By Kelli Brewer of DeployCare.org
Are you looking to hire veterans as you begin your new entrepreneurial journey? Many companies across the U.S. are now implementing strategies to employ thousands of veterans over the next few years because they recognize the skills ex-military personnel can bring to their businesses. These include leadership, discipline, strategic thinking, and unmatched loyalty. For the best approaches to hiring and managing veterans, this guide is for you.
Identify Your Need and Ideal Candidate
The first step towards finding and hiring veterans is determining the position you need help with and identifying the ideal candidate. A veteran is different from any other employee because they own specialized skills suited for community safety and combat. Start by exploring the skills, qualifications, and experience you need and compare them to veterans’ skillsets. Ex-military personnel usually work well in leadership roles that necessitate teamwork and quick thinking. Some ideal jobs for this particular set of skills include project management, security, and construction. However, also consider that some veterans have specific training and experience, such as computer technology, translation, etc.
Advertise Your Job Extensively
There are countless websites focused on helping veterans find employment. You can post your job description on any of these platforms where it will be visible to potential applicants. Always post on multiple sites because, as with almost everything else, this can be a numbers game. Moreover, posting on several platforms will increase the number of applicants who see your job offering.
Some job websites for veterans include Hire Our Heroes, National Veterans Foundation, MilitaryHire, Hire Heroes USA, and Hire Veterans. You should also partner with organizations besides using various online resources. For instance, you can find an expert in your state or nationwide through the directory of Veteran Employment Representatives.
Screen Applicants
Vetting applicants will help you find compatible candidates and simplify the interview process. Still, depending on the number of applications you receive, the process can end up being long and tiresome. A fantastic method to speed up the screening process is to send candidates basic questions through email, focusing on the bare minimum requirements. The technique will help you better identify red flags and potential employees.
Onboard Your New Veteran
After choosing the ideal person for the job, make sure to create a positive onboarding experience for your new employee. Now that they are in your team, it’s your responsibility to ensure that they are cared for. One way to do this is by making them aware of your business goals and their role in helping your company reach them because veterans are focused on having a purpose and meaning. If you already have a few employees, take time to educate your staff on military culture and how to best communicate with their new colleagues. Find out how Stincelli Advisors can help.
Stay Organized
A crucial step in business is to have the management aspect organized and running smoothly. Accounting software or a payroll system will keep things clear and systematic. Setting this up for the first time can be challenging. Small business payroll. defined, includes everything that has to do with employee wages and tax reporting. This means keeping track of hours, calculating wages, direct deposit, and withholding and paying employment taxes.
Keep in mind that you need to file payroll taxes quarterly, and be sure to delineate between employees and freelancers or independent contractors in the system for more efficient recordkeeping.
In a Nutshell
The process of hiring veterans can seem tedious and can even put a strain on your time and resources — at first. But in time, this will pay off with highly competent, loyal, and responsible employees.