If you were crafting a job description to best illustrate the type of candidate who would be great a fit for your organization, what would it say?
Now hiring! We are seeking a dedicated professional who exhibits leadership skills and strong problem-solving capabilities, under tight deadlines and within fast-paced environments. The candidate must have excellent time management skills, have the ability to adapt to changing deadlines and project scope, quickly and efficiently. Should be able to balance working independently, but also collaborate well within a team, fostering creativity and critical thinking to reach a goal. This hire must possess a high level of professionalism and integrity in all business situations.
Congratulations! You’ve Just Hired a Military Veteran!
Our team at SSi People has long figured out that veterans transitioning from military duty to the civilian workforce comprise an incredibly promising top talent pool for all workforces. Given the continual competition for talent with tech-related skills in a tight labor market, Veterans are a viable source to fill the pipeline. In fact, the U.S. Department of Defense notes that “each year approximately 200,000 service members transition from military to civilian life.”
The foundation in how Veterans are trained and how they conduct their daily activities lends itself to a litany of roles across all industries, particularly within in the tech and engineering space. Many military skills are directly transferrable to tech and engineering positions because of the nature of what they do. Working with electronic equipment on bases, setting up command centers, operating state-of-the-art machinery, administering medical treatments and testing procedures that use advanced technologies as well as establishing communication hubs in remote places all require skills that are easily adaptable to private sector tech roles.
In addition, the attention to security and data protection is a top priority in the armed forces, which is in direct correlation to the high demand for cybersecurity skills by many organizations. Plus, many veterans may already have the security clearances that are needed and have detailed background checks and personal records already passed.
Resources to Help Veterans on Their Career Journeys
There are many programs designed to train, network, and transition Veterans for new job opportunities that staffing companies like SSi People, work closely with. Veterans Bridge Home, which aims to assist Veterans in the Carolinas region uses a full-circle approach to help Veterans and their families assimilate to civilian life again through education, career, healthcare, community services and more.
The Department of Labor offers the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service and recently shared that in 2022 they “provided career-related instructions to more than 266,000 participants, which is an increase of more than 40% from the previous workshop record in fiscal year 2021.”
Another newer program that has emerged helps current service members begin training for new civilian jobs as they are finalizing their service with the help of businesses, called Industry Partners.
This program, called the DOD Skillbridge, connects service members during their last 180 days of service with opportunities for specific training through internships and apprenticeships. It gives active service members the chance to gain real-work experience while still collecting military compensation, reducing the burden that unpaid internships or enrolling in training programs can cause when individuals are unable to earn while they learn. Military personnel are granted permissive duty by military leadership to be part of this program, which is fostered by large organizations across the country representing all different work fields.
A quick search on the DOD Skillbridge site shows opportunities for engineers, business analysts, cybersecurity specialists, help desk personnel and much more.
SSi People Supports Veterans in Their Job Search
SSi People actively pursues technology jobs for Veterans and works with them to navigate their new employment journey. Our long-standing partnerships with clients in the biomedical, aerospace and defense, and architecture and engineering industries provide ample opportunities to help find roles that Veterans will be perfectly matched for.
If you are requesting talent or are part of the military and seeking new opportunities in tech and engineering, contact an SSi people recruiting expert today.
