As a result, today’s returning vets are enjoying a higher rate of re-employment than their baby-boomer predecessors at companies including Wal-Mart, JPMorgan Chase, Prudential, USAA, State Farm and more. Collectively, the firms are committed to hiring close to a million returning vets.
Capital One and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched “Hiring 500,000 Heroes” two years ago with the goal of engaging the U.S. business community to hire a half-million veterans by the end of this year. So far, 255,000 hires by more than 1,400 businesses of all sizes have been confirmed toward this goal.
Why are they taking such a proactive stance? Many employees believe that the structured military training vets receive can serve them well stateside.
“They are trained to react quickly to changing conditions,” explains Harley Lippman, founder and CEO of business consultancy Genesis10. “It’s all about accountability and supreme dedication. They’re punctual. And they’re great with teamwork—the things that make them effective soldiers would make them great employees.”
Bernard Hyland, who runs CALIBRE Systems’ “Veterans to Technicians” program for Audi, told CEO Briefing that vets make attractive employees due to their military work ethic and dependability. In addition, “The government has invested a tremendous amount of resources in teaching and training veterans,” he said. In just a year, the program has resulted in the hiring of about 100 military vets as service technicians and advisors at Audi dealerships across the country.
AVOIDING POTENTIAL HIRING PITFALLS
Lippman cautioned that, in job interviews, some vets tended to be too humble or provided short, military-style answers. By understanding this, employers can ask the right questions and compensate for the limited responses, ultimately hiring the right vet for the right job and successfully integrating them into the work environment.
Hyland cautions that companies need to hire vets for the right reasons. “Some companies hire vets because it’s good PR and they think they’ll fool their customer base into thinking they’re doing something patriotic,” he said.
Both Hyland and Lippman are convinced that the unrivaled discipline of American veterans is an invaluable characteristic in the workplace and is beneficial to the overall efficiency of a company. With today’s skilled workforce shortage, veterans are more than qualified to fill the need.
Additional reading:
Walmart Launches Veterans Commitment and Plans to Hire 100,000 Over the Next Five Years
Audi approaches hiring goal for Veterans to Technicians
Prudential listed as a ‘Best for Vets Employer’ by Military Times
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.
