By Paul Peng
If you are an owner of a business—regardless of size—you are vested in the ability to have the best available talent at a competitive price point so that your business can remain profitable. That’s why you or perhaps someone who works for you goes through hundreds of resumes and interviews to achieve that goal. Veterans are often touted as the ideal employee for several reasons; however, is that really the case for your business? Let’s dive into the advantages and drawbacks—real or imagined—of having a veteran in your workforce. And for the veterans out there—some advice on how to become the best possible candidate.
PROS:
Discipline & Work Ethic
Perhaps one of the biggest advantages that you will have when hiring a veteran for the job is their discipline and strong work ethic. The typical contract for a first-time service member is eight years. During the first term, they complete intensive training and drilling to hone the skills of their respective Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). This is especially true during times of war. Instillment of discipline, strong work ethic and moral values through military service are the hallmarks of what makes veterans reliable employees. Let’s be real: no successful business owner likes to babysit or micromanage their workforce.
Problem Solving Skills
Veterans are highly adept at learning new skills and technologies for any occupation they pursue. The ability to problem solve and adapt—something that you can’t learn in a traditional school or university—is accomplished by constantly being put in high-stress scenarios during training exercises. This approach is deliberate so that the service member does not freeze up. It forces them to think outside the box and adapt to constantly changing situations, thereby overcoming challenges and achieving the mission objective. Veterans possess this skillset from their time in service which differentiates them from those who did not serve. A recent article published by VICE stated that 6 in 10 college graduates are fired within a few months for being unprepared for the workforce, with 34% of these having inadequate problem-solving abilities and 46% lacking professionalism.
Tax Incentives
Does anyone here enjoy paying taxes? No? Didn’t think so. Guess what? Business owners are the same. While hiring trustworthy employees does offset your workload and allows you, the business owner, to focus on other, more pressing matters, employees are expensive. This is especially the case when you include 401(k) match programs, paid sick and vacation leave, medical, dental and vision insurance. The U.S. sees veterans as a “special category” workforce and provides various tax incentives and credits for hiring veterans. These incentives offset a considerable part of your expenses, particularly when onboarding and training a new employee. As the adage goes, a dollar saved is a dollar earned.
CONS:
Skills Translation
There is a language and culture gap between civilian and military environments. Thanks to Hollywood, most employers think there are only four ranks in the military: General, Colonel, Sergeant and Private, with a very vague understanding of the responsibilities of each rank. So when you start incorporating military lingo into your resume building, many employers will be turned off by them, especially if you have to explain each one of your bullet points. These employers have hundreds of resumes and interviews to go through. Having to translate each of your skill sets will do nothing but irritate them, making them not want to hire you.
Advice: Get a professional resume writer (there are plenty of nonprofits out there that help veterans for FREE), or if you don’t want to do that, then use Google or AI to help you translate your proficiencies on paper so that a civilian employer with no military background can understand the valuable skills you have gained during service.
Concern about Deployments
This is one of the biggest challenges faced by veterans, particularly when it comes to National Guardsman or Reservists. Employers value consistency and reliability in the workforce, allowing them to focus on other, more pressing matters and grow their business. Having to constantly wonder whether an employee will be deployed—especially during wartime—is understandably a burden no one wants.
Advice: Be upfront about your military status and your chances of deployment. Many employers will be willing to take on this burden, especially if you prove early on that you are a reliable and efficient employee. Most employers would rather be inconvenienced for a short duration than go through rounds of hiring, firing and layoffs due to performance issues. You can also turn this into a positive, as many veteran-owned or veteran friendly employers know your value and would prefer to hire a veteran vs. Joe Schmoe off the street.
Stereotypes
Employers unfamiliar with military culture often describe veteran candidates as rigid or overly direct. This misunderstanding can lead to assumptions that veterans are difficult to train or may struggle to adapt to workplace culture.
Advice: Do your research before you apply for the job. That being said, employers across the U.S. have a generally positive view of veterans. So out of the three on the list, this one is going to be the least of your worries.
Everything in life—every job, decision, profession and even relationship—comes with its pros and cons. Simply wearing a uniform and serving your country doesn’t guarantee that others will always view you positively as a veteran. That’s just reality.
That said, the advantages of hiring veterans far outweigh the drawbacks. Veterans possess a rare ability to adapt under pressure, overcome obstacles and work independently with little supervision—traits that are increasingly hard to find. As a result, many companies across the country actively seek out veteran candidates. Add to that the substantial tax incentives available from both state and federal agencies—often saving employers tens of thousands of dollars—and it’s clear why veterans often stand out above civilian applicants. So what are you waiting for? Get after it!
Photo: COURTESY OF PAUL PENG
Read more articles for the Veteran Community here.
