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3 Tips on How To Recruit Our Veteran Heroes
November 7, 2019 2:00:00 PM

Before we started calling it Veterans Day, the holiday we recognize each November 11th, was called Armistice Day.

In 1919, one year after World War I concluded, President Woodrow Wilson sent a message to the country, commending the American people for their efforts during the war and expressing both gratitude for the end of the conflict, and hope for the future.

It wasn’t until 1938 that Congress asked the president at that time, Calvin Coolidge, to send out an annual proclamation, inviting the Americans to officially celebrate Armistice Day on November 11th.

Another year later, World War II, the largest armed conflict in human history, originated. Raymond Weeks, veteran of WWII, thought that the holiday should officially commemorate every veteran of every war.

Today, Weeks is considered the father of modern veterans, since he was the main influence in celebrating and honoring every Veteran. Thanks to him, in 1954, Armistice Day was changed to what we know today as one of the youngest federal holidays, Veterans Day.

Employers Opportunity

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 the efforts of the US Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes, there has been some strong initiatives supporting the employment of former members of the Armed Services over the last 10 years.

As shown on Glassdoor, “there are over 21 million veterans of the US armed forces, and many of these veterans have been trained on general, as well as technical skills in their military careers… the armed forces impart a great many skills on veterans, and employers reap the benefits of this training when they hire veterans…”

Here are three ways to help you identify these outstanding individuals, and effectively recruit for positions open in your organization.

Three Ways to Recruit Veterans

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.

Help prevent former military members’ strong skill sets from getting lost in translation.
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Connect with Military Spouses

Does your organization offer contracts 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, contracts or flexible work openings are great positions for military spouses to consider. 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 the 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 start their search.

Consider attending or having 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.


If you are getting ready for the next year, and are looking for more information and tips on recruiting talent in such a tight market, click below to learn 3 ways you can optimize your recruiting efforts.

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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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