Dive Brief:
- With Memorial Day 2015 in the books, a new survey explores the challenges veterans face in transitioning from military service to the civilian work world, according to SHRM.org. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says there were more than 21 million U.S. veterans in 2014. Additionally, every year, 240,000 to 360,000 soldiers leave military service.
- In 2014, the unemployment rate for veterans was 25% higher than the non-veteran rate. Service members often struggle to correlate military experience with civilian job descriptions and sometimes must deal with negative perceptions about their abilities and mental health.
- Unfortunately, 80% of the 700 employers surveyed by Futurestep, a Korn Ferry company specializing in talent solutions, do not have veteran-specific recruiting initiatives. Further, 71% said their organizations do not provide training to hiring managers or recruiters on veteran hiring and more than half (52%) do not provide onboarding or transition support to veteran hires.
Dive Insight:
Among other things, the survey says organizations that are committed to helping veterans find civilian jobs view supporting veteran hiring initiatives as an important part of their employment brand, Erickson said. Those companies set veteran hiring targets, launch internal initiatives to educate veterans in business skills, create military-friendly careers websites, and participate in military jobs fairs.
Another way employers can help veterans successfully transition to a civilian career includes inviting them to online talent communities where they can ask questions and share information about themselves. In addition, current employees who have successfully made the transition can be showcased, Bill Sebra, president, Futurestep North America, says in the article.
“Military recruiting is much more than corporate social responsibility … It’s a smart business decision that harnesses the amazing skills and talents of veterans to create successful outcomes for the company and the individual," Sebra says in the article.
