32 U.S. VETERANS MAGAZINE WWW.USVETERANSMAGAZINE.COM

for the

RECRUITER

A

pproximately 200,000 service members transition from the military and reenter civilian life every year. One of the most challenging parts of that military to civilian transition is finding a new purpose and mission. A crucial part of that endeavor is finding a new career. Veterans in the job market can generally be viewed in two groups - recently separated and fully transitioned. The recently separated veteran may or may not know what career field they want to enter or what exactly they want to do. According to a 2019 study, 44 percent of veterans left their first post-military job after a year or less, and 20 percent stayed for less than six months.

Employing veterans is vital to company diversity initiatives, as veterans bring unique perspectives and skills to their post-military careers.

-Zack Baddorf, Navy veteran and executive director of Military Veterans in Journalism

Why Your Company

Needs More Vets

By Rich Dolan

These numbers shouldn't dissuade employers; they represent the state of mind that recently separated veterans have when they land their first post-military job. About 42 percent of veterans in the 2019 study felt overqualified for their first job. These numbers highlight the importance of a strong hiring process where the hiring manager and the veteran are both open, honest and supportive. The fully transitioned