Veteran employment is on the rise, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2018 annual Employment Situation of Veterans, which shows the jobless rate for all veterans continued its downward trend from 4.3 percent to 3.8 percent from 2016 to 2018.
There is no doubt that a robust U.S. economy with record unemployment levels has helped these numbers. After all, CEOs have consistently told Chief Executive that one of their biggest challenges in 2018 has been a shortage of talent. But the increasing number of veterans joining the workforce is also an encouraging sign that companies are embracing the range of skills, attitudes and behaviors military training can bring to the corporate world.
Against this backdrop, Chief Executive Group and Indiana Economic Development Corporation teamed up in August 2018 to ask nearly 300 U.S. CEOs to share their experiences with recruiting and onboarding military veterans. Our research has found that despite the current candidate-driven market, veterans are commonly overlooked as a talent pool because employers do not know how to engage with them.
Wes Wood, director of INvets at Conexus Indiana, says that most employers wait for veterans to approach them, and that’s why so many CEOs are disappointed with the low turnout, particularly if they are not near military installations. In his experience, most companies have opportunities veterans would thrive in, but a barrier exists when it comes to job recruitment strategies. “The traditional job recruitment post is simply not resonating with veterans,” he says.
In reality, transitioning service members don’t always know what their post-military career will or should look like, and a military background isn’t always easy to translate into the typical civilian career progression curve. While the military has many career paths that directly translate to civilian counterparts, the primary soft skills of leadership, teamwork and problem-solving are the most common.
Steps must, therefore, be taken to pitch an opportunity with the veteran demographic in mind. Some employers accomplish this with personnel dedicated to conversing with veterans while others create digital methods of getting the word out. In the end, during a period of military transition, a small amount of individual attention goes a very long way.
Read our full report to see how other employers fare in their military recruitment practices and what you can do to support service members in their transition… and gain a competitive edge in the process.
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
