There are hundreds of thousands of unemployed military veterans in the United States.
Veterans can be a huge asset to any recruitment effort because they possess some unique qualities that make them excellent job candidates. Thanks to their military training, variety of life experiences, and leadership skills, veterans may very well be the best hires a company can make.
Please read on to learn about twelve of the many reasons why hiring military heroes is good for business.
1. A strong work ethic
When they’re on deployment, service members work every day. There are no holidays, vacations, or weekends, and slacking off isn’t an option. As a result, you can expect veterans to understand the meaning of hard work.
2. Leadership skills
Although military personnel are taught to follow orders, they also undertake a wide range of roles and responsibilities. It provides the big-picture perspective that’s key to being an effective leader. In addition, many members of the military have plenty of experience formally overseeing and developing others, and they do it at relatively young ages. These early experiences often translate to leadership success in the corporate world. In fact, research conducted by Kellogg finance professors found that firms run by CEOs with military experience perform better under pressure than those run by CEOs without such experience.
3. Self-reliance
If you’re seeking an employee you can trust to autonomously manage crucial processes in your business, you can’t do better than a veteran. Kellogg finance studies indicate that veteran employees are more likely to take initiative than their non-military co-workers. That may be why they’re 45% more likely than civilians to start their own businesses.
4. Trainability
Service members are expected to continuously grow and develop. They must also master the art of adaptability—from learning how to follow orders to knowing when to take initiative—in an ever-changing environment where individual roles can shift from day to day.
5. A sense of responsibility
From day one, military personnel are trained to take their jobs very seriously. They know that errors in judgment, bad decisions, or missteps can result in injury or even death. Veterans are dutiful and they bring an enviable level of precision to the workplace.
6. Selflessness
Members of the Armed Forces learn to set aside their personal interests for the greater good of the team. And in their post-military lives, they’re not likely to leave this attitude behind. They’re trained to think and act with a bias toward improving the entire organization rather than just themselves, and it’s one of the biggest assets post-military workers bring to any employer.
7. Goal-orientation
Very few professions focus exclusively on goal completion, but the military is an exception. Veterans are trained in engineered environments that exclusively target mission achievement, and military personnel are taught to exercise collaboration, cooperation, and personal development in order to achieve their objectives.
8. Exceptional organizational skills
The military thrives on structure and organization, and all personnel are trained to embrace it from day one. If your business needs more order, veterans have the skills needed to steer you in the right direction.
9. Determination
If you want to ensure the job gets done right every time, hire a veteran. Military personnel are trained to be relentless in achieving their goals, and they can help your team show more resolve in overcoming any obstacle they face.
10. Sound decision-making
Veterans have been trained to absorb every detail and acquire all available information before choosing a course of action. They make decisions quickly but precisely, so they can typically be relied upon to make the best choice available at any given time.
11. Professionalism
Veterans are taught to display a high level of professionalism and respect in the work environment. In an era when workplace incivility is on the rise, employers are sure to appreciate this trait.
12. Employer savings
To make it even more attractive for businesses to hire former military personnel, the government has introduced a number of financial incentives for employers. The Special Employer Incentive (SEI) program is a VA benefit that reimburses employers for hiring veterans who meet certain requirements. This program can reimburse up to half of the employee’s salary for a maximum of six months, plus the cost of instruction, any loss of productivity that your business incurs during training, and any supplies and equipment.
A number of tax incentives also exist for businesses that hire eligible veterans. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and the Returning Heroes Tax Credit, for example, can provide annual incentives of up to $9,600. The Disabled Veterans Tax Credit allows employers to write off a portion of the wages paid to disabled veterans against their federal income tax. The credit amounts to up to $5,000 for each qualified veteran hired. It’s important to note that specific qualifications and documentation are required to take advantage of these incentives.
Hiring veterans is a smart business move. They have many appealing traits at their disposal that can make them a valuable asset to any workplace. This Veterans’ Day, why not show your appreciation for our service members by adding vets to your workforce?
Want to learn more about how to effectively integrate these valuable workers into your company’s hiring processes? The HR Team is here with the information you need. Please contact our knowledgeable professionals.
About The HR Team: Founded in 1996, The HR Team is a Maryland-based human resources outsourcing firm committed to developing strategic, customized solutions that respond to the unique needs and cultures of organizations of all types and sizes. Available as a one-source alternative to an in-house HR department or on an à la carte project basis, the company’s flexible service models address the full spectrum of HR needs that many organizations struggle to address. The HR Team helps clients achieve their highest level of success by providing value-driven human resources services that leave them time to focus on what they do best: directing business growth and profitability. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, the firm serves all of Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia. To learn more about The HR Team, call 410.381.9700 or visit https://www.thehrteam.com/.