Getting the right person for the job is the key to successful recruitment, and one particular group of people that are often overlooked by employers are military veterans.
More and more businesses are starting to realise the potential of ex-military personnel, and they fact that they could make a positive difference as part of their workforce.
People with criminal records, a history of drug use, inadequate education, or a poor level of physical ability aren’t accepted into the forces. This means that the people leaving the military have already met high standards to begin with, and after their training and time in service, they emerge as some of the best skilled people to employ. The skills they learn while in the forces can be easily transferred to civilian jobs, but sometimes employers can have a hard time seeing this.
Problems Veterans Have When Seeking Employment
The fact of the matter is that when it comes to pitching themselves to potential employers, military veterans find it hard to explain how the skills they learnt while serving their country can be applied to a civilian job.
For example, an Air Force technician would have invaluable experience working with some of the most technologically advanced equipment in the world. Testing avionics systems, maintaining avionic components, and inspecting equipment for safety requires a high level of expertise, and the working environment would be demanding. The problem is that unless the person can explain their skills without using military jargon, their potential might not shine through.
Another problem for military personnel making the transition to civilian life is that they need to sell their skills, and often don’t know how to. Military veterans leave the forces with a sense of humility, and although they have proven themselves to be more than capable, veterans will rarely boast about their achievements.
So when they write up a CV, often their achievements are downplayed, or described in such a way that employers don’t fully understand just how capable they are.
How Veterans Can Benefit Your Business
The military teaches discipline and teamwork, and servicemen and women have to operate in harsh and sometimes hostile conditions. Their life revolves around the job, in a much different way to a 9 to 5 job, and the objectives they are tasked with can be extremely difficult.
The accomplishments they achieve can be extraordinary, from rebuilding schools, fixing state-of-the art helicopters, training foreign servicemen, handling advanced logistics, and working with hi-tech communications.
Often they have to do these things with limited resources, in difficult circumstances, and under enormous pressure. The ability to solve problems quickly and adapt to change are great skills that become instilled in military personnel, and these skills don’t disappear once they leave the forces.
Sure, at first a veteran might need time to deal with the huge change from military life to civilian life, and you may have to train them for the specific role you want them to fill in your business. However, by putting the time in now, you could be set to reap the benefits in the future. Veterans are mission focused and strive to accomplish, so the goals you have set your business then become their goals.
Getting Veterans On-board Your Team
The UK Armed Forces are making more and more troops redundant because of a major restructuring programme, and companies are signing up to a veteran interview programme in a bid to tap into this large talent pool.
While some companies operate programs directly with the military, so that veterans can move smoothly from their military career into a civilian one, many veterans will still leave the forces without a job in hand. There are plenty of ways to find ex-military candidates for the jobs you offer, from flat fee recruitment websites to online job boards, and there will surely be some military veterans among the thousands of people looking for jobs at these places.
However, you can be more direct in searching for a veteran to hire, and there are plenty of recruitment services dedicated solely to finding veterans employment. The next time you have a job to offer, consider hiring a military veteran to see just how good they are. You never know, they could help transform your business.