According to Military Times, (Feb 2022) the unemployment rate for all veterans rose from 3.2 percent in December 2021 to 3.8 percent in January 2022, but the number of veterans who had full-time employment rose by more than 430,000 individuals, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The number of veterans unable to find steady work rose by about 70,000 individuals from December to January. Overall, about 8.9 million veterans sought full-time jobs in January 2022, up more than 500,000 individuals from 2021.
Let’s Talk About The Benefits Of Hiring Vets
Often, they’re very qualified and can prove that they have strong leadership skills or the ability to follow leadership. They also see their work as a mission and will set out to complete it in any way possible.
Many of them can easily work on teams to get the job done. However, they can also work well on their own and can take initiative. In fact, military veterans are 45% more likely to create and run their businesses.
Veterans could bring security clearances to your company. Depending on your industry, the security clearances give you a larger opportunity to win federal contracts as well.
As if all that wasn’t enough, hiring veterans can also save you money. The U.S. government offers incentives for employers when they hire qualified veterans. The government can reimburse the employers for a certain amount of the veteran’s salary, but they could also receive tax breaks.
As employees, veterans are often highly adaptable with technology and dedicated, with master skills relevant to almost any workplace.
The government provides educational resources for hiring veterans alongside a substantial federal tax credit for each veteran you hire.
You can find veterans for hire through government websites and university programs.
They communicate quickly and effectively.
Kim Morton, an AmeriCorps VISTA resource development coordinator for Sussex County Habitat for Humanity and former spokesperson for Hiring our Heroes shared, “This is not only an economic issue but a national security issue. If this generation of veterans believes that there won’t be employment opportunities for them, the next generation for the all-volunteer force will be hesitant to answer the call to service.”
Additionally, these men and women have received world-class technical training in their occupational specialty to intangible skills such as discipline, leadership, and the ability to react and make decisions quickly.
What About Challenges?
Most companies and recruiters that have tried to hire veterans may have realized that it may not be as easy as some people think.
According to one survey, only 13% of HR professionals were familiar with resources to help veterans find work. Even more, recruiters may be unaware of how to read a resume with military experience and find a way to place veterans in the correct position.
Some employers are also worried about being able to cater to veterans’ physical and mental health needs. While the American Disability Act (ADA) covers many health issues veterans face, additional resources can help both veterans and HR professionals. This will help to prevent future problems in the workplace.
Military Jargon
When creating job descriptions, the ability to translate the jargon of military skills and titles is beneficial to non-military job roles. Focus on cognitive skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking.
Doing this will make it easier for veteran job seekers to find your descriptions. They’ll search for jobs related to their military skills and field, and then the search functions will pull up your position to match that description.
If you want to take it a step further, you can even list previous military jobs that would translate well into the position you’re hiring for. Or, use military occupational codes in the job description so that it’s easy for military veterans to understand. Nonprofit veteran groups can assist you with this.
Once you’ve written up your job description, post it on as many military job boards as you can find. Be sure to practice the use skills and language in interviews as well.
Employer Branding
One of the best ways to level up your employer branding is to focus on aspects of your company that resonate with veterans. For example, veterans are used to working in a team environment, so advertise if you have a strong team environment at your company!
Attracting veterans can also happen when you have programs at your company dedicated to improving the veteran’s experience. Veterans might need special support that other civilian hires don’t need.
These programs will label you as a military-friendly employer.
Begin A Veteran Hiring Program
“The first post-military job is the hardest transition,” Kate Jackson i4cp . “Civilian work world has a different culture, vocabulary and expectations which will need to be learned. Transitioning veterans have already shown they can learn a new language and culture – military jargon, dress and behavior, etc. This takes time and it is important to remember this is a talented and agile demographic.”
Employers should also recognize that seemingly unrelated military skill sets can, in fact, be translated to a business environment. While veterans’ skill sets might not be a direct match for your open position, their technical aptitude will allow them to develop the skills quickly, said Pat Dean, senior recruiting manager at Caterpillar Inc.
“One thing veterans have in common is a commitment to a purpose bigger than themselves and a willingness to push through adversity,” said Kate Jackson, vice president of talent acquisition at the Institute for Corporate Productivity. “When people first join the military, they raise their right hands and swear to uphold the Constitution and commit to following lawful orders. In this act, they are putting a larger purpose ahead of themselves and ahead of the pursuit of their own comfort and safety. They bring this commitment to ‘completing the mission’ and a wonderful sense of teamwork to their employers after the military.”
We encourage veterans to apply for complementary membership. Employers that want to hire veterans should apply for membership on Employers 4 Change website.
Sources: We acknowledge Max Freedman Contributing Writer and Nicole Fallon as a contributor writer and Recruiter.com