Approximately 19 million Americans are veterans, and they can be a significant asset to businesses looking to hire veterans. More and more companies are recognizing this potential and are implementing hiring initiatives specifically designed to hire veterans. This is not surprising, considering the unique blend of technical expertise and soft skills that veterans often bring to their roles, along with additional benefits to their employers.
If you’re a new business owner looking to seize opportunities, focusing on initiatives to hire veterans is a wise move. This article outlines what you need to know about the advantages of hiring veterans, the types of positions that suit them, and ways to connect with veterans in your area.
The Benefits of Hiring Veterans
1. Highly Developed Skillsets: Veterans usually possess specialized training and professional development as part of their military experience. This often leads to significant expertise in their field, making the decision to hire veterans a rewarding one.
2. Adaptability in Stressful Situations: The ability to adapt and respond to unexpected changes or stressful situations is something many veterans excel at. This makes them particularly well-suited to dynamic work environments.
3. Valuable Workplace Qualities: When you hire veterans, you may notice they often bring qualities like accountability, leadership, and trustworthiness to the workplace. Their team-oriented mindset and willingness to face challenges head-on are added benefits. Plus, their loyalty may translate into longer tenure if they feel respected and supported by their employer.
4. Potential Tax Benefits: Your company might qualify for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit by hiring eligible veterans. This could lead to a reduction in your taxes when it’s time to file, providing another incentive to hire veterans.
Conclusion
Making a concerted effort to hire veterans can bring numerous advantages to your business. From highly specialized skills to commendable workplace qualities, veterans are often well-equipped to add value to various roles within an organization. By understanding these benefits and actively seeking to hire veterans, businesses can tap into this underutilized resource and contribute positively to the community. By taking these steps, business owners not only open up opportunities for veterans but also add valuable members to their teams.
The easiest and most effective way to generate business is through word-of-mouth referrals. If you don’t know where to start, ask people who’ve used your business in the past. Previous customers can be the best advocates for your company. Asking friends and family is always a great idea, too.
Jobs Where Veterans Typically Thrive
Generally speaking, a veteran may thrive in any kind of role. Military members can have surprisingly varied skill sets, as the military needs service members to handle a wide range of jobs. Since that’s the case, they may flourish in IT, security, warehousing, public safety, or any number of other positions.
However, veterans may do best with certain kinds of managers. Generally, military members are straightforward, and they’re used to clear expectations. Transactional leadership is a widespread approach in essentially every branch. If a manager can adopt a similar style, it may help veterans excel.
Connecting With Veterans in Lexington
If you want to hire veterans, you’ll need a plan to connect with them directly. One option is to reach out to veteran service organizations in the area. They may be able to give you insights regarding places to advertise openings.
You can also turn to websites that focus on connecting veterans with opportunities. HireVetsFirst.gov, USAJobs.gov, and HelmetstoHardhats.org are all examples of places where you can learn more about hiring veterans and, potentially, post job listings.
Attending job fairs is another excellent option. Some job fairs focus on veterans specifically, though general ones that target the public at large can also be an effective approach. Similarly, networking events can be another strategy worth considering.
Make sure you have some business cards on-hand at all times. Then, when you meet a capable veteran, you have something tangible to give them. Often, business cards make a lasting impression and are far more visible than email. Plus, it can create a memorable moment. Finally, designing personalized business cards is simple. You can take advantage of pre-made templates in an online business card maker – adding images and text while adjusting the colors and fonts – to create something uniquely yours in mere minutes.
