SHRM: removing cultural barriers to veteran hiring.

November 17, 2017 Audra Jenkins

What makes for a military-friendly employer? One that surpasses others in earning the attention and respect of veterans? It really comes down to ongoing engagement with former service men and women, as well as with their spouses and families.

 

The hiring outlook for veterans in the U.S. is particularly bright right now. Employers are eager to hire former military personnel to fill a widening skills gap in production, IT, sales and other areas. The majority of employers, however, do not have veteran-specific initiatives in place.

 

This discrepancy is particularly evident when it comes to communicating military skills and experience in civilian terms. "One of the biggest ways HR can remove this cultural barrier is by educating the workforce and teaching managers, leaders and recruiters about military culture and language to encourage common ground,” says Audra Jenkins, chief diversity and inclusion officer with Randstad North America.

 

It’s important to make a concerted effort to understand the veteran community and share opportunities in a manner that resonates with potential candidates. Randstad, for example, offers a skills translator to match military occupation codes (MOC) against civilian job titles and requirements – making it easier for veterans to apply for jobs that best match their abilities and aspirations.

 

Read the article to see what veteran-friendly employers are doing right, and then learn how Randstad Sourceright’s veteran recruiting services can help you effectively attract and engage military veterans.

 

about the author

Audra Jenkins

As chief diversity and inclusion officer, Jenkins spearheads initiatives both within and outside of our organization. She not only advances diversity and inclusion among internal employees, she also partners with customers as they work to achieve their own diversity goals. Jenkins firmly believes that diversity and inclusion must be woven into every aspect of the talent life cycle to attract quality candidates, enhance employee engagement and drive performance. She brings more than 20 years of human resources, diversity and compliance experience, along with a passion for advocating on behalf of underserved populations. She is the executive sponsor for Randstad’s Hire Hope program, which provides career readiness training and job placement services to at-risk women, including survivors of exploitation and trafficking.

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