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Today's job market is constantly changing. Unfortunately, when the market adjusts to many recent failures, companies often lose focus on military personnel recruitment.
Despite all the talk of an impending recession, the unemployment rate in the United States remained at a record low in October 2022. For talent acquisition teams, enthusiastic, reliable and highly qualified candidates can seem like the Holy Grail Holy. But there's a hidden talent market that can provide hiring managers with a strong pipeline of great candidates, and that's our military veterans.
Hiring military veterans brings a number of benefits to organizations in all industries. The boot camps of the military branches weed out those who failed to anticipate the challenges of the nation's defense. After basic or officer training and service, veterans want to make a difference in America.
Connect with this untapped talent pool to fill your next vacancy and see the benefits of hiring veterans.
The current economic trend of the Great Recession is making it harder to find reliable and qualified workers. However, you may find that your new military veterans didn't just quit their jobs. Instead, you will find strong-willed, loyal and hard-working people.
1. Veterans are world-class leaders.
There is no better training program for aspiring leaders than the US military.
Whether enrolled or participating in the National Guard School or Officer Training programs, Soldiers and Sailors all learn leadership skills. And if they passed basic training and continued military service, they went with distinction; They will probably be very useful employees.
Military members come from all walks of life and learn discipline, strategy and how to motivate themselves and others. When it's time to move on to the next stage of your career, your leadership training can be valuable to your employers.
Military life requires teamwork, regardless of service branch or seniority. Without cooperation, understanding and respect, their lives and mission are at risk. This integrity and commitment to excellence is an asset that every veteran brings to employers, corporate contacts and clients.
Identify transferable leadership skills gained through military service to strengthen your organization with experienced talent. Military personnel have learned to "learn how to learn," a skill that takes time and money to learn in your organization. Expand your criteria to include more than just officers or squad leaders.
Veterans whose service includes multiple missions, awards and other achievements make an important contribution. Of course, not all military personnel are formal leaders, nor should they be. But their contributions to projects and teams beyond the battlefield make veterans eligible for recruitment.
2. Ambiguity and changing priorities do not exclude veterans.
If there's one thing military service teaches a person, it's to be adaptable and flexible when plans change.
Variables are common on the battlefield, during a strategy session, or while testing high-tech equipment. Not everyone handles ambiguity well, but veterans are used to making calm decisions in situations with imperfect information.
After a season of service, most veterans are ready to go with future-oriented plans in mind. Similarly, a vet's years of service prepares them for quick thinking and strategy implementation.
In civilian work, your calm and collected demeanor can improve results in dynamic challenges. Crises can create panic in a group, even if a group consists of many individuals selected for their skills and cultural attitudes. Battle-hardened veterans can lead by example without a leadership degree.
Think about the areas in your organization that could benefit from an employee who is comfortable with flexibility. Create updated job descriptions that reflect these skills so vets looking for employment can easily find a match. And after associates, make sure their input is used on teams where their unique perspectives add value.
3. Vets are managing deadlines and supplies.
When you're used to dealing with life and death situations every day, everything else seems difficult.
And while the stakes aren't as high for most post-military jobs, the Patriots' sense of urgency is priceless. So when you're recruiting, think about recruiting military veterans.
Army mobility schedules, cybersecurity response, and other high-risk situations allow veterans to plan accordingly. And as reality changes requirements, such rigorous training brings with it a deep appreciation for the tasks performed.
For employers whose bottom line and profit margins are managed around convenient commitments and timelines, veterans bring lasting value.
In technology, for example, time-sensitive tests and development plans must be well evaluated and managed to proceed. Additionally, veteran project managers' understanding of contingencies, risks, and variables exceeds what is achieved through traditional PM training.
In an environment driven by your time constraints, hire veterans whose military experience is combined with an understanding of mission planning. Former officers and training leaders familiar with large teams and battle plans can quickly apply their service experience.
Be open to their new military perspectives and approaches – they may have broad ideas to enable business transformation.
4. Ex-military bring valuable perspectives.
The conversation about cultural fit is increasingly on the lips of recruiters, business leaders and job applicants. As companies adjust their hiring practices to ensure an ethnically diverse workforce, conflicting ideas and different life experiences emerge.
The military experience takes people around the world and gives them a first-hand view of different cultures and ideas.
Sometimes our soldiers perform duties in crowded inner cities; In other cases, soldiers are stationed in remote and underdeveloped communities. Embedded in this environment and in their military service, they gain global perspectives. We want these attitudes and philosophies in our companies.
Veterans' life experiences are how they live and contribute to the world. Keep in mind whether the candidate's service will include time away from where your organization is located. Your international career will affect the way you interact with others, especially when language and cultural differences are taken into account.
Explore applications for open positions and look for hints of international experience and superior cultural awareness. Consider how a veteran's extensive experience can enhance the makeup of your team and benefit the clients you serve.
If your company has expansion goals in its strategic plan, hiring people with international experience is important. Additionally, a broader understanding of the human condition and the global environment often accompanies military service, equipment improvement, and commercialization.
Hiring veterans offers a number of benefits
Adding veterans to your roster can improve your organization's effectiveness, but the benefits of recruiting veterans don't stop there.
Hiring the nation's best helps communities thrive, especially as many veterans retire before the traditional retirement age. With many years of productive work ahead of them, veterans bring significant contributions and world-class perspectives rarely found elsewhere.
Veterans improve the quality of work and services provided by your organization and give you an edge over the competition.
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Why Your Recruiting Strategy Should Target Military Veterans appeared on ReadWrite.