Veterans: One of the Greatest Untapped Human Resources
Throughout
history, veterans have proved to be tremendous economic drivers as both
employees and employers. Veterans possess numerous qualities that
translate success in today’s workforce. The reasons why veterans make
outstanding employees and business owners are numerous, but here we will
focus on three proven battleground qualities.
The
notion of resiliency refers to one’s ability to cope with, adapt to,
and overcome challenges. History has proved that veterans have
frequently triumphed over great adversity, which has translated into
relentless pursuit to problem solving while on the job. For example,
veterans have experience in mission critical situations which demand
endurance, stamina, and flexibility. Some have overcome personal
disabilities through strength and determination. This type of
perseverance and adaptation are easily transferable qualities that are
rare to find and certainly complimentary to any employer.
Technology and Globalization
Because
of their experiences in the service, veterans are usually aware of
international and technical trends pertinent to business and industry.
They can bring the kind of global outlook and technological savvy that
all enterprises of any size need to succeed. It is not uncommon for
veterans to have been exposed to highly advanced technology and
technology training. Veterans have the ability to utilize this type of
technical training work experience to leverage knowledge across numerous
disciplines at work while applying technology based solutions to
different types of organizational challenges. In addition, veterans
possess the intangible quality of an accelerated learning curve.
The
notion of relentless teamwork is frequently correlated to the military
veteran, but perhaps not fully explored. Military duties involve a blend
of individual and group initiatives. As a result, veterans understand
how genuine collaboration grows from mutual respect and a sense of
responsibility for one’s colleague. Incorporating attention to detail
while working in groups of all sizes is a very important attribute which
saves time and money. In addition, understanding the broader vision of
how each piece of the puzzle directly relates to an overarching
objective is a powerful quality of veterans. Having gained a unique
perspective on the value of accountability, veterans have an
understanding of their place within an organizational framework.
Where Can I tap into this talent?
Veterans Employment Center (VEC): One-Stop-Shop Connects Veterans, Transitioning Service Members, and their Spouses to Employers.
VEC
is the first government-wide project that brings together a reputable
cadre of public and private employers with real job opportunities,
provides tools to translate military skills into plain language, and
helps build a profile that can be shared – in real time – with
employers. The Veterans Employment Center, an integrated, online tool
connecting veterans, transitioning service members and their spouses
with both public and private-sector employers, is the result of an
interagency effort to improve, simplify and consolidate the current
array of employment resources for veterans. Additionally, this will
provide one comprehensive database of resumes for employers who are
seeking to leverage the skills and talents of veterans, service members,
and their spouses.
The VEC is an excellent resource for employers seeking Veteran talent and can help employers:
- Make a public commitment to hire Veterans
- Post job opportunities
- Search resumes to quickly identify the right candidates
- Download
tools like the Guide to Hiring Veterans to learn how to find and hire
veterans and support their success in the workplace
- Make an Employer Commitment on the VEC – Launch your public relations campaign to hire veterans
For a tutorial video on how to use the Veterans Employment Center, please visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWfhI-eSoWk
