Best Practices for Hiring Veterans at Your Small Business

Veterans can bring a wealth of skills, experiences, and perspectives to any type of business. But if you don't currently have any (or many) veterans on your staff, you may not know where to begin to evaluate their unique perspectives. Below, we discuss a few best practices to consider when hiring military veterans and how to get started.

Understand Military Skills and Experience

Familiarize yourself with military job roles, ranks, and terminology to better understand veterans' experiences. Many veterans have transferable skills that can benefit your business, including leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience—but it can take a little digging to understand how they earned these skills and how their experience will translate into the corporate environment.

Create Veteran-Friendly Job Postings

Use language in your job postings that resonates with veterans and highlights the skills and experiences you value. Mentioning a commitment to diversity and inclusion can also attract veterans who appreciate a supportive work environment. This can also attract veterans who have experience interacting with different cultures (for example, while serving overseas) and can use this experience to expand your business.

Partner with Veteran Organizations

Local veteran organizations, job fairs, or military transition assistance programs can connect your company with veterans looking for work. They can also help veterans translate their military skills and experience into civilian terms, which can go a long way toward bridging the gap between armed services and private sector (or government) employment.

Consider Military Experience as Equivalent to Job Requirements

You're not alone if you're a company that uses skill tests to screen qualified applicants. These tests can be invaluable, especially when you're dealing with a competitive hiring process. However, you may want to recognize that veterans may not have the exact qualifications listed in your job description, even when their military experience makes them ideal for the role. Consider looking outside the box when evaluating a veteran's resume.

Offer Flexibility and Understanding

Understand that veterans may have unique needs stemming from their military service. This can include everything from occasional medical appointments to reserve duty. Build trust and loyalty by offering flexibility in work hours and understanding when unexpected situations arise.

Seek Feedback and Continuously Improve

By soliciting feedback from veteran employees about their hiring experiences and overall satisfaction, you can identify areas for improvement. Maintaining this open line of communication can ensure you make the adjustments you need to support future veteran hires.

Important Disclosures:

Content in this material is for educational and general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

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