Employers across industries agree that veterans bring invaluable skills to the workplace through their military training and experiences.
Employers across industries agree that veterans bring invaluable skills to the workplace through their military training and experiences. Career coaches at Brandman University interviewed various industry leaders to identify five distinct traits of veterans that are desirable in all industries. Knowledge of these unique skills can help veterans position themselves in a way that appeals to employers, which can ease the transition from active duty to the workforce.
- Expertise with teamwork. Teamwork is instilled in veterans immediately as they enter the service. Their training teaches them to think from the perspective of what is best for their team. As teamwork is critical for businesses to meet and exceed client expectations, employers view this instinct as one of the most valuable assets of a military veteran.
- Preparedness. Military service members are taught to be flexible and to think quickly on their feet so they can adapt if something doesn’t go to plan. The mindset of being ready for challenges and the unexpected is an important asset that veterans bring into the workplace.
- Goal-oriented and focused. Service members understand the importance of discipline and following through until a task is accomplished. Their attention to detail, self-sufficiency and respect for procedure serve them well in a work environment.
- Leadership skills. Typically, veterans learn leadership dynamics earlier than most other employees. They might have had to jump into important roles early in their careers and received extensive training on how to lead. These skills make veterans excellent at motivating and working with teams which translates well into the workforce.
- Experience with diversity. Serving in the military helps veterans understand the importance of inclusion in teamwork. Service members learn to place a lot of trust in others, regardless of differences, to complete their missions. This is the type of cooperation that organizations are striving to implement in their culture for better productivity and job performance.
Source: Brandman University, “5 Reasons Employers Want to Hire Veterans”
