Veteran hiring isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a passion for most recruiters. For defense industry and government contracting companies, it’s not just about passion, however, it’s about results. Veteran hires are great hires for many reasons. ClearanceJobs surveyed just a few customers, and they all had one thing in common – military hiring is a priority for dozens of reasons. Here are the top five.
1. It’s just good business.
TAD PGS cares so much about veteran hiring, they’ve written a business case for it that they share with other companies. It outlines dozens of reasons for hiring veterans, from their unique leadership and technical skills, to tax credits and potential health care savings. TAD PGS also has a unique approach to veteran outreach, one that’s not all about the benefits for them but all about helping veterans.
“I’m not a sourcer or a recruiter,” said Ben Marich, Veteran Outreach Manager for TAD PGS. “We do a lot to stay in touch. It’s a passion for me, and for our company, to help veterans any way we can.” Rather than just matching veterans to specific positions withing TAD PGS, Marich works to build a network of veterans through a variety of sources. He then stays in touch through regular contact, reaching out with opportunities when applicable, but also giving them access to other career resources – not just those within his own company.
2. They have skills, and they can learn skills.
Many recruiters sited the advanced technical training veterans receive as a great advantage, as well as the degrees many of them attain through the GI Bill. But in addition to that specific technical training, however, they also have the adaptability to pick up new skills when needed, a quality particularly coveted in IT fields.
“In any position, they bring the foundational leadership skills that are really great to have in the private sector,” said Gary Deitch, recruiter with Federated IT. “We encourage hiring military veterans, particularly in the IT world, because they’re eager to learn, and they’ve shown the ability to pick up new skills quickly.” He noted that in the military you rotate assignments every few years, which means you essentially learn a new position. If you can’t pick up new skills, you can’t be successful in the military. Being able to pick up new skills quickly is also critical in the private sector, especially IT. That’s just one of the many reasons veterans make great hires.
3. They appreciate the mission.
Defense industry employers have a unique customer – Uncle Sam. Military personnel happen to have had the same boss. To say they understand the idiosyncrasies of the defense industry is an understatement. They also have the mission focus necessary for helping companies – and contracts – succeed.
“Their integrity, discipline, mission focus and attitudes; when added to their motivation and drive make them stand out in a crowd,” said Gary Goss, corporate recruiter at ProSol. “They give 100% of themselves for the better of the company, contract, position.”
ProSol has several contracts with the United States Marine Corps. Goss uses military-specific Cleared Network groups to reach out to veterans with opportunities for those contracts, simply because that military background means those candidates have a greater understanding for the mission they’ll be going into as a civilian contractor.
4. They’re teachable leaders.
Every recruiter mentioned leadership as one of the greatest attributes they see in veteran hires. But companies also recognize that veterans don’t always have the specific skills or experience needed for the civilian career they’d like to pursue. Fortunately, many employers, including Northrop Grumman, are eager to provide training programs to help vets launch the post-military career they’re aiming for.
“We absolutely LOVE hiring veterans, and here in my sector over 40% of our workforce are veterans,” said Luke Mann, University Relations Lead for Northrop Grumman Technical Services. “Our men and women of the armed forces sacrifice so much for our country, and when they are ready to join the civilian ranks it can be a daunting task. Even just understanding how what they did in the military translates to what they’re qualified for in the civilian world can be tough. We jump at any opportunity to pay them back for their service by finding homes for them here within our company. We have set up a number of excellent transition programs and services for them to help with their move into the civilian world.”
Mann noted the combination of real world experience, recent degrees, and soft skills make them great hires.
5. They’re already cleared and vetted.
The TAD PGS business case for hiring veterans notes a key benefit of hiring veterans – they know how to do business with the government. That often includes having an active federal security clearance. The benefit of hiring an already cleared candidates are significant, especially today when many companies are experiencing significant processing delays. The value of hiring an already cleared candidate amounts to both cost and time savings.
Finally, the last benefit of hiring veterans that came up time and again? They’re full of surprises – and not the kind of surprises that give recruiters nightmares, but the kind that strengthen your company and improve your business.They’re adaptability, eagerness to learn and leadership skills all equate to one thing – a great ability to dive into a new company culture, especially in the defense industry and government contracting space. And since great hires almost always come down to good cultural fit over skills, this may be one of the biggest reasons the response is universal – recruiters love hiring veterans.
