Veterans can be some of the best workers a company could have. They tend to prize attention to detail; they understand the importance of following the rules; and they know how to persist, even when the going gets tough. Despite these advantages, veterans often have a hard time finding employment that suits their skills and experience.
Fortunately, employers can improve these circumstances while finding qualified workers with great skills. By learning the benefits of hiring veterans, how to hire them and the best ways to retain them, employers can meet their business goals while helping an underserved group.
Reasons to Hire Veterans
Although veterans often present different qualifications for today’s modern jobs, they still bring plenty of advantages to the table. Companies that hire veterans often discover these benefits of adding veterans to the workforce:
- Agility: Veterans are used to working in changing circumstances, giving them the ability to adapt faster than other employees might.
- Skills: Veterans often have specialized skills that translate well into civilian jobs, with the right kind of support and training to accommodate.
- Teamwork: Veterans are accustomed to working within a team environment, making them ideal employees for collaborative projects.
- Performance: Veterans are used to working at a high level for long periods of time, and less likely to struggle under difficult deadlines or high-pressure circumstances.
- Work ethic: Veterans come from a work environment in which achievement is the main goal, making them more likely to persist until they hit the target.
- Loyalty: Veterans invest themselves into the value of their goals, which can make them more loyal as employees.
Although veterans may face some challenges in their transition to civilian employment, they present sufficient incentives such that employers can benefit from considering their applications.
How to Recruit Veterans
Since there are so many advantages to hiring veterans, companies should consider looking for qualified veterans as part of their application process for jobs. Because the transition to civilian work is not always smooth, veterans are more likely to look for jobs on sites and forums that specialize in veteran hiring. Organizations such as the VA Employment Center and the National Veterans Foundation offer resources to help veterans find qualified employment. Many of these organizations allow businesses to partner with them, putting listings directly in front of veterans for review.
The hiring process for veterans should look somewhat different from how it would for an applicant with civilian experience. Veterans may have highly specialized skills that fit the requirements of the job, but hiring managers often need to use creative methods to ascertain them. Instead of asking about degrees, hiring teams might consider asking veterans to describe their job history, general duties and responsibilities. The answers to these questions can reveal which skills would apply to the job, possibly highlighting training opportunities to get veterans to the right level for peak performance.
Top Ways to Retain Veteran Employees
Retaining top talent, including veterans, requires a strategy. Employees look for signs that their employers care about them and their professional development, not just their output for the company. As such, businesses can find ways to retain veteran hires through these actions:
- Accommodate disabilities: Many veterans have disabilities, but they are capable of working full-time jobs with effective accommodations.
- Provide training: Many veterans need additional training to help them transition into civilian employment. Providing this training can increase veterans’ loyalty to the company and ensure that the business has a properly trained workforce.
- Tailor benefits to veteran needs: Veterans might need flexible schedules to help them balance health concerns or additional military responsibilities. Adding these benefits to employment can improve the work-life balance of all employees.
- Train employees and managers on veteran experiences: Workers and managers may not know how to interact with veterans, or how their experiences differ. Minor training sessions can coach teams to treat veterans with empathy, fairness and inclusion.
Besides these accommodations, employers can do additional things to make veterans feel included, such as participating in charities like auto donations for veterans.
For many veterans, finding a job outside the military involves a long search and some complicated interviews. Companies that take on the challenge can get employees with great skills and experience that help the business move forward.
Did You Know: About 30% of veterans are underemployed, taking jobs that are well below their skills and experience. Roughly 20% of veterans also have a long-term disability, complicating their post-military employment goals. Companies that help veterans face these challenges can find a qualified workforce with an excellent work ethic.
Jeremy Silverstein is vice president of operations and vehicle dispatching at Veteran Car Donations. During the years he’s been with the organization, he has become quite an expert in the industry and has handled tens of thousands of donated vehicles.
Veteran Car Donations is a national organization that accepts vehicle donations to better the lives of veterans. The organization partners with a number of well-known veteran charities to help provide essential medical care, mental health services and more.
