Back to web version
More companies could enlist veterans in their ranks
By DIANE STAFFORDThe Kansas City Star
Some returning military veterans have had difficulty landing private sector jobs, but their prospects are expected to improve in the coming year.
In a survey timed for Veterans Day, CareerBuilder.com found that 1 in 5 employers said they were actively recruiting men and women returning from military duty.
A smaller number, 14 percent, were recruiting members of the National Guard.
The survey reached 2,800 hiring managers nationally. Those who intend to hire were particularly likely to recruit veterans who had information technology experience.
Other skills most often sought were customer service, engineering and sales.
President Barack Obama this week urged Congress to approve tax credits for businesses to hire unemployed veterans.
Obama established a “Veteran Gold Card” for post-911 veterans to get six months of personalized career counseling at Department of Labor one-stop career centers, such as the Full Employment Council offices in the Kansas City area.
Nationally, an estimated 200,000 unemployed veterans served since 2001.
Career specialists said the onus was still on veterans to help employers see how their military experience translated to private-sector jobs.
About 2 in 5 hirers told the survey that they had difficulty understanding how specific military skills were relevant to their openings.
Veterans are urged to get professional help in writing resumes and cover letters that clearly spell out the work values and accomplishments they gained through the military.
Often, classroom education or vocational training is the key to landing a job.
Some of that career preparation assistance is available in the area through the UMKC Institute for Human Development and the KU Veterans Upward Bound program.
The UMKC program is limited to veterans with disabilities. Both programs focus on education and training to make veterans better candidates for what’s needed in the civilian workforce.
In the CareerBuilder survey, employers pinpointed what they valued in applicants who had military experience:
• Disciplined approach to work.
• Ability to work as a team.
• Respect and integrity.
• Leadership skills.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Ability to perform under pressure.
• Communication skills.
Learn more
For further information about veterans’ career preparation:
UMKC Institute for Human Development: www.transitionstem.org/home and www.kcstemalliance.org/veterans
KU Veterans Upward Bound: www.ku.edu/~vub