The 3 Things Employers Needs To Know About Hiring Veterans
Friday, March 23, 2012 at 04:59AM 
Veterans are some of the most qualified applicants in today's job force. They have skills that just can't be taught: leadership, innovation, teamwork mentality, focus, and self-direction. But what about those other skills employers think are so important, like knowledge of specific software and past experience?
According to Chad Storlie, author of Combat Leader to Corporate Leader, these skills aren't as important because, frankly, they can be taught. If there is one thing Veterans have spent their careers proving, it's that they are highly trainable.
KEEP THESE THREE THINGS IN MIND WHEN EXPANDING YOUR VETERAN WORKFORCE
Find Hidden Skill Sets. On the surface, it might not seem like a sniper and a software quality engineer have anything in common. So if you pick up a Veteran resume that lists sniper experience--but nothing relevant to software--you might be tempted to toss it out. To Storlie, this is a big mistake. He suggests you ask the Veteran about their experience as a sniper. If you do, you will learn they are detail oriented, they understand how to read an environment, and that they are a team player as well as self-directed. In fact, snipers have many skills sets in common with software quality engineers. According to Storlie, it's about asking the right interview questions to uncover these hidden skill sets.
Translate Veterans' Experience. There is a gap between the language Soldiers speak in the military and the language corporate America speaks. Veterans aren't the only ones who need to translate military language into civilian language. Employers often focus too much on rank, branch of service, and military occupation. But this is only part of the equation. Storlie recommends connecting with Veterans already working in your company. Ask them, What skills do you use every day that you learned in the military? How has your military experience helped you succeed? When you involve Veterans in the hiring process, they can help ask questions and interpret answers. This will help you identify and translate what is most valuable in a Veteran's past military experience and how this can be a valuable asset for your company.
Challenge Veterans Like It's The Military. One of the most common reasons people join the military, according to Storlie, is to be challenged. Identify small projects that your Veterans can tackle. Starting small allows the Veteran to gain positive work experience. Make sure to check in often and provide feedback - most Veterans have learned the value of evaluation due to their military experience. Once a small project has been mastered, increase the scope and responsibility of the projects you assign. Every Veteran needs to feel like an essential part of the team and an asset to the company. Remember, this indispensable work ethic they learned in the military, too.
Veterans bring skills to the table that most employers need. Embracing these strategies will help you make the most out of hiring Veterans. Learning to harness the unique skills of Veterans, too, will translate into bigger profits and a more productive workforce for you.
For more free job resources for Veterans, visit VeteranCentral.com.
Written by Twila Camp . Twila is the Content Director for VeteranCentral.com, an online community dedicated to providing free resources and support to Veterans and their Families. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelors of Letters and a Masters in Library and Information Science. She also holds a Masters in Liberal Studies with an Emphasis on Writing from the University of Denver. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6948726
