Recent trends suggest job market is better for veterans
Recent trends suggest job market is better for veterans
After serving our country in the armed forces, it can be difficult for veterans to return to the working world. It makes for an even harder transition if jobs tend to be less available. According to the Labor Department, there was an 11.2 percent jobless rate for vetrans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan earlier in the year — 4 percent higher compared to last year.
But it seems the job market has taken more of a positive spin for veterans recently. Forty-one percent of employers have hired veterans or National Guard members in the past six months, according to a CareerBuilder survey that questioned 4,478 workers and 2,667 hiring managers and human resources professionals. And 21 percent of employers continue to recruit veterans for open jobs.
Employers seem to have a hard time figuring out how military duties apply to civilian jobs. It would be helpful for managers if veteran applicants better explain their military roles in their résumé, cover letter and interview; they should describe how military responsibilities relate to the requirements of the job for which they are applying.
Although veterans should include their military experience on their résumés, some choose to leave out that important information. Eleven percent of veterans didn’t mention their military experience, while 12 percent only did in certain interviews, according to the survey. The good news is that 43 percent of managers would most likely choose the candidate with military experience if they had two equally-qualified applicants.
Employers most likely to seek out veterans are in the information technology, engineering, management and sales industries. The qualities they bring to the table for civilian jobs include a disciplined approach to work, the ability to work as part of a team, respect and integrity, leadership, problem-solving skills, the ability to perform under pressure, and communication skills.
To aid in the transition from the military to the civilian job market, CareerBuilder recently started MissionGetHired.com. Veterans can locate employers that are seeking their employment in various job fields.
Amy Winter is a columnist with Creators Syndicate. She can be reached at awinter@creators.com.
