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A Call To Duty:

A Call To Duty:. Strategies for Recruiting and Hiring Veterans Michigan Works! October 14, 2014 Michael A. Poyma, U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs. Topics. Military Service & Culture Obstacles Veterans Face Challenges to Employers The Business Case for Hiring Veterans Sourcing Veteran Talent

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A Call To Duty:

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  1. A Call To Duty: Strategies for Recruiting and Hiring Veterans Michigan Works! October 14, 2014 Michael A. Poyma, U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs

  2. Topics • Military Service & Culture • Obstacles Veterans Face • Challenges to Employers • The Business Case for Hiring Veterans • Sourcing Veteran Talent • Veteran-Friendly Practices • Recommended Reading and Resources

  3. Military Service & Culture: Pre-Enlistment Considerations • Age of average enlistee • Volunteer • Lack of significant “civilian” work experience • Lack of job-seeking skills • Initial recruitment easy • Jobs – No Experience Required!

  4. Military Service & Culture: From One to Team • The culture shock of basic training • Changing duty stations • Career progression • Multiple hats • Constant training • Readiness and deployments

  5. Military Service & Culture: “I Got Your Back” • It’s all about the team and its mission • Success defined • The foundation of military team success requires a cohesive, supportive culture that demands the highest levels of performance and accountability from the individual; while the individual holds those around him/her to similar standards • Succession planning

  6. Military Service & Culture: Transition • DOD prepares and trains civilians for the best military force in the world, but comparatively does very little to prepare our armed forces for civilian transition • TAP • From Team to One

  7. Post-Military Employment Obstacles for Veterans • Lack of significant “civilian” work experience • Lack of job-seeking skills • Unrealistic expectations from initial recruitment / military career path • Capabilities vs. qualifications • Self-advocacy, boundary issues

  8. Post-Military Employment Obstacles for Veterans (continued) • Re-acclimation to civilian work culture / on-the-job behavioral expectations • Transferable skills translation • Locating community support / resources • Military / veteran stigma • Disabilities

  9. Challenges to Employers • Transferable skills translation • Perceptions of acclimation issues • Stereotypes • Future Deployments • Too many (different) resources

  10. The Business Case for Hiring Veterans • Entrepreneurial • Assume high levels of trust • Adept at skills transfer across tasks • Advanced technical training • Discontinuous, uncertain environments • Resiliency • Team-builders and organizational commitment • Cross-cultural experience and diverse work settings

  11. The Business Case for Hiring Veterans (continued) • Succession Planning Advantage • Education and training savings • VA Healthcare = lower insurance rates • Tax credits and other incentives • Company image and public relations

  12. Sourcing Veteran Talent • Low / no-cost solutions • State Workforce Agency • VA VR&E • Universities • H2H – MI Talent Connect • Outreach and events targeted to veterans

  13. Veteran-Friendly Practices • Identify veteran employees • Information and training towards creating a veteran-friendly work environment • Support informational interviewing, mentoring, and internship opportunities • Veterans in human resource positions • Amend position descriptions • Buddy systems help with acclimation process • Affinity programs help retention • ESGR Statement of Support / Freedom Award

  14. Recommended Reading and Resources • Veterans Hiring Toolkit • National Resource Directory • Onetonline.org • SHRM surveys • Business Case • Employing America’s Veterans • TALENT 2025 Veterans Hiring Guide

  15. Michigan • Michigan Veterans: A Workforce Study • Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) • West Michigan Veterans Coalition • Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) • LinkedIn: Michigan Veterans Employment Solutions • Michigan Veterans Employment Council

  16. Questions? Michael Poyma Employment Specialist Dept. of Veterans Affairs 3001 Coolidge Rd. Suite 401 East Lansing, MI 48823 517-203-0947 Michael.poyma@va.gov

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