Veterans learn formidable skills in the military to make themselves an asset on the battlefield, and those skills often serve them well in the civilian business world. The skills can range from soft skills like building trust to hard skills such as advanced programming or logistics. There are also financial incentives for hiring veterans that employers should consider, as well.
Financial Benefit: The Work Opportunity Tax Credit
Though veterans’ unique soft skills are sufficient reasons to hire them, there can be a strong financial benefit for employers to hire veterans, as well. The economical benefit, in addition to the skills mentioned above, rounds out a compelling case to bring veterans onto your team.
Provided they meet certain criteria, veterans in certain circumstances can yield employers valuable tax savings. The WOTC provides a dollar-for-dollar reduction in tax liability up to an amount of $6,000, and there is no cap on the number of employees the tax credit can be used for. Therefore, employers can effectively offset a significant portion of a veteran’s wages and invest in a quality employee at the same time.
Soft Skill Assets Veterans Bring to the Job
Starting on their first day in the military, recruits are placed in an environment where they need to learn and refine their soft skills. Today’s military requires troops to operate in locales worldwide in remote geographic areas with unstable communications while operating within different cultures.
1. Attention to detail. The military puts a strong emphasis on “sweating the small stuff.” During complex missions, there is no room for error, so from the beginning of basic training, soldiers are taught to perfect things such as clipping the tiniest strings on uniforms and ironing t-shirts. This attention to detail translates to the civilian business world, where veterans can often improve processes and give unique insights as a result of their training. Therefore, veterans may provide the missing puzzle piece in developing and refining business solutions.
2. Teamwork. Military training puts a premium on teamwork. Even the most elite units, in which individuals must rely on themselves often, preach the value of teamwork. Those who make it through the most grueling exercises or scenarios, like Navy Seals Hell Week, have to rely on others to make it through the most difficult parts. Training and drills can sometimes require teams to communicate in the dark, underwater, and without the ability to speak or hear. Those going through the training learn each other’s body language, work to understand each other’s nonverbal cues, and strive to memorize new communication styles. Because of these skills, veterans are often comfortable walking into unfamiliar scenarios—such as those with external clients—and building a quick rapport and trust.
3. Adaptability. Living the military life, from the beginning of the career to the end, requires servicemembers to be able to adapt and overcome. Every year, more than 400,000 servicemembers are directed to make a permanent change of station (PCS). This PCS move is often a challenging aspect of life, with children having to transfer schools, spouses having to transfer professional licenses, and individuals having to move away from family and friends. Additionally, during training and on missions, active-duty servicemembers have to react to rapidly changing information and environments. Veterans can apply these skills to business environments and help deliver excellent results in high-stress situations.
Locating Veterans With Specific Hard Skills That Fit the Role
Various military branches offer more than 7,000 jobs across 100 different areas, and a significant portion has a civilian equivalent. Many veterans have had exposure to multiple job duties and additionally are cross-trained in other specialties. Civilian employers can use the tool O*NET to cross-reference military job titles and quickly ascertain if veteran prospects have the tools they need to succeed at their company. Being able to quickly identify which potential employees have the hard skills that fit your organization’s requirements—and have likely received standardized training—can speed up hiring decisions. And once the veteran is in the role, his or her previous training will pay dividends because the veteran will likely require less specific skill training and quickly become a contributing team member.
Soldiers’ primary mission is to acquire the skills and mindset necessary to provide security. Because that duty requires a broad array of skills and a diligent, curious, determined attitude to meet those rugged demands, it’s no surprise they translate well to civilian businesses. Therefore, employers should proactively look at their hiring practices and ask themselves, within the bounds of judicious and inclusive hiring practices, how they can attract veterans to their company to help them navigate and succeed in today’s business arena.
Tonya Marie Towles is the Expansion Network Owner at PCS Pro. PCS Pro comprises military spouses and veterans who are passionate about helping fellow military families and servicemembers find their next home. With their expertise, you will have endless resources that have all the PCS military information you could ever need. Having done it themselves, they are familiar with the entire PCS military process and strive to help their clients navigate the process with as little stress as possible.