Today, businesses are striving to develop greater workforce diversity and have integrated employees from various cultural and professional backgrounds into their organizations. However, one group which is still underrepresented among the workforce is ex-military professionals. While many organizations hire veterans, most fail to recognize the value they can bring to a business.
Current Challenges in Hiring Veterans
Currently, the process of veteran hiring has some undeniable flaws. As a result, it is not common to see ex-military officers working in organizations and startups. Here’s what needs to be improved:
1. Job Relevance and Competition
As job markets are saturated in most industries, the competition is already high. Veterans have to compete against hundreds and thousands of candidates. These competitors have the upper hand because they have civilian educational and professional backgrounds relative to the jobs in question. Furthermore, the enormous piles of resumes are categorized based on job relevance. As a result, military professionals are at a disadvantage from the outset.
2. ATS and Recruitment Agencies
Companies that decide to recruit veterans often use an ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) just as they do for other engagements. However, these processes often miss the value of military experience, or otherwise do not capture it relative to civilian professional experience. One solution is to take help from a veteran staffing agency. These agencies have specialized recruiters who would be more focused on the skills, needs, and requirements of veterans and use processes more streamlined and appropriate for veterans.
3. Inaccessible Workplaces
Office environments are becoming more and more employee-centric. While that’s great news, they still have a long way to go. Businesses fail to recognize veteran employees with physical disabilities and very little effort is made to make workplaces accessible.
So, What Needs to Be Done?
Companies must improve the approach to veteran hiring by re-evaluating and restructuring their recruitment processes. The flaws in the existing methods should be addressed to make workplaces more accessible for veterans and minimize other challenges that they face.
Overall awareness is also critical. Employers must realize the qualities, and skill set of these veterans and the value they can bring to their businesses. It is equally important to create this awareness in their colleagues and teams. The HR teams especially recruiters need training about military skill sets so that they could also demonstrate to their hiring managers how and why such professionals are often an exemplary fit.
Why Is It a Good Idea to Hire Veterans?
Here are some of the most important benefits of recruiting veterans:
1. Ambitious Employees
Military officers spend a lifetime dedicated to their work. Their military training makes them more focused, and goal driven. When recruited in business, they often put forth their best and most disciplined, staying loyal and sincere to the company.
2. Responsibility and Accountability
In the military, even the smallest of mistakes can lead to extreme consequences. Therefore, veterans are precise and serious about the tasks assigned to them. They know how to handle great responsibilities effortlessly and are extremely careful about details. No matter how big or small it may be, they give their best and honor their job.
3. Better Accessibility
Companies that hire veterans with disabilities become eligible for complimentary upgrades from the VA. These upgrades make the environment safer and more appropriate for veterans, especially for those disabled. Specialized tools and assistive technologies are also installed which makes jobs easier for these professionals and make the workplace more accessible.
4. Autonomous Working
Another great benefit of hiring veterans is that they do not require constant monitoring or management. They take technical instruction well, understand operating procedures, and follow checklists. In addition, they usually possess impressive problem-solving skills, which allows them to handle different issues on their own. On the whole, they are responsible and hardworking, making them great autonomous workers. The same can be said of their spouses, who likewise make up a considerable portion of the talent pool. Because they are well traveled and have had the experience managing their homes independently while the military partner is away on missions, hiring military spouses should also be considered.
5. Impressive Work Ethics
One significant benefit of hiring veterans is their excellent work ethic. They are determined to accomplish their goals by working hard and giving their best. They are focused and work great in teams. Moreover, these professionals ensure that everyone contributes to the project to make it successful. They know how to communicate and coordinate with other team members.
Conclusion
Recruiting veterans in different departments can be incredibly beneficial for an organization. For that reason alone, the approach to hiring them should be improved. To ensure the continued success of your veteran hiring program, the whole recruitment process needs to be made simpler and the transition from service to civilian employment smoother. These professionals are not looking for easy tasks and above-average pay rates – they have much more to offer and are ready for challenges. The environment should be welcoming and the administration, professional. If given a proper setting, veterans can be an asset to any company.