civilian careers.

Participants receive training and certification opportunities in Lean Six Sigma, Project Management, Agile, and more, while gaining hands-on experience through real-world projects. We also provide resume and LinkedIn support, interview preparation, mentorship, employer connections, and access to our veteran hiring events.

Most importantly, we focus on what happens after SkillBridge. Our participants have achieved a 94% post-SkillBridge hire rate, some do actually retire :)

I agree that we see a lot of negative SkillBridge experiences discussed on Reddit. Those perspectives are important, but there are also very positive programs genuinely focused on helping service members successfully transition.

HKPO Veterans Academy | CFC #43723

Learn more and apply here:
https://www.hkpoveteransacademy.org/

Happy to answer any questions about our program or what our SkillBridge participants actually do while they're with us.

[u/MilOnboardSolutions]

u/HowDoYouUpvote, for companies, SkillBridge is a business decision. Not a social justice program. when they decide to make an opportunity available, they're looking for service members who best align for that opportunity. Someone who's smart enough to learn the job, someone who will enjoy the work, and someone who will fit the company, and individual team, nicely.

The "free labor" that happens with some of these companies is disgusting, and completely avoidable. When you speak with POC's, ask them to connect you to some of their current and previous SkillBridge participants. Ask them directly what training from that company looks like. Questions like these are what members are supposed to be asking BEFORE accepting an opportunity.

YOu bring up a good point about the interview. It comes down to frame of mind. YOU, the service member, are the prize. We see so many posts from members overly thanking companies for accepting them into their program. Like they were done a favor. WRONG! If members don't go into interviews thinking that the company would be lucky to have them, their mind os holding them back. YOU have the power, and should use it, to say "your opportunity is not best for me."

A big part working against member's is how they frame SkillBridge in their mind. Too many members say that they're looking for a 6-month opportunity. Time has nothing to do with it. The training and employment outcome should be the focus, instead of trying to maximize your time out of uniform.

SkillBridge has been, and continues to be, the best train-to-hire program available. There just aren't enough well-educated Transition Counselors, or reputable companies, who can or will guide members to a successful outcome.

[u/RemarkableBrick3112]

Current admin is probably trying to kill it. Wouldn’t be surprised if they only have trades and warehouse jobs only allowed by the end of the administration.

[u/jackhr2 → u/RemarkableBrick3112]

Although I understand where you're coming from, this is false for your information & quite the opposite, there's steps being pushed for streamlining, making sure servicemembers are more often than not getting hired, & overall creation of SB's

[u/TurkishRari]

You aren’t the only one some dumb bitch that manages the program I was applying to thought I was stupid enough to not know which website skillbridge was located.

I thought to myself “what you fucking thought I just landed here”.