“If you own a business, the best way to thank a Veteran is to hire one. “— Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2017, 20.4 million men and women were veterans, accounting for about 8% of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 18 and older. The unemployment rate for veterans who served on active duty at any time since September 2001— a group called Gulf War-era II veterans ― has been trending downward since 2011 and stands at a gratifying low of 1.7% (as of April 2019).
Still, there are nearly one million unemployed veterans across the United States today. The overall veterans unemployment rate stood at 3.7% in January 2019, and many are desperate for work.
Fortunately, a 2017 CareerBuilder survey found that employers are strengthening their commitment to hiring veterans. With 40% of nearly 2,500 hiring managers and HR professionals planning to actively recruit U.S. veterans over the next year.
In today’s competitive market, it’s a no-brainer to open the door to people who bring a wealth of knowledge and skill to the workplace — that is, to veterans! From an employer’s perspective, the great qualities most veterans bring to the job make many of them ideal employees. Moreover, the government has introduced a variety of benefits and incentives for business owners willing to employ out-of-work veterans. If you are still in doubt, here are five reasons your business could benefit from hiring veterans.
- Leadership
The military trains individuals to lead by example as well as through direction, delegation, motivation and inspiration. Veterans understand the dynamics of leadership as both a hierarchy and a peer structure. Having had to work with different behaviors, under trying circumstances, has made veterans experts at managing behaviors in ways that achieve results.
- Team Orientation
One of the first things people learn in the military is that to become a good leader you must first be a good follower. Because rising through the ranks is a right of passage for military personnel, veterans have developed their own management styles based on observation of their superiors. Veterans also understand how genuine teamwork grows out of responsibility to one’s colleagues. A veteran’s typical mentality is to not let the team down.
- Integrity
Integrity is an essential ingredient in building relationships with clients and employees, and its absence can quickly destroy a company. Fortunately, veterans have a gut understanding of “an honest day’s work.” Integrity is one of the most transferrable qualities that veterans bring to civilian jobs.
The Navy expects its sailors to “have the moral and mental strength to do what is right.” The Air Force says “integrity first.” In the Rangers, it is mission first and always put others before yourself. “Veterans understand loyalty and they understand integrity. You can trust them to do the right thing, even when no one else is watching.” — Matthew Thompson, co-founder and COO at ID.me
- Diversity
Veterans have worked side by side with teammates regardless of race, gender, geographic origin, ethnic and linguistic background, religion and economic status as well as mental, physical and attitudinal capabilities. This means they know how to work with almost everyone.
- Goal Orientation
Veterans are accustomed to debriefings or After Action Reviews, which require all members of a team to identify areas in which a given strategy could be made more effective next time. A person with this mindset will encourage — often by example — other team members to do the same.
Five good reasons to hire a vet!
