Last year I had a personal mission to get out and connect with our military service members. On a Friday afternoon I got in my car, mapped out all the recruiting centers in my area and started to shake hands. It was an amazing afternoon to say the least! I started many great relationships that day.

Staff Sergeant, Jeffrey Baldovin with the WERC (Wisconsin Employment Resource Connection) program was one of the people I was referred to that day. Jeffrey helps National Guard Members with the skills needed to find employment. From interviewing skills to putting Guard members in touch with employers, Jeffrey does it all.

Last week while conducting mock interviews with Jeffrey, I asked him to help me come up with some points on why employers should hire a veteran or active National Guard Member. These points are brought to you by SSG, Jeffrey Baldovin.

7 Reasons You Should Hire a Veteran

LEADERSHIP

From the moment you join the military, a leadership role is something you quickly step into. For example, in the civilian world it is very uncommon for a 23-year-old to lead a team but for a service member that age, it is expected. Veterans are natural leaders.

UNIQUE SKILL SETS

Almost every military role for every Service branch has a civilian duplicate. This includes roles within the medical, law enforcement, administrative, mechanical and logistical sectors, just to name a few. These skills are easily translatable to civilian careers.

TRAINING

Constant training is the key to success in the military, as is workforce training in the civilian world. Veterans are easily trainable and enjoy the process of learning through action.

VALUES

Every organization lives by a set of values written next to its mission statement. The military is no exception.  Veterans honor and respect these guidelines and find value in upholding them.

DIVERSITY

Hiring a veteran provides an avenue for embracing thought diversity. Veterans have been rigorously trained, are well-traveled and disciplined in a way unlike any other. They represent less than seven percent of the population and are guaranteed to provide a positive influence on co-workers and leadership.

TEAMWORK

Every Service Member is expected to work with others to achieve a collective goal – the basic foundation for any organization. Veterans thrive in this type of environment and will feel comfortable collaborating with fellow employees to get a job done.

PROVEN

Every veteran has proven themselves through passing tests, upholding strict values and serving their country to protect our liberties and freedoms. A veteran will no doubt prove themselves to you.

Learn more about how to hire a veteran with these local resources

• Visit Hero 2 Hired (H2H),  It is a free “military monster” for HR to use to find Veterans.
• Reach out to your local Department of Workforce Development Center, each location will have Veterans Case workers.

Jen Ray Fun Fact: I am from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We are known as “Yoopers” and we are proud of it!