The military community is worth considering when looking for new hires since it is dominated by veterans who have the right skills, discipline, and qualifications needed by most organizations. These individuals can perform various roles in a company better than non-military personnel. Plus, they have all it takes to blend with a company’s culture. However, exploring this talent zone is a challenge to many employers for the worry of how to handle veteran needs. That is why you need to approach this practice strategically and have a solid plan to source veteran candidates. In addition, employers or hiring personnel must put in concentrated efforts and be dedicated to marketing and advertising their job posts to reach the right audience. 

Luckily, we have prepared this article to educate you on the benefits of veteran employees. Furthermore, you will get a comprehensive guide to make recruiting and hiring veterans a much easier and more flexible process.

Benefits of Veteran Employees

Although individuals in this talent pipeline have undergone rigorous and hardship in their military service, they make good employees. As an employer, you should consider hiring qualified veterans for vacant job posts for the following reasons.

• They are highly qualified and competent individuals with the right leadership skills that most companies require of their personnel. They adhere to the organization’s rules and policies to ensure they accomplish their roles on time.
• Military veterans are perfect for team building and teamwork because this was part of their training and duty. In addition, they work on an individual level, mainly focusing on their goals and the company’s mission. Consequently, this promotes the company’s and employer’s growth and productivity.
• Security is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to hiring veteran employees. With their skills and training, your company is guaranteed security clearances. As a result, you have an increased chance of winning federal contracts. Moreover, some military veterans can be employed as chief security officers and heads of disciplinary committees.
• Hiring and recruiting veterans has proven to save most employers hiring and employee management costs. For instance, you have a specific target audience during hires, making the procedure fast and streamlined. Additionally, employers who hire qualified veterans get incentives from the US government. These can include reimbursements for the veterans’ salaries and tax breaks. 
• Including veterans in your workforce means hiring diverse teams. This contributes to your business’s productivity since employees will share ideas and bring different skills to the table for maximum productivity. 

Hiring and Recruitment of Military Veterans

While it is essential to hire military veterans and include them in your workforce, you must ensure that you implement the best hiring practices to match the current veteran talent market. This process can be challenging to most hiring professionals since you want the best candidates with the right skills for your business growth. In this regard, we have highlighted below how to recruit veterans and bring in the change your business requires. 

1. Understand the Military World

Most recruiters do not understand how the veteran’s world works, including their skills and qualifications. Therefore, before you hire veterans first, conduct research on basic information regarding the military family, like their ranks, skills, roles, etc. The use of military language will help veteran job seekers easily understand your job description and apply for the post. Alternatively, you can have someone with extensive knowledge of how the military world functions or find online tools or software to help you out. 

Simply put, having extensive knowledge of the military world will help you create the best job post and description that will attract veteran job seekers. In addition, you will find it easier to conduct interviews and weed out the best.

2. Build a Strong Employer Brand 

To attract qualified veterans against other competitors, you will need to market your employer’s brand. Focus on keeping your business reputable and attracting veterans willing to bring their expertise to your company’s growth. For instance, veterans used to work as a team, and by marketing your work environment as team-oriented, it will be easier for you to attract the best. In addition, consider implementing programs that will maximize their work experience, thus making them recommend you to other veteran job seekers. 

3. Create Good Connections with Military Groups

Having networks with different military companies contributes to building a strong employer brand. You need to invest in activities that would support the military family, like hosting job fairs and visiting their camps to enlighten them about the importance of having veterans in your company. Furthermore, you can use social media platforms to network with military groups and source veteran candidates worldwide. As a result, this talented group will feel welcome and consider your company a veteran-friendly environment that can suit their needs.

4. Improve the Recruitment Program to Suit Veterans

Most hiring professionals or recruiters do not understand the veteran world. Therefore, employers should train the talent management team to conduct veteran recruitment. For instance, you can employ a veteran recruiter who can develop a specific recruitment program to screen and prioritize veteran candidates. This process will give the veteran candidates a good hiring experience, thereby boosting your company’s reputation.

5. Focus on How To Retain Veterans

One way to retain veteran employees in your organization is by showing them that their input is highly valued and they feel comfortable. Consider motivating and providing a conducive environment to the newly hired veterans so that they can easily blend with other existing employees and cultures. For instance, you can prepare their co-employees beforehand on how to relate with them. Alternatively, having a veteran employee group can curb their anxiety by ensuring that they connect with other veterans by sharing ideas and experiences. As a result, not only will they refer other veterans to join your company, but you will also see increased productivity.

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, hiring veteran employees requires a strategic plan and program that will benefit both the recruiter and the job seeker. To effectively manage this hiring process, you should consider paying attention to the candidates’ work knowledge, experience, and skills that contribute to your business productivity. Note that many recruiters and hiring managers do not know the right qualifications to look for when sourcing veteran candidates. Plus, employers may not know how to handle veteran employees’ mental and physical health needs. That is why it is crucial to learn how the military world works before hiring veteran employees. That being said, consider experts’ input in this recruitment process and build a robust and diverse workforce.