We’ve got some great new resources to help you find and hire veterans – but first, let’s review the reasons why you should: 10 reasons to hire a veteran. Click to learn more, but here’s a quick summary:
- Accelerated learning curve.
- Leadership.
- Teamwork.
- Diversity and inclusion in action.
- Efficient performance under pressure.
- Respect for procedures.
- Technology and globalization.
- Integrity.
- Conscious of health and safety standards.
- Triumph over adversity.
Unfortunately, the unemployment rate for veterans is way too high: the youngest groups of post 9/11 Veterans remains high at 14.9 percent (ages 20-24) and 6.9 percent (ages 25-29) as of September 2015. Hispanic and African-American post 9/11 Veterans also continue to experience higher than average unemployment rates.
In some positive news on this front, about 200 employers have banded together in the goal of hiring one million veterans. Previously, the initiative had targeted 100,000 jobs and it has reached about 293,000 right now – but with almost three-quarters of a million still to go. Still, the success prompted the name change to Veteran Jobs Mission.
If your organization had 10,000 or more employees, become a member of Veteran Jobs Mission – here’s how to join. If you are a smaller employer, here are ways you can support veterans and tools for hiring.
America’s Heroes at Work — Veterans Hiring Toolkit
Interested in developing or enhancing a Veterans hiring initiative for your company but don’t know where to begin? Use this step-by-step toolkit for employers
So You Want to Hire a Veteran – A Checklist for Small Businesses (PDF)
Your company has made the decision to hire at least one U.S. military veteran. With that in mind, here is a short and helpful checklist to guide your hiring efforts.
A Guide for Employers: Where to Find Military Talent (PDF)
Since its founding, members of the Veteran Jobs Mission have evaluated many resources in their own recruiting efforts. The following information reflects the combined experience of our members in creating a repository list, segmented into familiar categories that will help users find the right talent, with the right fit, at the right time. These include:
- Resources without an Associated Cost
- Resources That Have a Fee
- ACAP / TAP / Military Programs
- Career and Job Fair Resources
- Job Boards
- Military Organizations / Associations
- Government Agencies & Programs
- LinkedIn Groups
Work Opportunity Tax Credit
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is a Federal tax credit available to private-sector businesses and certain non-profit organization for hiring individuals, including Veterans, who face significant barriers to employment. Employers can receive up to $2,400 and $9,600 in tax credits by hiring Veterans as new employees.
Additional Resources
- The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
- US Chamber Of Commerce Foundation Employer Roadmap to hiring and retaining veterans and military spouses
- How To Hire A Military Veteran. And Why You Should
- Employers’ best practice guide for helping veterans reacclimate to the workplace
- Top 11 Reasons to Hire a Vet
- Helping the military return to work