May is Military Appreciation Month, and we are lucky to have many employees who are veterans and military spouses. 

We sat down with Josh V., Senior Talent Acquisition Partner and Retired US Navy Veteran, to talk with him about his career path from the military to the ECE field, and what he loves about working at Bright Horizons! 

Bright Horizons: Hi Josh! Happy Military Appreciation Month and Thank You for your service!

Josh V.: Thank you, it was an honor to serve for over 22 years.

BH: How did you get started in the military? Was it always something you saw for yourself?

JV: Honestly... (Ironic that Mother’s Day is this weekend...) My mom was the first one who said, “Why don’t you go check out the military?” So, THANK YOU MOM!

I really didn’t know what I wanted to do after high school, and at that time, college was not my cup of tea. Plus, I lived in a small town with no opportunities.

I went to all the branches and felt comfortable with what the Navy had to offer, so I started the process of enlisting and left for the Navy in September of 1995.

BH: Was there a specific job that you joined the Navy to do? What skills did you learn from your service that you still use today in your work?

JV: I actually joined the Navy to do Aviation Electronics. After my first enlistment, I was asked about going on Recruiting Duty, so I volunteered for it, and got accepted. Much of the skills I gained and processes I used in Military Recruiting are similar to Civilian Recruiting!

BH: Was it difficult adjusting to life as a civilian? Did you have a hard time finding a job?

JV: Being that I retired as a recruiter... It wasn’t too hard to find a job after. However, at first, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do post-retirement, but recruiting jobs were everywhere and I knew how to do it. The only issue I really had was just learning the different systems. Much of the skills I gained and processes I used in Military Recruiting are similar to Civilian Recruiting... so it just made sense!

BH: Can you tell us what brought you to Bright Horizons? 

JV: When I saw Bright Horizons was hiring, I did some research, and the   H.E.A.R.T principles really stood out. It matched up with how I live my life...  Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork.

My career continues to grow here, I collaborate with many different departments, and I am now working with the   Military Spouse Employment Program (MSEP) to help our military spouses get employed! 

BH: That’s awesome. Are you involved in any of our committees or Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)?

JV: I am on the Better Together committee for our Talent Acquisition team and involved with a few ERGs. I really enjoy the “fun” we get to have with our Better Together group and what we learn in our ERG meetings. Working remote is hard on some people, but having opportunities like this makes the experience feel like I am at a brick and mortar.

BH: We really do love to have fun here! Speaking of, do you feel comfortable expressing your identity at Bright Horizons?

JV: I’m very comfortable with expressing my identity while at work. I am who I am... and that’s what I try to share with others. And I do feel like my personality is embraced by my team! The company culture is unique because we have a diverse group of employees here who feel comfortable and encouraged to express who they are every day.

BH: What do you think makes Bright Horizons such a great place to work?

JV: For me, I LOVE the positive impact that teachers are making on children. The entire staff at Bright Horizons has a love for this career, and I can see why. We aren’t just a company, we are trying to change lives of children and families every day!

BH: Do you feel you have a good amount of work-life balance with us?

JV: Working remotely can be difficult. However, the work-life balance with Bright Horizons is great – there is a deep understanding that having time for family/life is what's most important. 

BH: What's one reason a veteran or military spouse should consider working at Bright Horizons?

JV: I can sum that up in 3 words: Pride of Belonging... I get that same feeling of camaraderie here that I had while in the military.

Learn more about corporate careers at Bright Horizons!