Benefits November 6, 2007

Returning Vets Face Hiring Challenges

November 6, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - A recent survey of hiring managers and military veterans found that vets still face obstacles returning to the civilian workforce from active duty.
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A news release from the Military.com Web site said that nearly two-thirds (64%) of hiring managers feel that veterans need more help to make a successful transition into the civilian job-seeking market, and more than a quarter (27%) cited a need for stronger interviewing skills. However, 61% of the hiring managers and recruiters said they felt favorably about employing veterans.

Some 61% of respondents confessed they do not have a complete understanding of the qualifications ex-service members offer while 53% spend 2% or less of their recruitment advertising budget on targeted military hiring.

According to the announcement, part of the obstacle faced by veterans lies in the fact that many employers don’t understand their obligations under The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). For example, 36% said they were unaware that they must provide a returning veteran the same job or an equivalent position under USERRA.

Veteran Perspectives

Other survey results included that:

  • 81% of transitioning military personnel say they do not feel fully prepared to erter the job market.
  • Of those who feel unprepared, 72% feel they are not ready to negotiate salary and benefits while 76% report an inability to effectively translate their military skills to civilian terms.
  • 57% complained that they are unsure of how to network professionally, according to the announcement.

“The U.S. military is one of the world’ s largest training organizations, spending $17 billion annually to provide education relevant to industries with significant employment demands, such as health care, engineering, and IT,” said Tom Aiello, vice president for Military.com, in the news release. “However, because their resumes and experiences differ from traditional candidates, it can be challenging for hiring managers to immediately appreciate the value they bring.”

The survey is based on telephone interviews and a nationwide online survey conducted by Military.com between August and September 2007. The research sample consisted of 287 recruiters and hiring managers from a cross section of U.S. organizations representing small- to large-size firms and 4,442 military or veteran respondents.

More information is at http://www.military.com/veteransday .

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