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Veterans Day: Recruiting Our Heroes Year-Round
November 11, 2016 6:44:04 PM

On Veteran’s Day, we honor those who have served in the US Armed Forces, both in the past and those who currently serve today. In 1938, President Calvin Coolige called for the official observance of this day and declared that it would be “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day’.” Since then, November 11 has been reserved for ceremonies and celebrations to honor military veterans nationwide.

As employers, we have the opportunity to honor this community year round by planning and investing in veteran recruiting efforts. Fortunately, as revealed in a recent article from Indeed, through efforts such as Joining Forces and the US Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes, we have seen some strong developments in the employment of former members of the Armed Services in the last 7 years. However, there are certainly areas for improvement. Here are a few ways to help expand your veteran hiring and recruiting efforts throughout the year.

Learn How to Translate the Military Resume

Many of the skills acquired in the U.S. Armed Forces translate seamlessly into a number of civilian careers. However, if you’ve never joined the ranks of the U.S. Armed Forces the MOS/AFSC ratings can be very confusing. Being able to Decode military titles and skill-sets, and training your recruiting teams to do the same can make reviewing resumes immensely simpler. Fortunately, there are resources available to assist you in doing this. The diagram below offers a starting point, but you can also visit Military.com to use their skills translator. The job market is very military friendly. In 2015 the American Veteran unemployment rate reached the lowest level in seven years. Help prevent former military members’ strong skill sets from getting lost in translation.
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Connect with Military Spouses

Memorial_Day_Graphic-2-01.jpgDoes your organization offer contract or flexible work opportunities? Promote those positions to military spouses. The life of a military spouse can be unpredictable to say the least. Constant relocation makes it challenging to find a career they feel they can stick with for the long-term. However, contract or flexible work openings are great positions for military spouses to consider. In order to make your jobs more visible to this community, you can visit Military Spouse and become a Military Spouse Friendly Employer. The demands of the military are great, not only for the service members, but their families as well. This is an impactful way to support family as a whole.

Proactively Reach Out in Your Community

Be intentional about putting your company and the job opportunities in front of veterans. While there are transition programs available, normally required, for exiting service members, it can be overwhelming for veterans to know where to actually start their search. Consider attending or having your recruiters attend military supported job fairs, so you can be present and talk with veterans about their former roles. This will allow you to more personally connect with them, and explain the jobs you’re looking to fill. The personal attention you show will help them know it’s not just about a job – it’s about their life, family and future.

As we honor our service members this Veterans Day, consider using these tactics to increase your support, as an employer, throughout the rest of the year.

Looking for some more information and tips on recruiting talent in today’s market? Contact us today! Whether you’re looking for professional recruiting services, engaging a contract workforce, or even recruiting internationally, we have the solution for your business.

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