FROM “WE WILL TO AT WILL”ATTRACTING, HIRING AND RETAINING VETERAN TALENT

Veteran Employment HandbookReleased at #SHRM18

Justin Constantine

TEDx Speaker, Top Selling Author

Veteran Employment Expert

PART 1 - INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW

Discovery Search Transition Thrive

Veterans

HR Professionals / Organizations

Why am I transitioning and what’s driving my

“what’s next”?

How do I assess and develop my

organization’s ability to hire and retain

veterans?

Actualize

Appreciate

How do I communicate my

skills and value and find my “right job”?

How do I create an awareness of my

organization’s value and promote my

employment opportunities?

Articulate

Attract

What do I need to do so that I can

adjust to life after the military?

What training, programs, and

partnerships are essential to successfully

onboard veteran employees?

Acclimate

Accommodate

Achieve

Achieve

How do I sustain a sense of purpose and worth in my

everyday job?

How do I retain my veteran hires by keeping

them engaged, and maximizing their

potential?

Four Phases of Veteran Employment

From “Veteran Friendly” to “Veteran Ready”

Veteran Candidate Marketplace

• 22+ millionveterans

• 4.3 million are age 44 andyounger

• More than 225,000 service members

transition annually

• Motivated by sense of mission,

belonging and growth

WHO THEY ARE…

…and WHO THEY ARE NOT

PART 2 - APPRECIATING AND UNDERSTANDING VETERANS

Skillset

“Culture-set”

Only 14% of veterans are in combat-skills occupations

Post-9-11 veterans are more highly educated than their

civilian counterparts

Today’s military is more ethnically diverse and gender

inclusive than ever

The majority of today’s veterans are family-focused

upon transition

Veterans are agile and don’t require hierarchy to thrive

For many veterans the biggest challenge is recapturing their

sense of “Tribe”

Mind set

Demystifying Today’s Veteran

The Business Case for Hiring Veterans

MOST IMPORTANT SKILLS CITED BY

EMPLOYERS FOR WORKPLACE

SUCCESS

SKILLS STRENGTHENED OR ENHANCED

BY MILITARY SERVICE

IN DEMAND SKILLSCOMPARED TO SKILLS ENHANCED BY MILITARY SERVICE

• Professionalism/work ethic

• Teamwork/collaboration

• Oral and written communication

• Critical thinking/problem solving

• Ethics/social responsibility

• Work ethic/discipline

• Teamwork

• Leadership and management skills

• Mental toughness

• Adaptation to different challenges

• Professionalism

Source: Research from Institute of Veterans and Military Families, Syracuse Institute

• Leadership and teamwork skills that companies value.

• Their character makes them good employees.

• Disciplined, follow processes well, and operate safely.

• Veterans have expertise that companies seek.

• They adapt and perform well in dynamic environments.

The Business Case for Hiring Veterans

Source: Research from Center for a New American Security

• Veterans are effective employees.

• Other veterans in the organization have been successful.

• Veterans are resilient.

• Veterans are loyal to their organizations.

• Hiring veterans carries public relations benefits.

The Business Case for Hiring Veterans

Source: Research from Center for a New American Security

• Seek and secure support from leadership at the highest level of the organization;

• Establish SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) to hire the right veteran;

• Marketing and branding your veteran hiring initiative?

• Community Collaboration

KEY CONSIDERATIONS: Resources:

PART 3 – ATTRACTING AND SOURCING VETERANS

How are you marketing to and supportingVeteran, military spouses and Guard/Reservists?

• Who are your VSO partners?

• Who are your at-cost partners?

• Why are both important?

What’s your branding strategy?• What outreach initiativesdo you employ?

• Website denotes military inclusiveness?

• What does your career site say about your goal to hire

Veterans?

Support and Market to Veterans(short exercise)

The Resume and the Interview

Conducting the Interview

“US veterans are some of the most personable and fun-loving people on the planet, but they may appear stoic and rigid during an interview. Hiring managers should begin interviews with an icebreaker to help loosen things up. Acknowledgement of their service to the country and a genuine display of gratitude is a great way to start.”

—David Strachan, chief of staff for 7-Eleven

The Resume and the Interview

Conducting the Interview • Set a relaxed environment (cordial and familiar) • Talk about military connections and why the organization is

interested in hiring veterans • Ask them to share their leadership experience• Peel back the onion• Ask them what they are looking for in terms of challenges and

opportunities

Tips for Reviewing the Resume

• Recognize the “Language Barrier” • Identify a “Translator”- Source a veteran or active-duty

member to help you identify skills and traits • Ask for an explanation if you don’t understand the term• Be open and provide feedback

• Veteran Orientation

• Roadmap for Success and Communicate Expectations

• Understanding Deployment Challenges

• Mentorship

• Affinity Groups

Transition:Onboarding & Training

PART 4 – ONBOARDING AND ACCOMMODATING VETERANS

Sense of Belonging and Purpose

• Help establish and retain ties to the community

• Provide opportunities for increased responsibility (lateral

opportunities as well)

• Continue to re-enforce the connection between everyday

responsibilities and the mission of the organization

• Provide feedback, both informal and formal

No news is not good news to the veteran

• MOU with the ESGR?

PART 5 – RETAINING VETERANS AND ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE

• Good will is impactful but good business is the most important part of any veteran hiring program

• Most of the challenges in retaining veteran hires start before the first day on the job

• Closing the gap from “We Will” to “At Will” is a shared responsibility between the veteran, the organization and the community

Some Final Thoughts…

PART 6 – CONCLUSION

Justin ConstantineJustin@JustinConstantine.com@constantine_jus

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES!