Are civilian employers ambivalent regarding the hiring of Military Veterans?

2014-04-08T21:45:08-04:00

Are you wondering why civilian employers appear to not care about the hiring Military Veterans?  As a US Navy, Vietnam Veteran who is currently employed by Target Corp. we have the goal of hiring 25,000 Veterans in 2014. What's been your experience?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2014 8:33 AM

2014-04-13T08:33:32-04:00

Hope its still that way when I get out!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2014 8:33 AM

2014-04-13T08:33:57-04:00

I don't have any experience per say. I retire next year and the thought of entering the workforce scares me. I keep hearing how places like Target or Wal-mart are pushing to hire vets, but I really don't know what to think about that. I am a member of a facebook page for Army retirees, its scary to hear from a retired Army CPT who was only offered a casher job at wal-mart. To me it feels like a slap in the face of all Vets when a company pushes to hire vets, (maybe for the tax breaks?) and hires vets to man the checkout lanes or to stock shelves. I stocked shelves and ran a register when I was 18 before I joined, 20 years later is that all I am good for? Is that all an Army CPT with a 4 year degree and managment skills from running a company (unit) of 150+ people? acountable for millions of dollars of property.

I am not saying every vet that leaves the service after 4 years as an E4 should be pushed into upper mangagement positions. But some of us have held many jobs with a huge amount of responsibility, and in charge of many people, not just for 8 hours a day, but for 24/7.

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made Apr 16 at 2014 7:36 PM

2014-04-16T19:36:23-04:00

They hire who they think is best for the job. Those who want veterans do that - the others are pretty much coincidental.

Response by SFC Stephen Hester made Apr 16 at 2014 7:47 PM

2014-04-16T19:47:09-04:00

I don't think civilian employers are ambivalent but veterans come out of the service touting their leadership or management experience when employers are not looking to fill leadership or management positions. They are looking for people who can do the job with minimal ramp-up time. Veterans have to do a better job of highlighting how they can do the job and what value they will bring to the organization. Thinking that you will get a job solely because you are a veteran with management skills won't get you a job.

Response by PO2 Eric Mouillesseaux made Apr 18 at 2014 9:54 PM

2014-04-18T21:54:47-04:00

I've been a Recruiter and Resume Writer for 10+ years since getting out of the Navy. My answer is, it really depends on the employer. There are many employers out there that are very interested in recruiting military veterans, now more than ever. However there is a disconnect between the employers and the veterans. A lot of employers don't know how to reach veterans and don't understand a veterans qualifications. On the flip side, many veterans don't know how to properly conduct a job search or know how to explain the value of their military experience and skills.

Response by Sgt Randy Hill made May 29 at 2014 3:41 PM

2014-05-29T15:41:24-04:00

I have a master of science in human resource management and have had to do jobs that I could have quit high school to do. This is horrible considering only 1% of the country has what it takes to serve. I was once told by my state employment and training office that my writing was too powerful etc. I am sick of their excuses. A lot of us took more responsibility before we were 30 than most people ever will.

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made May 29 at 2014 10:18 PM

2014-05-29T22:18:51-04:00

My question is what positions do you see those 25,000 veterans filling. If you are hiring for people to run a cash register it really comes off as insincere.

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Jun 12 at 2014 1:07 AM

2014-06-12T01:07:42-04:00

This depends on whether the veteran is working with veterans or others who are not veterans. I have seen it both ways.

I live in a Blue State progressive upper Midwest where there are no US Regular Army combat units, post, camps or installations. there are national guard and reserve components.

My views on politics are right-centered conservative, and a little more right leaning for military grass root issues, of which I do lobby for.

I say we need more veterans in politics because the civilian counter parts have no clue, do not understand the language and they are definitely ambivalent toward military veterans and the retiree. they just dont know how to read us.

it has been my quest to be readable. I believe that I am doing a good job at it.

Response by PV2 Louise De Simone made Aug 3 at 2014 3:19 AM

2014-08-03T03:19:37-04:00

Target? You mean 8.00 an hour target? who the hell are you friggenn kidding?
So where will we sleep behind your dumpster???? You want the Federal dollar for hiring us, yet you won't or ever pay a living wage!!!!! You"r killing us with your corporate greed!!!!

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Aug 5 at 2014 1:55 PM

2014-08-05T13:55:32-04:00

When I first got out in 1980, my expectation of a job would be close to my MOS, military occupational specialty. It did not happen that way, because I was competing with people who were degreed and had 5-10 years of private practice or owned their own biz. ... I had to realize that I was way behind the job curve...

I ended up working for a moving company which did not work out because am allergic to cat dander. Then K-mart's toy department during Xmas season. I could not keep up with the toys, dolls, and board games. My last few days was helping the cashier who happened to be a classmate back in the day.

I had enough so I went back in the military.

When I got my first duty assignment, I was given a classroom and tons of training on how to be an AIT instructor.

Response by CPT Steven Vann made Nov 13 at 2014 10:23 AM

2014-11-13T10:23:07-05:00

I was hired by Sandoz Inc. specifically to focus on hiring and recruiting veterans. I also focus on Diversity as a whole!

Response by Elizabeth Malkin made Jan 19 at 2015 6:08 PM

2015-01-19T18:08:12-05:00

This is a great question PO3 Galon Miller . One good way to see if employers really "mean" what they market about hiring military members is to check out their presence on RP. Search for the company in the searchbar and see how many RP members are employees there, using Target as the example, they have 85 RP members who currently work there and 96 RP members who used to, so chances are that they are a good veteran employer! When you're reading through the feeds from Answers in 'Employment and Transition' see if any of the people who are commenting and helping to answer questions are recruiters from civilian companies. Companies that are really serious have their recruiters trying to give useful information and to help our members and participation in Answers is a great way to see this!

Response by 1SG David Lopez made Feb 9 at 2015 4:44 AM

2015-02-09T04:44:17-05:00

Veterans get fast tracked and get added points to the entry level exam with CDCR. Good Luck.

http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Career_Opportunities/index.html

Career Opportunities with CDCR

Career Opportunities for Peace Officers, Medical Careers, Executives, Education and more.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2015 8:21 AM

2015-04-08T08:21:16-04:00

I feel that my military service and recent deployments have shielded me from hiring. We were told numerous times upon our return that there is a push in the civilian community to hire veterans. We (the veterans) are an positive asset to any company due to our work ethic and ability to adapt to any task set before us. Both after both my tours it took me over a year to find employment. In 2011 I sent out close to 300 resumes and applications, attended various veteran focused job fairs, endless job fairs for the general public and still I came up with nothing. Fast forward to 2014 I was again faced with the daunting task of finding work after returning home. Its been over a year now and only recently did I find anything and its only part time.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 3:01 PM

2015-04-20T15:01:13-04:00

I once bailed on a company mid-interview. The interviewer actually said to me "Hey, I respect your service, but to us, you being gone for Army Reserve duty for two weeks is pretty much the same as you being gone because you wanted to hang out at the beach for two weeks"

I said to him "Wow. If you can say that, then you really don't respect my service, and we really don't need to continue this."....I then collected my notebook, took the copy of my resume out of the interviewer's hands, and without another word, turned around and walked out of there.

His jaw hit the floor and stayed there...at least while I was still within sight.

Response by PFC Jonathan Albano made Feb 11 at 2017 11:32 AM

2017-02-11T11:32:12-05:00

Part of the issue is that civilian employers don't always consider training and work in the military to be the equivalent of job experience.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/veterans-unemployment-outpaces-civilian-rate/2011/10/04/gIQAlqLepL_story.html?utm_term=.c5f4d465e5da

There's obviously more to the issue than this, however, I believe this is a major contributing factor.

Veterans’ unemployment outpaces civilian rate

Recent veterans are having a harder time finding work than their civilian counterparts, highlighting a disconnect between military and civilian jobs.

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Feb 11 at 2017 12:09 PM

2017-02-11T12:09:00-05:00

I certainly believe this is true if you are currently serving in the Active Guard or Reserves. Yes there are Federal Laws that protect you against discrimination, however I'm sure after many of our currently serving soldiers leave the interview that to time off for duty etc are often discussed by some potential employers.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Feb 11 at 2017 12:35 PM

2017-02-11T12:35:07-05:00

The post is a bit old, but I'll throw my 2 cents worth in; though after all this time, factoring in inflation, it's probably worth a bit less. Basically, most companies see nothing extra special about military service; certainly nothing more special than any other intrinsic aspect about the candidates that sit before them. Companies will hire or pledge to hire veterans because it sounds good; it's what employers "should" say and occasionally do. Do their actions match their talk? Sometimes. Sometimes not.

And don't even get me started on companies not wanting to hire those still in the Guard or Reserve!

So let me ask, what about Target? The company you work for as of the original posting. I live in Minnesota where the company is headquartered. It's presence is ubiquitous, and like many Minnesotans I have worked for the company in the past. I am not aware that it makes any special effort to hire veterans. I'm not authoritatively saying they do not, but I have friends who work for Target, and as an MBA student at Carlson (U of M), a lot of my classmates work for Target Corp, and I do not hear from any of them that Target actively looks for vets as employees. It follows then that one of two things is occurring--and really I don't know which is true--with respect to Target specifically, and perhaps speaks to larger issues of company's hiring vets:

1. Target doesn't actually DO anything special in order to hire veterans.
or
2. There is a mismatch between veterans knowledge of Target's desire to hire them and Target's outreach efforts.

If it's the 1st one, well, it is what it is I guess. If it's the latter and it's an issue for the company (not just that I didn't know about Target's efforts), then Target needs to revaluate how it searches for veterans and why it finds veterans valuable in the first place.

Response by GySgt Melissa Gravila made Feb 11 at 2017 2:18 PM

2017-02-11T14:18:35-05:00

The issue I've encountered is that I repeatedly am told that I need to "soften up" (which means I intimidate the HELL out of my supervisor). I am honest, straight forward, and have integrity- and am not willing to compromise my integrity. I believe like people hire like people- therefore I don't hire sheeple, again they don't like that. I like it when my staff look for a better way, think outside the box. That's how you get better- that's how you improve, raise the bar

Response by MSgt John McGowan made Feb 11 at 2017 3:49 PM

2017-02-11T15:49:10-05:00

PO1 There are company's on the outside that look for vets. I worked in a major tire manufacturer for 18 years and about a third were ex-military. All branches of service. Good well paying job that you were not cut on salary because of retirement and you filed their insurance. They didn'the care if you had Tricare or not. I just wish there were more like that.

Response by SrA Paul De La Vega made Feb 14 at 2017 2:59 PM

2017-02-14T14:59:12-05:00

I would have to respond with my own personal experience in regards to civilian employers hiring Military Veterans. And after attending dozens of veteran job fairs since 2010 here in the bay area, CA. I tend to agree with the notion that it is a lot of lip service being paid to just sound good. I do agree that many newly separated veterans may not have the knowledge of how to put their numerous qualifications on a resume however on the flip side many civilian employers it seems have quotas on how many veterans they can get through a door to sign "I am a veteran" on a form and maybe allowed an interview out a courtesy for your service which leads to no job offer. Ironically, I have worked within the same career field I held in the USAF for nearly 20 years and still experience this practice today. The culture of ambivalence towards hiring military veterans has been around for quite some time and is only recently becoming slightly less so but by no means has it changed. I think the only way to get this changed would be through veteran owned businesses or veterans involved in actual hiring who not only set aside jobs with veterans preference in hiring but who understand and fill those positions with qualified veterans. More effort needs to be done to seek out talent with veterans and the only way to do that would be to hire more veterans to seek out the talent. At any rate this is just my two cents...

Response by PV2 Duane Schlender made Sep 16 at 2017 4:44 AM

2017-09-16T04:44:07-04:00

I live in oregon and have been incarcerated based on my service, my life stolen, dishonored repeatedly, and denied work as well. All for being a veteran.
Ive been verbally accosted for helping homeless veterans, ive been verbally accosted for wearing my army bdu's with all tags/tapes still on.
Ive even been told im not a veteran and dont deserve anything for serving.
While incarcerated, prison guards tried to set me up for fights and stabbings because im a veteran and they were bored and made betting pools on who would do what. Some of the guards were even veterans/national guard themselves.

So do i think there is a bias? I would say there is. But i will never leave another soldier, veteran, or innocent behind.

You will have to kill me to make me leave anyone behind or stop living up to my military duty, active service or not.

Q4 1999 : "i duane schlender do hereby swear to support and defend the constitution of the united states of america against all enemies foreign and domestic, and that i will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and that i will follow the orders of the president of the united states of america and others above me, so help me god"

Been 18 years, wording could be off, but thats what i remember saying. And i live it. And i be it.
If you want a direct in-book quote : title 10 sec. 502 united states code (USC)

"De oppresso liber"
"Mission first, people always"