When seeking employees who come with first-rate skillsets, military Veterans can be a valuable addition to the company.
Veterans bring a diverse history of experiences that can add new perspectives and expertise to your company. It can be tough at times, though, to recruit from the armed forces because companies may not know where to begin. Luckily, there are several resources to help employers who are looking to add Veterans to their team.
A number of Veterans retire from service or leave their branch of services full-time component to pursue civilian careers. State and federal government programs have been created to help both these Veterans and the companies looking to hire them. The White House, for example, published the Guide to Hiring Veterans, which discusses the Veterans Opportunity to Work to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (VOW Act). The VOW Act established significant tax credits for employers who hire unemployed or wounded veterans. The act also provides training and job placement assistance to Veterans.
Some Veterans elect to continue their service as a reservist in a program such as the National Guard. The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) offers support, resources, and recognition to employers who support this endeavor. Education is also available to Veterans and their spouses on balancing a part-time military career and a full-time civilian career.
The recruiting process could potentially pose a challenge to Veteran hiring, mainly because terms used in civilian jobs may differ from those used in military ones. For example, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinists have similar basic skill requirements with many military occupational specialties that require precision plotting. Removing jargon or industry-specific terms can help describe the job more clearly and make sure your recruiters don’t miss an opportunity to find a qualified candidate.
Employers have a great opportunity to enrich employees lives, as well as widen the candidate pool. By investing in people, including both civilians and Veterans, employers are able to create more successful and diverse organizations. For human resource guidance in hiring Veterans at your company, please contact Nextep’s HR team.
