HR Departments Realizing That Veterans Make Good Employees

All across the country, according to a recent article on the website employerroadmap.org, officials in human resources departments for major corporations are catching on that hiring veterans is not only the right thing to do, but also a wise move.

“Veterans and transitioning service members have more resources available to them in their job search than ever before,” the article declares . “Human resources departments and recruiters play a critical role when companies make veteran hiring a priority. An inspired and educated HR and recruitment team can make all the difference in the hiring process for both veterans and employers.”

Employerroadmap.org is a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

The piece goes on to describe several instances where this turnabout is taking hold, including at La Quinta Inns and Suites, based in Irving, Texas. There, the members of the talent acquisition team have created a guideline for hiring veterans and their spouses.

“This guide includes information on finding, interviewing, hiring, onboarding and training veterans and transitioning service members. The guide also includes a list of local and national veteran hiring resources. Available to the entire company via intranet, it helps everyone be on the same page about veteran hiring.”

The most important concept for Miami-based Ryder Systems Inc., the story quotes Kirk Imhof, group director of diversity, inclusion and engagement, is “how to solicit concrete examples from veterans around not only their primary job duties, but also their other training and experience.”

Veterans often argue that while their military experience translates well to the private sector, it’s often difficult to get this across.

“Capital One, headquartered in McLean, Va., coaches its human resources staff to focus on skill sets and competencies, rather than chronological work history, when interviewing spouses,” the story adds. “Because of their frequent moves, many spouses’ work histories are interrupted, resulting in gaps on their resumes. Many spouses gain valuable experience through their volunteer work and should be encouraged to talk about these experiences, even if they are not clearly listed on a resume.”