Attention Employers!
Did you know that, in Indiana,
veterans experience higher unemployment rates than
civilians? The Indiana general unemployment rate is
8.2%. Indiana Veterans as a whole have an
unemployment rate of 9%. Post 9/11 Indiana
veterans’ unemployment rate is 23.6%, and members
of the Guard and Reserve age 18-24 year old face
unemployment at a staggering 30% plus. These
figures come from the Department of Labor Veterans
Employment Training Services
(DOL/VETS).
The Michiana chapter
of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) is
sponsoring a Military Job Fair on November 17 at the
Gillespie Conference Center in South Bend to draw
attention to this need and provide local employers an
opportunity to hire veterans. Please consider
attending the fair, sponsoring or having a
representative from your organization host a booth for
your company’s open positions. If you are
concerned that you don’t have positions that a veteran
would have experience in, remember, the military does
the same things that civilian businesses do, including
industrial work, manufacturing, office and
administrative work. To register as an
employer for the event, go to:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22DBGQYF48W by
Nov. 11.
Why Hire a
Veteran?-
by Capt. Benjamin Jones,
Veterans Today Journal, Monday, January
25th, 2010
1. Accelerated Learning
Curve
Veterans have the proven
ability to learn new skills and concepts. In addition,
they can enter your workforce with identifiable and
transferable skills, proven in real world situations.
This background can enhance your organization’s
productivity.
2.
Leadership
The military trains people
to lead by example as well as through direction,
delegation, motivation and inspiration. Veterans
understand the practical ways to manage behaviors for
results, even in the most trying circumstances. They
also know the dynamics of leadership as part of both
hierarchical and peer
structures.
3. Teamwork
Veterans understand how
genuine teamwork grows out of a responsibility to one’s
colleagues. Military duties involve a blend of
individual and group productivity. They also necessitate
a perception of how groups of all sizes relate to each
other and an overarching
objective.
4. Diversity and Inclusion in
Action
Veterans have learned to
work side by side with individuals regardless of diverse
race, gender, geographic origin, ethnic background,
religion and economic status as well as mental, physical
and attitudinal capabilities. They have the sensitivity
to cooperate with many different types of
individuals.
5. Efficient performance under
pressure
Veterans understand the
rigors of tight schedules and limited resources. They
have developed the capacity to know how to accomplish
priorities on time, in spite of tremendous stress. They
know the critical importance of staying with a task
until it is done right.
6. Respect for
procedures
Veterans have gained a
unique perspective on the value of accountability. They
can grasp their place within an organizational
framework, becoming responsible for subordinates’
actions to higher supervisory levels. They know how
policies and procedures enable an organization to
exist.
7. Technology and
globalization
Because of their experiences
in the service, veterans are usually aware of
international and technical trends pertinent to business
and industry. They can bring the kind of global outlook
and technological savvy that all enterprises of any size
need to succeed.
8.
Integrity
Veterans know what it means
to do “an honest day’s work.” Prospective employers can
take advantage of a track record of integrity, often
including security clearances. This integrity translates
into qualities of sincerity and
trustworthiness.
9. Conscious of health and
safety standards
Thanks to extensive
training, veterans are aware of health and safety
protocols both for themselves and the welfare of others.
Individually, they represent a drug-free workforce that
is cognizant of maintaining personal health and fitness.
On a company level, their awareness and
conscientiousness translate into protection of
employees, property and
materials.
10. Triumph over
adversity
In addition to dealing
positively with the typical issues of personal maturity,
veterans have frequently triumphed over great adversity.
They likely have proven their mettle in mission critical
situations demanding endurance, stamina and flexibility.
They may have overcome personal disabilities through
strengths and determination.
